Elders Gathering Pulls Dozens of Tribes Together

Older dancers look on as younger boys join in the brush dance demonstration. The Hoopa, Karuk, Yurok ,and Wiyot Tribes were represented during the dancing at the Intertribal Gathering on Nov. 12 in Eureka. / Photo by Kay Heitkamp.

Thousands Attend 30th Annual Event

By Kay Heitkamp, Two Rivers Tribune

It was a crisp autumn Saturday,  Nov. 12, perfect for the 2011 Intertribal Gathering hosted by the Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC) at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka.

The day was packed full with activities, including a salmon and turkey dinner served to honored elders in three large halls. Entire families joined together to celebrate the day. Lively conversations between old friends and first timers were animated. Volunteers including Valerie Reed and the food crew made things move right along.

A well done schedule helped with planning the day with different musical and dancing events performed by various tribal members and groups. Sponsors included multiple tribes and rancherias, Seventh Generation Fund, PG&E, the American Legacy Foundation, St. Joseph Health System and UIHS. Many local businesses were also generous with their support.

The day began with singing by Storm Taylor (Many Singing Woman) from the Blood Indian Reservation in Canada. Her music is a blend of Native beat, rock, blues, and country.

Local musician Trinidad Goodshield performed throughout the day. His heritage includes Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge, South Dakota and Pascua Yaqui from Sonora, Mexico. He calls his music “Indigenous Soul,” a blend of contemporary folk, funk, scat, spoken word and Native traditions.

The Tolowa Feather Dance demonstration was based on their World Renewal celebrations that traditionally last for 10 days.

Sage Romero’s performance of several variations of hoop dances was electrifying. He comes from Paiute and Taos Pueblo tribes and is involved with youth in teaching and learning about languages, cultures and traditional medicines.

Brush dance demonstrations were performed by members of the Hoopa, Yurok, Karuk, and Wiyot tribes. These traditional healing ceremonies are still held at various sites along the Klamath and Trinity Rivers and in the Humboldt Bay area, including Sumeg Village at Patrick’s Point State Park in Trinidad. Even the very young joined in the dancing, encouraged by older tribal members.

Several MeWuk Tribal members from the Tuolumne Rancheria participated in the traditional Shake Head Dance. Many of the young men wore regalia consisting of capes worn around the waist and made from the feathers of hawks, turkeys, buzzards, geese, and eagles.

The dancers imitated the natural movements of birds by swooping, crouching down and shaking their heads. Many wore flickerhead bands made from yellowhammers. Two young girls, one very young, also participated. Women dressed in buckskin dresses adorned with pine nuts, abalone and ribbons danced on the sidelines, holding hand woven sashes.

Traditional Aztec dancers honored elders of all nations with prayers to the Creator and four sacred elements of fire, water, air, and mother earth. Their elaborate satin regalia created in gold and brilliant colors was set off by spectacular feathered headpieces that extended four to five feet. As with the other groups, young performers also danced. The audience enjoyed watching one woman dancer as she twisted and twirled while her small daughter tried to join in by clasping onto her.

Also scheduled to perform was the Red Tailed Hawk Drum Group who have played together for almost 30 years. The group is made up of members from the Hoopa, Karuk, Yurok, Wiyot, Tolowa, Navajo, Shoshone, and Paiute Tribes. They play social and dance songs popular at pow wows.

Last year, over 4,500 people attended the day’s activities and more than 2,000 dinners were served. The crowds enjoying this year’s gathering seemed just as large.

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