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.”