Plumes of feathers and colorful streaks of ribbon swirled in the hot afternoon air as the sun beat down on the dancers like the steady thump of the drum.
On Oct. 4 and 5, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians played host to the 19th annual Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow at the Live Oak campground.
“We’re proud that for the past 20 years we have been able to host this cultural and educational event,” Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta said.
The pow-wow brought tribes together from all over the country to celebrate Native American traditions with the general public and to compete at the drum and in different dance categories.
The sun was heavy-handed, pushing the thermometer to more than 100 degrees during the event. Both days began with organizers honoring veterans with a traditional Gourd Dance and Flag Song, where the national, state, and tribal flags were carried into the arena, and everyone outside the circle stood.
Canopies surrounded the arena to provide shade for onlookers. Vendors displayed jewelry, clothing, instruments, and artwork behind the seating area while food vendors sold fry bread, buffalo burgers, and shaved ice.
A Grand Entry followed the Gourd Dance, where all dancers were invited into the circle. Between competitions, intertribal dances were announced, which gave people who weren’t competing an opportunity to dance in the arena.
Competitors entered the circle from the east adorned with feathers, furs, ribbons, bells, and beads. Their moccasins stomped the dirt floor of the arena in rhythm with the fast-paced beat of the drums. Drummers sang traditional prayer songs, and their voices soared above the oak-studded hillsides.
Seated at the north end of the arena was a group drummers called Young Spirit, who came all the way from Alberta, Canada, to be the event’s Host Northern Drum. At the southern end was the Host Southern Drum, called Wild Band of Comanches from Fletcher, Okla.
Dance categories were distinguished by age, gender, and style. The men’s styles included Northern Traditional, Southern Straight, Grass Dance, Northern Fancy, and Southern Fancy. Women’s styles included Northern Buckskin, Northern Cloth, Southern Buckskin, Southern Cloth, Jingle Dress, and Fancy Shawl. Ages ranged from 7 to 70 years old, and about 70 dancers competed, organizers said.
Contact Staff Writer Aaron Salazar at asalazar@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 16-23, 2014.