A Day to Make the Heart Soar Like a Hawk

The sound of jangling bells, drumbeats and wailing chants reverberated as dozens of dancers stomped the ground in a slow-moving, circular pattern.

A flurry of bright colors--red, yellow, purple, magenta, green and blue--adorned hundreds of people outfitted with fringed tunics, beadwork, headdresses, feathers, jewelry, moccasins and more.

And a close feeling permeated the crowd seated around the dance arena, as extended families, old friends and new acquaintances relaxed in the afternoon sun, exchanging laughter and excited chatter.

At the 22nd annual Indian powwow at the Orange County Fairgrounds, which ends with today’s festivities from 1 to 6 p.m., having fun prevailed as the common denominator.

It didn’t seem to matter if one was an American Indian tribe member, an Indian history buff, a local resident, an out-of-towner or just a curious spectator who paid the $5-per-person admission to find out what was causing the joyful din.

“A powwow is more of a social gathering to come and meet friends, rather than something ceremonial,” said 17-year-old Steve Minnich of Lakewood, clad in a black-and-silver tunic trimmed with red feathers and fringe.

Minnich, who is not of Indian ancestry, was a good example of the relaxed attitude that prevailed at the event. He said he is one of several hobbyists who have learned the dances and are allowed to participate in powwows throughout the United States.

“It’s a breather from the city,” said Pomona resident Veronica Parilla, a Ute-Navajo who planned to compete in one of several dance contests, central events at most powwows. “But I don’t dance for the (prize) money, I dance because I feel like it.”

Some Los Angeles-area dancers said they compete in a year-round circuit of powwows, choosing the ones closest to their homes in California and other western states.

Others travel long distances, such as Joel Shoptese, a resident of Mayetta, Kan., and a Potawatomi descended from the Algonquin Nation in eastern Canada. This year, Shoptese has attended powwows in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.

For Garden Grove resident Joe Martinez, a Ute who watched the festivities with his wife and three children, the powwow was a family learning experience.

“It’s a little bit of culture that the kids can pick up on,” Martinez said. “They would never have the opportunity to get such a wide spectrum of different tribes.”

By mid-afternoon Saturday, organizers of the powwow said attendance was expected to surpass last year’s. Orange County’s powwow is one of the largest on the West Coast, organizers said.

In addition to dance exhibitions and contests, about 80 vendors offering products from bumper stickers to hand-woven rugs hawked their wares to the passing crowd.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Southern California Indian Center in Garden Grove, Lucero said.