Native American Powwow returns to Moorpark

Our 19th annual Native American powwow is coming up at Moorpark College, Friday July 19 through Sunday, July 21. There will be singing, dancing, arts, crafts, foods, cultural demonstrations, storytelling and more. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Our Friday evening Open Flute Circle is open to all wind instruments and their players. Come to play, come to listen, come to preview our vendors in the cool of evening. It begins at 6 PM (Indian time). This year we will be raffling a beautiful flute on Friday evening - tickets are $1.00 each, all proceeds going directly to the powwow.

The Children of Many Colors Powwow has evolved into...how could I explain it...it's like a big family gathering that everyone is welcome to attend. Our vendors are vital to the powwow...they are our financial backbone, and this year we have a number of new vendors that we are excited to meet and spend the weekend with. Shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase jewelry, arts and crafts directly from the hands that made them. On Saturday we'll powwow from 11 AM to 10 PM (or for as long as we can see where we're dancing). We will begin with an open Gourd Dance session lead by Daivid Patterson. All gourd dancers are welcome. Typically, there is a second Gourd session after dinner break.

There are dances called intertribals where visitors are welcome to join us in the arena. For women, you will notice other women wearing shawls over their shoulders and covering their upper body. That is appropriate for all women. It is an expression of respect and modesty. I know it can be confusing, as we become more sensitive to cultural appropriation (the adoption of cultural items/ceremonies etc. that do not belong to you) - for women, wearing a shawl is a proper and respectful thing.

There are occasionally times when we will ask for no photography. There will be two, possibly three staff photographers, and even they may be asked not to take pictures at certain times. If the MC or AD asks for no photos, please respect that request.

The only dogs allowed in the arena are service dogs. Real service dogs, not emotional support dogs, not dogs in training. For visitors bringing dogs, there is not a lot of shade, and there is a lot of stimulation.

On Sunday the powwow will begin with the final round of Gourd Dance, and the Veteran's Honoring. Dean Webster, USMC of the Ojibwe Nation will lead the roll call this year. Dean is our Head Man Dancer and has been a strong support of the powwow for as long as I can remember. All Veterans are welcome. You do not need to be Native American to participate.

Parking donations and the sale of raffle tickets help us pay for the powwow. If you want to make a donation...perhaps you'd like to attend but you can't, or you'd like to make a donation in the name of a loved one, or you just want to help out, we accept donations via mail, PayPal and of course, cash. Our mailing address is Redbird, P.O. Box 702, Simi Valley CA 93062 and our PayPal email is redbirds_vision@hotmail.com. We are a 501(c)(3) state and federally recognized non profit association, serving souther California and Pine Ridge, South Dakota since 1994. We look forward to seeing everyone at the powwow! Corina