FIESTA DE KUMIAI

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Pictures and movie video audio recordings from the annual Kumeyaay Fiesta in San Jose de la Zorra, March 19, 2006, feature many southern Kumeyaay, Cocopah and Cucapa bird singers singing and bird dancers dancing, including two large Indian bonfires for light and warmth, a free hot feast and friendship for all who attended.

CULTURAL singer-speaker:
Juan Aguiar, San Antonio Necua

The famous Native American Yuman bird singer pictured and recorded in this video audio clip playing a traditional California Indian gourd rattle musical instrument is Juan Aguiar, indio Kumiai of the San Antonio Necua, Baja Calif., Mexico, indigenous tribal community.

Having attended a lot of cultural events on both sides of the US-Mexico border, the photographer noted he can't recall seeing so many cultural singers performing at one fiesta. When a singer came up to sing his or her friends came up and stood beside the singer in support, which was also a little different.

The photographer noted only one northern Kumeyaay family attended, plus Kumeyaay singer Stan Rodriguez of Santa Ysabel, and Cocopah singer Dale Phillips of Somerton.

The photographer received permission to take pictures during this cultural event directly from Kumiai elder Andres Vega, tribal leader of the San Jose de la Zorra reservation band.

Yuman Language Event on Video Translated real time audio: Paipai, Cucapá, Mexican Spanish, Cahuilla, English. Cultural Language Event, c.1994, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. Features indigenous speakers, storytellers and dancers of Norte de Baja California, Mexico, and Southern California, USA.

BAJA SPEAKERS Pictured (roughly l-r):

Gloria Castañeda, Kumiai
Maria Emes, Kumeyaay (farewell song)
Juan Alvañez, Pai-Pai (story, singing)
Margarita Castro, Pai-Pai
Juan Aguiar, Kumiai (is this the same singer?)
Josefina Ochurte, Kiliwa-PaiPai
Juan Bernardo Aldama, Kumiai
Benito Peralta, Pai-Pai (PaiPai-Spanish translator)
Alvino Siva, Cahuilla (guest bird singer storyteller)
Inocencia Gonzalez, Cucapá
Manuela Aguiar, Kumiai-PaiPai

Photos, Writing and Web Page Design Contributed by webmaster, GARY G BALLARD, San Diego.