Native Culture Outshines Rivalry in Clash of Powwows

There’s clearly no love lost between them, but Thousand Oaks’ two top Chumash leaders proved the town was big enough for both of them as each put on a powwow Saturday.

“I don’t care what anyone else is doing right now,” said Paul Varela of the Chumash Interpretive Center as visitors began pouring into the center’s oak grove. “I’m trying to raise money for my organization.”

Across town, Richard Angulo of the California Indian Council and his counterparts were saying similar things. But they were still wondering why Varela and the rest of the Oakbrook Chumash suddenly decided to have a powwow on the same date as their 8-year-old event. The interpretive center opened just last year. Both powwows continue today.

“I just hope it’s a coincidence,” said California Indian Council Chairman Reggie Pagaling, watching as a smaller, but significant, number of visitors made their way into the council’s event at the Borchard Community Center. “There are some Indian groups that are disheartened by this. It’s important that there are no divisions in the Indian community.”

Varela is the first to admit he dislikes Angulo, whose Chumash lineage he considers sketchy at best. But Varela says he didn’t hear about Angulo’s powwow until it was too late to reschedule his event.

For his part, Angulo--who has threatened legal action against Varela for publicly questioning his Chumash authenticity--claims no hard feelings toward Varela. But Angulo, who says he is part Chumash and part Yaqui, questions why Varela continues to cast doubt on his Native American roots.

“This feud has been going on for a while,” said Alfred Valenzuela of the Oakbrook Chumash. “What can I say? I’ve known Richard [Angulo] for years. He’s said so many things, we just don’t know what to believe any more. He used to be Yaqui, now he’s Chumash. So you tell me.”

For the Native American dancers and vendors who flocked to Thousand Oaks for the weekend, the differences between the two groups hardly mattered. There were longtime friends at both powwows, and each event was an opportunity to educate Southern Californians and keep Native American traditions alive.

“If I wasn’t dancing over here, I’d be dancing over there,” said Randy Folkes, clad in full regalia in preparation for the grand entry ceremony at the interpretive center. “There’s no hard feelings as far as most people are concerned.”

Folkes, a Chumash Indian who teaches Native American studies at various Anaheim schools, said the pristine scenery of the Interpretive Center--the former site of a small Chumash settlement--was more noteworthy than any feud.

“This is a very sacred area here,” he said. “It’s beautiful to see the oak trees standing the way they used to. You just dance here because it’s in your heart. The drums call you, and you follow.”

John Stiffarm, a drum teacher and member of the Gros Ventre tribe, travels to powwows all over California, selling handmade belts and percussion instruments in the style of northern Plains Indians. Some vendors abandoned Angulo’s festival in favor of Varela’s larger event, but Stiffarm said he never even considered jumping ship.

“In reality, they should come together,” he said. “That would be better for everyone.”

Both Varela and Angulo expect to have a total of several thousand visitors by the end of today--and many will be the same people. Admission to Angulo’s powwow is free, while Varela charges $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Julie Engleking of Thousand Oaks brought her twin 6-year-old sons, Mitch and Jaime, to Angulo’s powwow, and she planned on going to the competing festival as well.

Engleking, who is not Native American, was hoping to pass an appreciation of Indian culture to her sons. The colorful dances and the Indian fry bread already have the boys asking for more, she said.

“To me, it’s important to keep an open mind and learn about cultures that might otherwise be lost,” she said. “The more powwows the better, as far as I’m concerned.”