Drums Invite All to a Powwow : Ritual: Native Americans and guests join in a celebration that helps keep an ancient culture alive. The colorful festivities continue today in Moorpark.

Forty pairs of moccasins pounded the earth, sending dust spiraling into the air as the sweet scent of burning sage drifted over the arena. In the center of the circle, five men pummeled a cowhide drum and sang warrior hymns in Comanche.

Like their ancestors centuries before, thousands of Native Americans from across the West gathered Saturday to celebrate their culture, give thanks to the Great Spirit and renew friendships--this time at a powwow on a breezy Moorpark hilltop.

“It’s more than an honor for me because I’m standing on the land of my people,” said Bob Rivera, a Chumash from Buena Vista, who addressed the gathering during the grand entry ceremony. He prayed: “Thank you for this day, Grandfather. We ask that you look down upon your children, Grandfather.”

The second annual Children of Many Colors Powwow transformed Peter’s Arabian Ranch into a virtual village: 44 vendor stands peddling rabbit skins, turquoise bracelets, mandalas and other Native American crafts studded a dusty horse arena. Adults patronized booths selling fried bread and Navajo tacos. And throughout the afternoon, children hopped on pony rides and scurried in and out of tepees.

With Native Americans hailing from as far as Arizona and South Dakota, the powwow was a chance for almost everyone to come across an old friend.

“How are you?” Helena Dodson, a 31-year-old Navajo from Pasadena, called out to a woman rushing by in the crowd.

Powwow comes from the Algonquian word pauwau, used to describe medicine men and spiritual leaders. It now means a Native American conference, gathering or social event.

Today, Native American families travel hundreds of miles to attend powwows, which they see as big social events, but also as a way to keep native culture alive.

“It’s a way to teach non-Indians and Indians about our culture,” said Joe Sarcinella, a 16-year-old Hunkpapa Lakota from Simi Valley. “Some people still think Indians are people who run around wagons and shoot people with arrows.”

Jennifer Kordek, a 7-year-old Shoshone from Anaheim, wearing a blinding turquoise “Jingle Dress” covered with bells, had a more simple answer.

“It’s a place for people to dance and have a lot of fun.”

And dance they did.

Dancers wearing buffalo-bone sashes encircled the Twin Trails drum group from Arizona and shook their rattles at the sky during the gourd dance. And Anglos in shorts and tank tops joined dancers in deerskin suits to pad around the arena for the friendship dance.

Ron Littlewolf-Carrillo, 33, a Laguna-Pueblo Apache from New Mexico, said dancing connects him with his ancestors.

“I think of all the people who have danced before me,” said Littlewolf-Carrillo, who was head-to-toe in eagle feathers and wearing a wolf-hide sash. “I just hope for peace and concentrate my thoughts on what’s around me, like animals, horses and cattle.”

Many of the non-Native Americans at the powwow said they’d come out of an appreciation for Native American culture.

“It’s enlightening to see how things once were,” said Roger Harada, 24, of Simi Valley. He whiled away the afternoon combing through the crafts booths with his girlfriend. “I admire their respect for the landscape and the earth.”

Several booths at the powwow appealed to this environmental concern. Los Angeles-based TreePeople, a nonprofit group that encourages the planting of trees in cities, passed out stacks of brochures.

This weekend’s powwow was sponsored by the Redbird Assn., a Simi Valley nonprofit group organized in 1992 to promote Native American culture. Organizers hope to net about $8,000 through parking, program and T-shirt sales for Native American student scholarships, drug-abuse programs and Moorpark’s Handicapped Equestrian Learning Center.

FYI

The powwow continues today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 7155 Walnut Canyon Road in Moorpark. Admission is free. Information: 529-1888.