Pala tribe hosts third annual powwow
The grand entry of the dancers at the Pala powwow in 2008. The third annual powwow is Aug. 27 to 29 and is titled "Honoring Traditions: A Celebration of Song and Dance.
By PAM KRAGEN - pkragen@nctimes.com
PALA ---- The Pala Band of Mission Indians will host its third annual powwow next weekend.
Titled "Honoring Traditions: A Celebration of Song and Dance," the powwow will feature dancing contests with cash prizes totaling nearly $18,000.
The event begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 27 and continues through 5 p.m. Aug. 29. Major events take place on Aug. 28 and include an exhibition of "shinny" (a turf-style version of hockey) at 10 a.m., bird singing at 1 p.m. and a peon contest starting at 7 p.m. (peon is a tribal game that goes into the wee hours).
Each day will also include a Grand Entry, where costumed dancers and drummers from different tribes parade through the festival grounds.
This year's dance contests include all-ages dance competitions in chicken, jingle, Southern straight, Southern cloth, traditional and fancy dancing. And there will be demonstrations of jingle, grass and other dance styles as well as drumming displays (the public is invited to bring drums to join the performances).
This year's powwow master of ceremonies is Ruben Little Head of Pala, and the host bird-singing performers are the Intertribal Bird Singers of Pala.
The powwow will be held on the grounds of the Pala Rey Youth Camp, 10779 Highway 76 in Pala. Call the Cupa Cultural Center at 760-891-3590 or visit www.palatribe.com.
