American
Indian Warriors Association at Balboa Park Culture Days 2012
By Roy Cook
SCAIR Senior advisor, Randy Edmonds is the Emcee for this two day celebration
of life. He organized the first Culture Days when he was the Director
and founder of the Indian Human Resource Center many years ago.
Military
veterans, leaders and family of gourd society are welcome to participate
in the Southern Plains Gourd dance each day. The invited Head Gourd dancer
is the President of AIWA, William Buchanan, USMC Vietnam combat veteran.
Also the American Indian Warriors Association, AIWA, is the Honor Color
Guard for this two day event. Mr. Wilbur Solomon, Omaha, was the invited
Warrior staff carrier. AIWA was honored to bring in and retire the colors
in a respectful military manner.
The gourd songs were
sung by Tim Redbird, Kiowa. He is the head singer for the Red Warriors
Southern Drum. Each day offered an opportunity to also experience the
complexities of Native American tribal music form and style.
The
California Tribal songs are not often seen out of their traditional song
presentation. The Tucuk Birdsongs sung on Sunday by Leroy Elliot, Manzanita
Chairman, are one of the major traditional Yuman song styles sung in this
Southern California region. These songs extend over regional tribal and
linguistic boundaries. Additionally, these songs extend beyond the imposed
international boundary. These timeless Bird songs have sustained the people
throughout the ages. Their role is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional
in expression and application. For thousands upon thousands of years Kumeyaay
people lived all over this San Diego coastal area: Florida canyon, Tecolote
canyon, Indian Point, Balboa Park and Chollas Creek.
On Saturday, an associate
and charter employees of the IHRC were honored for their long and devoted
service to the community: Vickie Gambala and Arvela Hunter. Congratulations,
ladies!
 On
Sunday the Head Gourd dancer, William Buchanan, sponsored a winner-take-all
competition for all women in traditional regalia. This honor was in recognition
of all War Mothers and women everywhere on this special day.
Also
on Sunday, Stan Rodriguez, Ipai educator from Santa Ysabel and Kumeyaay
Elder Jane Dumas were honored. She is a very special Native American and
she is a lineal descendent of Chief Manuel Hatam of the Balboa park canyon.
She grew up in a dirt-floored home, hauling water by the bucket. She spoke
Kumeyaay and Spanish before English. Jane Dumas is an enrolled member
of the Jamul Band of Kumeyaay Indians in the East County. She is a well-known
and widely respected elder, teacher, and leader in San Diego's American
Indian community and in San Diego at-large.
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