Native American Powwow unites awareness with celebration

On Saturday July 21, expect to see a flourish of pink, in every hue, adorning men and women, boys and girls at Redbird’s 18th Children of Many Colors Powwow.

Perhaps more subtle but no less important, prepare for a sea of blue to move in the arena Sunday. Bobby’s Warriors Wear Pink and Warriors Wear Blue Dance Contests ask for the Indian community to acknowledge and be aware of two of the main diseases affecting people…and not just native people…Cancer and Diabetes.

Bobby is known throughout the native community as a northern traditional dancer, master of ceremonies and mentor. His own life story is one of survival against life threatening odds, and his commitment to the Native American community is unwavering and all consuming. He balances a rather serious and sometimes intimidating demeanor with a deep-seated laugh, a huge smile and a ready sense of humor.

Alongside Saturday’s jewelry, craft and food vendors you’ll find the Tri County Cancer Detection Center. The American Cancer Society has also been invited to take part in the gathering, as has the American Diabetes Association.

Everyone is welcome to attend the powwow. It is a celebration of Native American culture and an important part of the social fabric of the urban Indian community. This year’s powwow will include a number of “specials” as they are referred to; honoring and coming out ceremonies where dancers are given a formal introduction to the arena. The coming out ceremony is an acknowledgement of the individual as a member of the powwow community.

If you visit the powwow, chances are you’ll come away knowing some little bit about its participants. Bobby will also hold the Veteran’s Honoring on Sunday morning. While the powwow may be public, it is also very personal; a rich mixture of family gathering, cultural continuity and shopping opportunity. A number of this year’s vendors will be coming from Arizona and New Mexico to share their traditional silver and turquoise jewelry and crafts.

The gathering takes place on the lower athletic field of Moorpark College, a sun drenched space that will begin its transformation into a thriving indigenous community on Friday morning. By the time of long shadows on Friday evening there will be dancer canopies all around the arena, and roughly three quarters of the vendors will be set up. As the air cools the sound of flutes and wind instruments will fill the air. The powwow is preceded each year by an open flute circle on Friday evening, where everyone - beginner or experienced, native and non native - are welcome to play for an audience of vendors, visitors and fellow flute players.

By the time the powwow starts on Saturday, a full compliment of vendors form an outer circle around the dance arena. There is spectator seating to the north of the arena circle, where guest scan enjoy the activities inside the dance arena under the shade of canopies.

A $2.00 per vehicle suggested donation is all that Redbird, the hosting organization, asks for. The open flute circle begins at 6 PM on Friday, July 20. The powwow grounds are open Saturday morning at 10 AM and the powwow begins at 11 AM and goes until 10 PM. On Sunday the powwow begins at 11 AM and ends at 6 PM.

You can learn more about the Children of Many Colors Powwow via the Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/524542437938621/

You can learn more about its host organization, Redbird, here:

www.RedbirdsVision.org

For more information email redbirds_vision@hotmail.com