Nyemii, Wildcat, Gato
California Tribal Song Presentations

By Roy Cook

Jon Meza Cuero is the only Native Kumeyaay speaker in California keeping the traditional Carannza family Wildcat song cycle alive. He is the song leader of the Three Aukas and a Championship singer in Baja California. He also teaches youth in the language and songs of the Kumeyaay. He sings regularly at USA and BAJA Tipai community social and traditional events.

Jon Meza Cuero is a lead singer of Nyemii and has extensive experience with many of the other styles of Tipai song. Through his life experience and by circumstance and politics, he is a participant observer of the dynamics at work defining traditional song style in the Kumeyaay, Ipai, Tipai and extended Baja territory.

This past weekend, 11/4/11, he presented Tipai Wildcat songs at the San Diego State University 35th year Tribute of the American Indian Studies Department. A fine row of singers assembled for the presentation: Henry Mendibles, Ben Nance, Stan Rodriguez, Roy Cook, Alan Lachuza and Ral Christman. Jon was very generous with the opportunity to sing in public and he allowed new and accomplished singers to participate. He sang a long session with enthusiasm and purpose in the selection of song.

After a bit of historical reference for better appreciation of the shared moment of cultural sharing he was greeted with enthusiastic applause and smiling spoken acknowledgments and warm handshakes.

The next day Jon was again singing at the honoring reception and unveiling of the Art work done by Kenneth Banks from the Santa Ysabel Band of the Diegueno. This event was held at the Jacobs Center in South East San Diego across the Chollas Creek and along the traditional waterway of the Kumeyaay Nation residence band sites.

Other singers were also in attendance: Stan Rodriguez sang Tipai Bird songs and Paul Cuero with Louis Guassic sang Tukuk Bird songs. This occasion was a splendid overview of the Southern California traditional Song Styles.

Jon’s finale began with an appropriate song associated with San Diego and danced across the walkway, turned the singers and continued dancing in front of the dedicated unveiled Coyote Tracks Art work. Jon brought his set of songs to a close with the circle closing song and a dramatic flourish of the gourd rattle. This presentation was a good time for the visitors, organizer, Macrdonio Arteaga Jr. and the Jacob Center.

Also, recently, Jon Meza Cuero, Tipai Master Teacher and song leader, was talking with other members of the Auka singers. We were talking about songs and stories about songs. Jon has often told us of earlier times and a journey North and East from one tribal community to the next. This song journey was taken and composed Jon’s ancestors: Alfonso Meza, Jon’s father and his uncle Benito Carranza and also by a traditional and well-known Tribal singer of songs: Amaay Ta Qwas, Pinta el Cielo Amarillo or Yellow Sky, in English. Yellow Sky composed these two songs that begin at San Jose de Tecate. First, as he was looking toward the route ahead he was inspired to compose a song to begin his journey. He traveled from village to village-composing songs describing the locations. Inspirations were from sights seen and emotions experienced. .

As a teacher and song composer, Jon strongly emphasizes the need to learn the tune first. He has often said, "First the song, then the words, and then what the words mean." We feel he offers his instruction in a traditional manner and often speaks to us from the heart in a traditional way. Mehan!

For more information and past events see: http://americanindiansource.com/wildcatpresents.html

Nyemii, la Fiera, Gato California Presentaciones Tribales de Canción

Por Roy Cook

Jon Meza Cuero es orador de El Unico Nativo Kumeyaay en California que mantiene el Carannza tradicional ciclo Arriesgado familiar de canción vivo. Es el líder de canción del Tres Aukas y un cantante de Campeonato en Baja California. El también enseña juventud en el idioma y canciones del Kumeyaay. Canta regularmente en EEUU y comunidad de BAJA Tipai acontecimientos sociales y tradicionales.

Jon Meza Cuero es un cantante de Nyemii y tiene experiencia extensa con muchos de los otros estilos de canción de Tipai. Por su experiencia de la vida y por circunstancia y política, él es un observador de participante de la dinámica en el trabajo que define estilo tradicional de canción en el Kumeyaay, Ipai, Tipai y el territorio prolongado de Baja.

Este fin de semana, el 11/4/11, él presentó Tipai canciones Arriesgadas en el San Diego Universidad Pública Homenaje 35 de año del indio norteamericano Estudia el Departamento. Una fila fina de cantantes reunió para la presentación: Henry Mendibles, Ben Nance, Stan Rodriguez, Cocinero de Roy, Alan Lachuza y Ral Christman. Jon fue muy generoso con la oportunidad de cantar en el público y él permitió nuevos y a cantantes consumados participar. Cantó una sesión larga con entusiasmo y propósito en la selección de canción.

Después de que un poco de referencia histórica para mejor apreciación del momento compartido de compartir cultural que fuera saludado con aplauso y reconocimientos apasionado hablado sonrientes y calenta apretones de manos.

