A proud heritage shown for all to see

By Julian J. Ramos/STAFF WRITER

October 7, 2007

Parents watch the Tiny Tots dance as a young girl exits the arena. //Ian Vorster/Staff

For Nakia Lent, the annual Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians' Intertribal Pow-Wow is a family affair.
Lent, the tribe's cultural director, and her daughters Tani, 14, and Hannah, 9, were just a few of the dozens of dancers from throughout the country to participate Saturday at the tribe's 12th annual event at Live Oak Camp near LakeCachuma.
“It's very meaningful for them to participate in this type of gathering,” she said.
Lent performed a Southern Buckskin dance and her daughters performed a Fancy-Shawl dance. In previous years, her husband Ervin Lent has also participated. She said the Southern Buckskin dance recognizes her father Pete Zavalla's Comanche heritage. Her mother, Toni Flores, is of Chumash heritage.
The pow-wow has continued to grow annually with more dancers, vendors and spectators, tribal administrator Willie Wyatt said.
Last year's event drew an estimated 3,000 spectators and 150 dancers, a figure Wyatt said that will be equaled if not surpassed this year by the time the pow-wow finishes today. His daughter, Olivia, 2ð, participated with the “tiny tots” dancers.
Dorothy Corbi, pow-wow committee chairwoman, said dancers from across the country as far away as Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Canada have come to participate.
The pow-wow began Saturday afternoon with announcer Tom Phillips' introduction of Chumash Tribal Vice Chairman Richard Gomez for a welcome greeting followed by a blessing by Chumash Elders Council Chairman Joe Talaugon of Guadalupe.
A gourd dance with drummers in a circle in the middle of the arena around one drum with dancers and their gourd rattles around the drummers is the traditional start of each day. Phillips said the gourd dance has origins with the Kiowa and Southern Cheyenne people.
The colorful grand entry procession into the arena of dancers of all ages in their traditional tribal regalia followed the gourd dance. Both the gourd dance and the grand entry are repeated later in the day.
Saturday evening, a group of children who attended CampKalawashaq, the tribe's annual summer camp, sang Chumash songs as well as those from other tribes dressed in regalia they created at the camp held at Rancho Oso.
Around the arena, dozens of vendor booths offered jewelry, clothing and arts and crafts as well as food including fry bread, a traditional Native American flat bread that can be eaten with ground beef, lettuce and cheese like a taco or with powdered sugar and honey.
The pow-wow is scheduled to continue today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event is free, but parking is $3. Proceeds will be split 50-50 between the tribe's education fund and the Santa Maria boxing club.
Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 688-5522, Ext. 6008, or .