Pow wow shares Native American culture, celebrates heritage

The 28th annual Strong Hearts Native Society's pow wow at San Pasqual High School on Saturday was about giving thanks in a humble way that still reveals pride in its heritage, according to one of its featured guests.

Irene Bedard, a Native American actress known as the voice of "Pocahontas" in the 1995 Disney animated feature, delighted fans at her own booth with DVDs of her films and opportunities for conversation, autographs and photographs with the renowned actress from Anchorage, Alaska.

"The pow wow is definitely an event the whole community is invited to," Bedard said. "There are dances of the Kiowa (Oklahoma) and the Anisinabe (Great Lakes). The dances are celebratory, and each dance has its own story behind it."

The Fancy Shawl Dance celebrates the butterfly, while the Hoop Dance represents the circle of life with no beginning and no end, and at San Pasqual they do bird songs, associated with the Southwest, Bedard explained.

One of the more spectacular sights at the pow wow is the colorful regalia Native Americans wear. Bedard said the beautiful neon regalia tells a story but it is also a basic tradition.

"It's about giving of ourselves to our friends, family and about the coming generation," she said.

Bedard pointed out that many Native Americans have succeeded as doctors, lawyers and teachers. Bedard has a brother who works as a computer programmer in an Anchorage telecommunications company and has another brother who just mustered out of the U.S. Army as a captain after two tours of duty in Iraq.

"Native Americans by the highest per capita have joined the armed services," she said.

After the pow wow, Bedard returns to Anchorage to film a documentary about Native Alaskan youths that aims to mentor upcoming film directors, actors and musicians. The documentary will examine how native youths are shown how to use a camera, how to act and be comfortable in front of a camera and how to write songs.

"Six out of 10 Native Alaskan youths don't survive to age 18. There's so many cultural, social and environmental issues. It's basically a way to cultivate a sense of cultural esteem in our young people," Bedard said of the documentary project.

As an actress, Bedard has made more movies and won more awards than any other Native American, said her husband, Deni Wilson, a guitarist and composer who performs with her in their band, Irene Bedard and Deni. Wilson said Bedard is a groundbreaker in the mould of Sidney Poitier.

"Irene opens Americans' eyes about Native American culture and she takes responsibility to inspire the next generation."

It was when Bedard told Wilson they were going to be parents of their now 4-1/2-year-old son, Quinn, that she asked for something they could do together to spend more time with one another. Wilson invited her to record a couple of songs and eventually four CDs of music. Their latest is titled "Raven Boy," with Native Alaskan tales and lullabies, he said.

"Our message is we're all one race," Wilson said. "Every song has something to lift yourself up rather than knocking someone down."

The songs were recorded on their own label which they recently sold to Wal-Mart, the only national retailer that categorizes Native Americans as a demographic, Wilson said.

Bedard wants to open doors for Native American artists and provide a venue where they can distribute their work to a mass audience so that the artists can make a living, Wilson noted.

"Wal-Mart connects the dots with the buying public," he said.

Among the throng crowding Saturday's pow wow were Garth and Jackie Thomas, winter visitors from Idaho Falls, who stay at Sun Vista RV Park when in town.

"We came here for a reason - the food, Indian tacos and to see a dance or two," Garth said.

Sandy Garber, a Sun Vista winter resident from Spokane, Wash., said she was browsing the jewelry and had her eye on a turquoise ring.

"The costumes were out of this world," Garber said. "I am going to be here for sure next year."

The modern pow wow began in Oklahoma as a way to honor Native American veterans, Wilson noted. But their traditional culture dates back thousands of years.

The San Pasqual pow wow continues through Sunday. For more information, call 1-760-572-0222.