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SAN DIEGO — The Annual California American Indian Day Celebration was successfully held last weekend in San Diego’s Balboa Park. It was the twenty-second year for the event.
Veterans from the American Indian Warriors Association provided the color guard and a spiritual blessing to begin the weekend’s events. The master of ceremonies was Randy Edmonds, founder of the Indian Human Resources Center (IHRC).
“Over twenty years ago we decided that we should have something in the park to educate the greater community to who we are and let them know that we’re still here,” said Edmonds. “We established the American Indian Cultural Days in May, and the California Indian Days in September. This has been going on now for over twenty years.”
Vendors provided Native American foods including Indian tacos made with fry bread and Navajo mutton stew. Many booths displayed various clothing and crafts for sale, and public service booths offered a wide variety of information regarding health, educational programs, and other concerns.
“When I established the IHRC, my goal was to provide these kinds of services and put something in the community so that our people could be a part of its development, and make money for themselves,” said Edmonds. “During the service part of the program we would provide employment, training and social services to assist American Indians in the transition from rural and reservation life to urban life.”
Artist Daleane Adams, one of the celebration’s visitors, is a member of the Jamul Indian Village of the Kumeyaay Nation in San Diego County.
“Normally I have a booth here where I sell my art work that I do on gourds,” said Adams. “A lot of my gourds look like our ancient pottery, and I add rock-art and petroglyph figures to them.” The Kumeyaay people used dried gourds to carry water in the desert.
One can acquire so much history and cultural experience about the original Americans by attending an event of this nature.
The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe, often referred to as the Rumsen Ohlone, was among the many groups present. Dressed in their traditional regalia, the crowd was honored to see their dances and hear their songs. “Dancing on the brink of the world” is a powerful phrase from an Ohlone song.
Tony Cerda, Rumsen Ohlone Tribal Chairman and Commissioner for the City of Pomona for historical preservation, graciously shared some of his people’s history.
Cerda explained that his tribe was originally from the Bay Area, from San Francisco Bay down to Point Sur, and inland to Salinas Valley. His great, great grandfather, Chnjay, was from a 2000 year-old village in the Carmel Mountains.
Sumu, another grandfather from the Bay Area distanced from Cerda by five generations, was the head chief of the tribe. When the Spaniards first came to San Francisco Bay, they docked their ships at Angel Island. Five chiefs boarded their ship as ambassadors, and Sumu was among them.
When questioned about the age of his tribe, Cerda stated that he has worked on tribal villages in the Moss Landing area that are 7000 years old. When asked how efforts to revive the tribal ceremonies, language and culture were progressing, Cerda replied that what they did at the Culture Days was not a performance, but a ceremony and sharing of their culture.
Coming to the California Indian Day Celebration and exploring things a little deeper is an enriching experience. One can learn much about history, as well savor cultural food and enjoy unique activities.
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