By Christine Amarantus
Editor at Large
Published: March 15, 2010

Eagle feathers floated in the spring-like breeze while a vivid assortment of brightly-colored ribbons, furs, beads and shawls whirled in the air, making up the clothing of a sea of energetically dancing Native Americans. Representing many different tribes from all over the United States, they participated in inter-tribal dances and competitions at Cal State Long Beach’s 40th Annual Pow Wow, March 13-14. The free event allowed people of all cultures to celebrate Native American heritage by observing the dances, indulging in some fry bread or hearing a story passed down through generations of Chumash, a tribe native to Southern California.

Southern straight dancer Kelly Yackytooahnipah was among the many who came to take part in the pow-wow, decked out in traditional clothing with a porcupine headdress and an otter tail extending down his back. He said he has been coming to CSULB’s pow-wow since 1970.

“It’s in my blood. I’m Comanche,” he said. “It’s what I do. It’s what I am. I’ve been dancing since I was able to walk. I dance at pow-wows all over the United States.”

Yackytooahnipah addressed his dual-identity; a balancing act between modern society and embracing his culture’s traditions.

“I walk the thin line of being Native American and living in society here in Orange County,” he said. “I grew up here in Orange County, I’ve worked for Toyota for 21 years … and on my off time I come to the pow-wows and dance and be who I am.”

Cal State Fullerton students from the Inter-Tribal Student Council (ITSC) came to CSULB’s pow-wow to promote their own happening in a couple weeks.

ITSC President Anna Tiger, 19, said CSUF’s pow-wow, like CSULB’s, will have inter-tribal dancing so everyone from different backgrounds can get involved.

“There will all different categories of dances there. You’ll see different regions, different regalias … It’s like a melting pot of Native American tribes,” she said.

Tiger, whose heritage is comprised of Navajo, Choctaw and Creek, said CSUF’s pow-wow has been going on for around 20 years, but due to a budget problem it was not held in 2009.

CSUF criminal justice major Jamie Gordon said CSUF’s will be the first pow-wow in Orange County since the Southern California Indian Center moved its pow-wow to Los Angeles.

“We’re very happy to have (our pow-wow) back on,” she said. “Last year we couldn’t have it due to the funding situation. So this year, we’re able to put it on for one day. Definitely looking forward to it. I’ve been to that one before I started to going to (CSUF).”

Gordon, who is Navajo, explained that pow-wows are important for exposing others to Native American culture.

“There’s over 500 tribes, a lot of them are gone. We’re still trying to keep our blood flowing,” Gordon said. “Not that many people hear a lot about who we are and people think of us as one group, one language, one culture, but there’s so many different tribes and cultures and languages. Unfortunately some of them have been lost.”

The U.S. Census Bureau had booths throughout CSULB’s pow-wow encouraging Native Americans to fill out their forms and send them in.

“The American Indian population utilizes a lot of services and different methods of outreach for our community … Our community lost a lot of services that are derived from census figures,” said Eric Sanchez, a Tribal & Urban Indian Partnership Specialist working in the Native American community within LA and Orange County. “It’s important that we get an accurate count of the American Indian population, so that we can continue to have our non-profit organizations, our churches, our businesses.”

Sanchez said pow-wows are not only great for people to learn about Native Americans, but for coming together.

“It’s always been a chance for friends and family members to come together and socialize, have a good time, eat some fry bread, dance around the pow-wow circle. It’s a great event,” he said.

CSUF’s pow-wow will be happening Saturday, March 27 from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on the Engineering and Computer Sciences lawn. Parking and admission are free. For more information, call (657) 278-3603.