18th Annual Chumash Inter-tribal Powwow
On October 5th and 6th Santa Barbara County’s largest Native American cultural event takes place at the Live Oak Campground in the Santa Ynez Valley. The 2013 theme for the powwow is “Kiyiswana’n — Our Native Way.”
The pow-wow draws members for tribal nations across the U.S. who participate in dancing, singing and drumming events for two days. Dance themes include traditional, straight, fancy and grass dancing with prize money of more than $45,000 in the dancing and drumming competitions.
In addition to the dance and drumming events there will be Native American food and crafts booths. One of the best things to sample is the fry bread made fresh each day.
The pow-wow opens at 10 am Saturday, Oct. 5th, with a gourd dance kicking off the event at noon. Saturday’s events wind down at 10:00pm. On Sunday the pow-wow will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the grand entry at noon.
Though the origins of pow-wows are not clear they became a way for various tribal nations to meet to sing, dance and socialize on an annual basis. In the 1960s the Chumash opened their pow-wow to the public as a fund raiser to construct a water system to the Santa Ynez Reservation. Since then the pow-wow has been held annually and opened to the public.
One of the most impressive events of any pow-wow is the Grand Entry when all the peoples from the various nations enter the arena. During a Grand Entry, everyone is asked to stand as flags of the United States, tribal flags, the POW Flag and Eagle staffs are carried by Native American veterans. The United States Flag also holds an honored position in the Grand Entry for all the tribal nations despite the horrible treatment Native peoples received from this country in the past. First it is a way to remember all of the ancestors that fought against this country in the past. It is also the symbol of the United States which Native Americans are now a part and the flag reminds people of those Native Americans who have fought and died for this country.
Admission is free. Parking is $5. The camping fee is $25. For more information on the pow-wow, call (805) 688-7997.
Live Oak Campground is located 15 miles north of Santa Barbara on the Chumash Highway (Highway 154). From Los Angeles take Highway 101 to Santa Barbara and then the 154 to Live Oak Campground.
For more information visit this website: http://nativeamericanevents.com/event/17th-annual-chumash-inter-tribal-p...
