Tribes gather for annual powwow


Redbird’s 19th annual Native American celebration will take place from Fri. to Sun., July 19 through 21 on Moorpark College lower athletic field, 7075 Campus Road.

The hours are: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday with open flute circle, vendor preview; and the powwow from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

All wind instruments and their players are welcome to the flue circle, regardless of tribal heritage or skill level.

A special ceremony to honor veterans will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday. All veterans are welcome to participate. Vets do not need a tribal affiliation to take part.

A powwow is a gathering that mingles tradition, ceremony and spirituality with an open air market, singing, dancing and friendship.

The canopies of indigenous families surround the dance arena, where children and elders dance side by side in contemporary and old-school styles.

The event will have intertribals, songs where all dancers come into the arena and dance their styles, which are gender-specific. Men take part in northern- and southern-style dances. Women have different northern- and southern-style dances.

In recent decades, an increasing number of California tribal people have participated in the powwow, bringing their own dance styles into the arena.

A number of Redbird’s arts and crafts vendors are coming from Arizona and New Mexico, bringing traditional and contemporary jewelry, pottery, weaving and beadwork.

Cultural demonstrators and storytellers as well as other nonprofit groups will be found beneath shade canopies, forming a second circle around the dance arena.

Food will be available for purchase.

Redbird’s Children of Many Colors Powwow is free to attend. A $2 donation per vehicle is suggested to help offset expenses.

For more information email redbirds_ vision@hotmail.com or visit RedbirdsVision.org.