Al día siguiente Jon otra vez cantaba en la recepción que honora y desvela del trabajo de la Arte hecho por Bancos de Kenneth de la Banda de Santa Ysabel del Diegueno. Este acontecimiento fue tenido en el Centro de Jacobs en el Sur San Diego Oriental a través del Riachuelo de Chollas y por la vía navegable tradicional de los sitios de la banda de residencia de Nación de Kumeyaay.

Otros cantantes fueron también en asistencia: Stan Rodriguez cantó Tipai canciones de Pájaro y Paul Cuero con Louis Guassic cantaron Tukuk canciones de Pájaro. Esta ocasión fue una vista general espléndida de la California del sur Estilos tradicionales de Canción.

El final de Jon empezó con una canción apropiada asociada con San Diego y bailó a través del sendero, giró a los cantantes y siguió baile delante del Coyote desvelado dedicado Rastrea el trabajo del Arte. Jon trajo su conjunto de canciones a un fin con la canción de fin de círculo y un floreo dramático de la matraca de calabaza. Esta presentación fue un tiempo bueno para los visitantes, los organizadores y el Jacob Centran.

También, recientemente, Jon Meza Cuero, Tipai Maestro Magistral y líder de canción, hablaban con otros miembros de los cantantes de Auka. Hablábamos de canciones e historias acerca de canciones. Jon a menudo nos ha dicho de tiempos más temprano y un viaje al norte y el Este de una comunidad tribal al luego. Este viaje de la canción fue tomado y fue compuesto los antepasados de Jon: Alfonso Meza, el padre de Jon y su tío Benito Carranza y también por un cantante tradicional y muy conocido Tribal de canciones: Amaay Ta Qwas, el de Pinta Cielo Amarillo o Cielo Amarillo, en inglés. El Cielo amarillo compuso estas dos canciones que empiezan en San Jose de Tecate. Primero, como miraba hacia la ruta adelante él fue inspirado a componer una canción para empezar su viaje. Viajó de la aldea a canciones aldea-componendo que describen las ubicaciones. Las inspiraciones fueron de vistas vistas y las emociones experimentaron. .

Como un compositor de maestro y canción, Jon acentúa totalmente la necesidad de aprender la melodía primero. El a menudo ha dicho, "Primero la canción, entonces las palabras, y entonces lo que las palabras significan". Nos sentimos que ofrece su instrucción en una manera tradicional y a menudo habla con nosotros del corazón en una manera tradicional. ¡Mehan!

Para más información y acontecimientos pasados ve:

http://americanindiansource.com/wildcatpresents.html

CALIFORNIA Tribal Culture Overview

By Roy Cook

Linguists have long known that early California was one of the richest language centers of the world. In fact, as we shall see, language is the most commonly used method of distinguishing the peoples of California. Protohistoric information and facts can often be obtained from written accounts of people living in "historic" times or from relatively recent archaeological sources.

San Diego County has two major language groups: Hokan-Yuman and Shoshone groups.

Today there are many Tribal Bands and 21 Federal recognized Indian Reservations in San Diego County. There are other linguistically related tribes that also continue to reside on Tribal land in Imperial County and in Arizona along the Colorado River.

Rights guaranteed the Kumeyaay as citizens of the United States under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not become a reality until the passage of the U.S. Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, and American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978.

Then there was the nagging issue of water rights. Just as the loss of good land created havoc with the ability of California Indians to provide for themselves, the newcomers' insatiable thirst for water proved devastating. Water rights issues were litigated early in the century, and continue today.
An example is El Capitan Reservoir. Kumeyaay bands placed and originally located on the El Capitan Grande Reservation were evicted from their valley homes in 1934, because of the city of San Diego's desire to provide water for new development. A special Act of Congress condemned the prime watershed of the reservation, turning it over to the city. Indians protested, but were forcibly removed and their homes burned.

The Barona and Viejas bands were formed because of El Capitan bands acquiring nearby property to rebuild their homes, school, church and farms. Replacing the valuable watershed and water source has and is proved more difficult.

* 1950 The population of Native Americans totaled 22,000 in California (20,500 in 1880 as compared to 394,000 at the time of European Colonial contact in 1769 and of which 51,707 are federally recognized. 2000 Census.) Cook, Sherburne F. The Conflict between the California Indian and White Civilization

Some 371 treaties were signed between the US, and the Native American nations. Not only has the US violated every single one of these treaties but they had to stop negotiating out of embarrassment. Sadly, the US government continues to violate them to this day!

The destruction of the indigenous peoples on these shores was near total. For those few that remained, life became a struggle merely to survive. By 2009, Gambling and Oil have helped some tribes 'cash in' on being Indian, but what about the rest? According to information at 'Treaty Productions' Homepage, as of 1998, 335 000 Native Americans were homeless, (29 percent), 678 500 lived in substandard housing, (59 percent), 793 500 live in severe over-crowding, (69 percent).