PowWow Visits Redlands Community

Native American Culture was alive and thriving in Redlands as the community recently came together at the University of Redlands (UR) for the inaugural PowWow with a group of traveling singers and dancers who shared their traditional songs and dances. There were over 5,000 locals in attendance over the two-day event. Vernon Motschman, one of the coordinators for the Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc. Behavioral Health Services Native American Resource Center, located at the San Manuel Clinic, along with Nora Pulskamp, a Navajo woman representing the Supporting the Educational Journey Coordinator for Native American Students program, and Heather Torres, of the Navajo San Ildefonso Pueblo, representing Creating a Passion for Learning Coordinator in Native American Students program at the University of Redlands Native American Student Programs all worked together to plan the PowWow. For two years, they have been trying to get this event off the ground and were able to achieve this goal with support from UR. The feedback from the vendors, staff and audience members was so positive that they hope to coordinate a similar event next year. The inaugural PowWow was a traditional Native American event that featuring dance, drumming and singing from tribes of the plains region of the United States. The purpose was to educate the community about the culture of Native Americans. Derek Dur helped bring in local Southern California tribes including San Manuel, Santa Rosa, and Cauilla and Morongo, who kicked off the PowWow with traditional bird songs and dances. Ruben Littlehead traveled from Happy Flats, Mont. to be the Master of Ceremonies. Rusty Gillette traveled from Falls Church, Va. to take the role of Arena Director and Juaquin Hamilton came from Shawnee, Okla. to be the Head Dance Judge. There were 260 dancers and 7 drum circles that came from various tribes across the United States. Motschman shared, “It is important because it’s our culture. Without knowing our songs, culture and dances, we wouldn’t exist. It’s our identity. It’s a time for us to celebrate and to come together." He went on to say that the PowWow is a, "way to celebrate life and what we can pass onto to future generations.” [END] Native American Culture was alive and thriving in Redlands Ca and brought people together from the local Inland Empire community, university, with singers and dancers who traveled from around the country and Canada to participate in the inaugural Pow wow to share their style of songs and dance to express their background. Vernon Motschman is one of the coordinators for the Riverside San Bernardino County Indian Helath, Inc. Behavioral Health Services Native American Resource Center, located at the San Manuel Clinic who helped bring the Pow wow to fruition. He and Nora Pulskamp, Navajo, responsible for Supporting the Educational Journey Coordinator, and Heather Torres, San Illdefonso Pueblo, Navajo, responsible for Creating a Passion for Learning Coordinator at the University of Redlands Native American Student Program both worked with Motschman to create the Pow wow. For two years, they have been trying to get the event off the ground and were able to achieve this goal after the support was given by the University. The feedback and response was so positive from the vendors, staff, and audience members and well received, the goal is to coordinate another event for next year. The Pow Wow took place at the University of Redlands Campus on Saturday March 29, and Sunday March 30, 2014. The inaugural Pow wow is a traditional Native American event that features Native American dance, drumming and singing from tribes of the plains region of the United States. The purpose was to educate the community about the culture of Native Americans and to lift spirits in order to improve mental health. Various resources for San Bernardino and Riverside County including mental health and shelters, and other health resources provided information to the community in addition to the exhibitions by the participants. Derek Dur helped bring in 8 local tribes to Southern California including; San Manuel, Santa Rosa, Cauilla, and Morongo who kicked off the Pow Wow with traditional bird songs and dances before the other tribes started the grand entry. Ruben Littlehead traveled from Happy Flats, Montana to be the Master of Ceremonies, Rusty Gillette who is well known traveled from Falls Church Virginia took the role of Arena Director and Juaquin Hamilton came from Shawnee, Oklahoma was the Head Dance Judge. There were 260 dancers that came from different tribes from across the United States, and 7 drum circles traveled from St. Paul Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Arizona and California to participate. Motschman stated, “the reason it’s important is because it’s our culture. Without knowing our songs, culture and dances, we wouldn’t exist. It’s our identity. It’s time for us to celebrate and to come together, our culture is strong and it’s a way to celebrate life and what we can pass onto to future generations.” There were 5,000-6,000 people in attendance over the two days and the University had other programs held at the same time that drew more people to the event, which pleased the vendors. The Native American Resource Center Riverside San Bernardino County Indian Health Organization is an outpatient health facility and received a grant through San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and it comes through the Mental Service Act. This organization helps underserved populations, the services can be found online at rsbcihi.org. The program is designed and intended to attract interest in traditional cultural activities and highlight positive culturally grounded activities which may prevent serious behavioral, mental health and substance abuse conditions. Motschman shared, “the University of Redlands students did a great job on making it a success and we received great reviews for the 1st event that we held. The number of people that showed up showed that if you work together, you can get things done.”