Pow wow shares culture with tribes, public

To Native Americans, the beating of the ceremonial drum is much more than music to dance to; it is something to be honored.

And of course if there were no drums there could be no pow wows, an essential part of Native American culture and a yearly tradition for Yuma's oldest residents, the Quechan.

The Quechan, and members of dozens of other tribes, gathered Friday and Saturday for the 31st annual pow wow presented by the Strong Hearts Native Society at San Pasqual in Winterhaven.

Several drum circles surrounded by separate groups of singers chanting and singing traditional songs in native languages took turns Saturday to give a living pulse to the many warriors and women who had gathered on the field to dance and celebrate their culture.

As the Quechan and visiting tribal members participated in the Gourd Dance, Grass Dance, Fancy Dance, Jingle Dance, Buckskin Dance, Men's Northern Straight Dance and Southern Straight Dance, non-native visitors watched in awe from the stands, shopped for handmade Native American crafts or treated themselves to Indian fry bread.

Some brave winter visitors even took to the field when the event's emcee, Pat Pacheco, a member of the Lakota-Sioux and Pueblo, invited them to come out and dance before the competition began.

Native Americans of all ages participate in the pow wow.

Pacheco said it is important to get youths involved at an early age in order to preserve tradition.

“Not just in pow wow, but all across Indian country, it is to keep our culture going, our heritage, because if we don't teach them, we'll lose it.”

Pacheco explained where some of the dances came from and what they meant.

“We are watching Junior Girls Northern and Southern Style traditional dancing,” he said about one category in the competition.

“Southern comes to us from Oklahoma, and you see they are dancing stationary. That is the way the Lakota ladies dance. The reason for that, back in the day when our warriors came back from either hunting buffalo or raiding parties — war parties — when they got back to the encampment, they would call everyone to the middle of the village.

“They would sing victory songs, but only the men were allowed in the middle, so if the ladies wanted to dance, they were told to dance in the outer perimeter in a stationary position.”

Pacheco also explained the fancy dance and jingle dance.

“The Fancy Shawl Dance comes to us from North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. The jingle originated from the spirit world as a healing dance. The jingle dress comes from a band in Northern Minnesota.”

The ornate wardrobe worn by the dancers all have different meanings and are mostly handcrafted by skilled Native Americans.

“Family members make the majority of them,” Pacheco said. “Mothers and grandmas, and some of the men know how to bead.”

It takes great skill to create the ceremonial outfits, Pacheco agreed.

“Oh yes. It used to be, back in the day, you could tell what tribe they came from and what area they represent.”

Candice Yazzie, a Navajo who lives in the Winterhaven area, participated in the Fancy Shawl Dance. Her shawl was made by her aunt.

She thinks it is important to participate because “it lets people know how it supports the natives and shows how we do it.”

Brittany Miguel, of Quechan and Tohono O'odham lineage, is this year's Miss San Pasqual High School Indian princess.

She was on site to greet the members of the other tribes as a representative of her family, her school and her tribe.

“I think this is important because it teaches the traditions, the songs and the dances,” she said.

“It feels great knowing I get to meet people from different places and being able to share my culture with them. I've been busy meeting and greeting people all day. I'm hoping this tradition goes on forever and doesn't get lost with the kids who are born today. I want them to know the traditions.”

The pow wow continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Grand entry will be held at noon and will be followed by several dance competitions throughout the day.

The pow wow is located at the San Pasqual High School football field, 676 Base Line Road in Winterhaven.

Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under.