Hoopa Celebrates 21 Years of Tribal Sovereignty
21st Annual Theme Brings in the 80s
By Manuel Sanchez, TRT Staff Reporter
The Hoopa Valley Tribe brought in the 1980s to celebrate their 21 years of Tribal sovereignty. Since the Bureau of Indian Affairs left overnight in 1988, the Hoopa Valley Tribe has enjoyed over 20 years of self-governance.
The Tribe celebrated over three days starting on Aug. 14. There was everything for the family to enjoy, from good food to some wholesome entertainment on the Neighborhood Facility (NF) lawn to a 2-day rodeo.
The day opened with the Native Veterans raising the U.S. and Hoopa Tribal flags to start the festivities. Hoopa Valley Museum Curator, Silish Jackson, then offered a prayer for the people, encouraging them to safely enjoy themselves.
Hoopa Valley Chairman, Leonard Masten, gave his first Sovereign Day address, welcoming everyone and talking about the joys of sovereignty. He was followed by Hoopa Tribal Attorney, Tom Schlosser, who spoke about the ongoing battle over fishing rights and the removal of the dams blocking the Klamath River.
Tom Woolley, a representative of 5th District State Assemblyman, Wes Chesbro, spoke about the special relationship the Tribe has with the state assemblyman, and how they have worked vigorously together on projects that have benefited both parties.
The presentations of the Grand Marshals followed, with Mike Ferris being escorted to the stage by his grand-daughter, Miss Indian World, Brooke Grant. Grant then presented Ferris, Walter ‘Bud’ Gray, and Mildred Nelson with handmade abalone necklaces, and gift bags courtesy of the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
Always a crowd favorite was the regalia show. This year it featured six young girls and two young women. Each showcased recent regalia and some had dresses that were over 100 years old.
The rest of the morning was set with games of all sorts at the various booths that littered the lawn of the NF. Local and traveling craftsman showed off their wears, with items ranging from handmade clocks that looked like drums, to carved abalone and dentalium shells for jewelry.
Local artist, George Blake, sold his silverwork, and displayed a portion of his handmade bows, and miniature canoes. Wes Crawford and his mother shared a booth featuring their jewelry. He said with a chuckle that he should have never taught his mom how to carve, because she was taking his costumers.
The Hoopa Tribal Museum sponsored a traditional card game, with 13 teams signing up for the $1,000 winner-take-all grand prize. The contest were fast paced and a lot of people won some extra spending cash for the long weekend. The top prize went to team Hayden.
Last years Miss Na:tini:we winner, and reigning Miss Indian World, Brooke Grant said she would like to form a committee of past winners, so they can raise money and have time to recruit girls for the honor.
“Miss Na:tini-xwe is a big deal, you represent your Tribe and your family,” Grant said of being Miss Na:tini-xwe.
Hoopa Tribal Recreation Department opened the swimming pool up in the late morning, and sponsored a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that took place in the NF gymnasium.
People from all over the area brought their best kippered salmon, fry bread and chili to the Best of the West Cook-off, sponsored by the Hoopa Food Distribution. Tammi Hostler won the $100 prize for the best chili, Honor Tracy won the top prize for the best fry bread, and Boyd Ferris took home the prize for top kippered salmon.
The Hoopa Career and Technical Education Program (HCATEP) sponsored the annual watermelon eating contest, with prizes for three age groups. Rodney ‘Rowds’ Robbins won the adult bracket, while Emerald Bibancos won the youth division and there were no entrants for the 55 plus category.
While all this was going on, the local youth were able to disperse some of their energy on four different bounce houses. Each house was big enough to handle a large number of children, with the most popular being the obstacle course. The course was long bouncer with a tunnel, and a climbing wall that lead to a huge slide, some children never left all day.
The afternoon saw some activities on the main stage that brought in a large crowd. First was the Native American Idol contest sponsored by Hoopa Valley Tribal Child Development. The youth category saw a bevy of young hopefuls come onto the stage looking to show off their stuff. While most of the youth belted out tunes like Puff the Magic Dragon and the Hey-yung Song, some very young contestants were spooked by the 500 people who gathered around the stage to watch them.
The next group proved to be the hardest to judge, with two very skilled singers going head-to-head. Tea McGinnis and Jaylen Smith both sang their hearts out, each doing a good rendition of an R&B number. If the teenager category held the most talent, the adult section had to be the most entertaining.
Hoopa resident Jimmie Kinder tried his hand at a Johnny Cash tune, while Hoopa resident Kristen Marshall came onto the stage loaded with her own song, and Hoopa Tribal member Quetta Peters came in full 80s garb, with a song and routine ready for Madonna’s Holiday.
The winners for the Native American Idol contest were Hoopa resident Quincy Hayden for the 10 and younger group, Hoopa Tribal member Tea McGinnis for the teenagers, and Quetta Peters for the adult category.
They were followed up for the Intertribal Bird Singers from Hoopa’s sister city, Pala, Calif. The Bird Singers came with over six male adult singers, two youth singers, and three women dancers. During the show, three young women from the Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corps (TCCC) joined the female dancers and helped them finish their presentation.
The Native American Blues band, Twice as Good, ended the day with their folksy jazz and blues infusion music. Two Hoopa Tribal department directors, Andy Andreoli and Leo Carpenter joined the band as bassist and drummer respectively.
The Hoopa Rodeo started that night at the Jack Jarnaghan Rodeo Grounds on Pine Creek Road. Hoopa Tribal member, Alexandria Jarnaghan was named Rodeo Queen. The first night ended with a large fireworks display at Hostler Field, sponsored by the Lucky Bear Casino and a 80s themed dance held at the NF.
The highlight on the second day was the annual parade, sponsored by the Hoopa Valley Housing Authority (HVHA). This year’s theme was “Cartoon characters of the 1980s.”
Many of the Tribal entities put time and effort into their floats, with Care Bears and Smurfs being the most used cartoons. The Hoopa Tribal Fisheries Department had three of their summer interns dress up as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and do a little dance for the enjoyment of the crowd, and the grand marshals were escorted through by vehicles loaned by Harper Ford in Eureka.
The parade was filled with big and small, from the former Rodeo Queen, Abigail Ammon to a baby, Bella Surber, dressed as Strawberry Shortcake. The small entry winner was the Ninja Turtles and Fisheries, the medium entry winner was Girl Scout Troop 70374 dressed as the Smurfettes, and the large entry winner was the Hoopa Tribal Fiscal Department and their float of superheros.
The rodeo continued into the weekend with people being entertained by the wooly riders, and the bull riders who tried to conquer a raging bull.
The weekend ended with the duck drop from the Trinity River Bridge in downtown Hoopa. The proceeds of the drop went towards sending the Trinity Valley Elementary School Associated Student Body officers to Washington D.C. to learn about politics and how laws are made.
The drop sold 403 ducks at $5 a piece, with Hoopa Tribal member Ken Norton winning 1st place and $200, Tribal member Keith ‘Bubs’ Jackson winning $100, and Tribal member Judy Farnum taking 3rd with $50.
The Sovereign Day weekend was filled will fun and sun. The days and nights were enjoyed by all, and people are hoping next year will be as jam packed as the 21 annual event.
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