CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN POWWOW CEREMONY: The Grand Entry Posting of the Colors
Kumeyaay Indian U.S. Marine and U.S. Army military veterans of Korean and Vietnam wars carry traditional Native American Indian ceremonial staffs during a pow-wow grand entry parade on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, near San Diego and El Cajon in Southern California.
The pictured authentic tribal staffs include a mounted eagle head, eagle feathers, animal furs, bead work, and a dream catcher.
Used extensively in Native American cultural ceremonies, the eagle and eagle feathers, including eagle feet, are sacred to most Native American tribal peoples, including the Kumeyaay, and represent a spiritual connection to the Creator.
Traditional Kumeyaay tribes and indigenous nations hold their sacred ceremonial staffs with similar importance and reverence that patriotic Americans respect and honor their American flag.
In this photo, the Sycuan Color Guard, Sycuan Honor Guard (background carrying flags) and the four Native American veterans are posting the colors (flags, staffs) to kickoff the Native American pow wow celebration.
Kumeyaay veterans pictured (r-l):
Kenneth Meza (Kumeyaay Jamul band), Roy Hunter (Mandan North Dakota), Hank Murphy (Sycuan band), George Prietto (Sycuan band).
Kenneth Meza, Kumeyaay, has served as the elected chairman of the Jamul Indian Village, and Hank Murphy, Kumeyaay, has served the Sycuan tribal government more than 30 years. Mr. Murphy currently serves his Kumeyaay tribe as an elected Sycuan council member, and the fire chief and founder of the Sycuan Fire Department, headquartered on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, El Cajon, CA.
Photo/design by military photographer Gary G. Ballard
KUMEYAAY BIRD SINGERS BIRD DANCERS YUMAN INDIANS SINGING DANCING:
OVER 100 PROFESSIONAL BIRD SINGING PICTURES of Sycuan's 2005 Traditional Gathering featuring Yuman and Shoshonean bird singers singing and bird dancers dancing from across Southern California, southwestern Arizona, northern Baja California, Mexico. Participants tribal people may include the Diegueno Diegueño Kumeyaay Kumiai, Mohave, Quechan, Cocopah Cucapa, Cahuilla, Pai Pai Paipai, Ipai Tipai, Hualapai, Kiliwa, Havasupai, Maricopa, Yavapai, Luiseño Luiseno, Juaneño Juaneno, Serrano, Chemehuevi, Gabrielino and Cahuilla aboriginal Indians of North America.
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