By Roy Cook

The 16th annual Sycuan Pow wow fit itself around the expressions of traditional Kumeyaay culture. This is a major contest pow wow in the San Diego region. Participants come from all over the state of California. Additionally many are drawn to the hospitality and generosity of the Sycuan Band. There are participants from: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alaska, New York (Yes, there are still Indians on Indian Land in Long Island, New York.). Also there are many international tribal people from Canada and Mexico that attend this Sycuan gathering each year. This is wonderful opportunity to learn and appreciate the diversity and continuity of American Indian Culture, Song and Tradition.

Glorious is a fine one word summery of the weekend gathering. Glorious weather. Glorious accommodations. Glorious hospitality. Glorious songs. Gorgeous dancers. It is a glorious feeling to be in the company of the most glorious people in the world, American Indian Tribal people!

The Sycuan Pow wow is three days of intense celebration of life, renewal and Intertribal tradition. Camp circles are a tradition across this wonderful Indian country. Mike Burgess, Comanche, and Emcee for the past nine years is heard to comment, “There have been many improvements since the days we were attending the pow wow on the Sycuan baseball field.” He also acknowledged, “Indian people every where from the Eastern Ocean to the Western and from the tip of Alaska to the Straits of South America are the most beautiful people in the world.” He also announced, “This weekend is also a time for prayer and serious thoughts concerning the recent tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of tribal communities in Louisiana and Mississippi.” Additionally he recalled, “On September 11, 1999 our Indian Land was under attack and we also remember this tragedy.” This entire weekend the Sycuan Tribal flag is flown at half-mast in respectful recognition of these two tragedies.

Danny Tucker, Sycuan Chairperson, proudly brought in the Eagle feather staff with the Sycuan Color Guard each Grand entry. He greeted everyone and opened the pow wow with enthusiasm and hospitality. He was there each day, with many members of his extended family, enjoying the doings and excitement of the event.

Anna Sandoval, past Sycuan Chairperson, got the first feathers flying at the 1989 Sycuan Pow wow. She was instrumental and supportive of the Canadian Cree participation being brought way down here in the corner of the US of A and into Kumeyaay country. Ron Christman and Rita Morales were able to contact the Cardinal family. They brought down dancers, elders and singers with a drum. That made this first dance circle complete at the first Sycuan Pow wow in 1989. This year the Cree people are well represented by the Northern Drum, River Cree Singers from Alberta, Canada.

The Head staff for this year are: Master of Ceremony, Mike Burgess, Host Northern Drum, River Cree Singers from Alberta, Canada, Host Southern Drum, Eagle Claw Singers from Elgin, Oklahoma, Head Northern Man Dancer, ‘Bo’ Young Bear, Head Northern Women Dancer, Veronica Ortiz, Head Southern Man Dancer, Pete ‘Many Horses’ Mares, Head Southern Women Dancer, Deborah Summers, Head Young Man Dancer, Raymond ‘Swift Hawk’ Sandoval, Head Young Women Dancer, Thea Hammond, Head Gourd Dancer Roy Cook and two of the hardest workers at the Sycuan Pow wow, the Co-Arena Directors, Richard Galvan and Ben Wolf. Also vital for the smooth running of the pow wow are the technical people: sound man and the judges and tabulators for all events.

There was a splendid representation in the Gourd Dance by the Golden State Gourd Society, Black Wolf Gourd Society and American Indian Warriors Association. Also represented are many other American Indian military veterans of World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and many other conflicts. Glorious songs were sung from the center of the circle. This is a very emotional experience and truly humbling, to me, each time we enter this Gourd Dance circle.

It has been sixteen years since I accepted a head staff responsibility at Sycuan. Even so, each year I have attended has been educational and gloriously different. I was the Head singer for the San Diego Intertribal singers when we sang for the first Sycuan Pow wow. This year I was asked to be the Head Gourd Dancer by the Sycuan Pow wow coordinator, Arlene Galvan.

I have been reluctant, for many factors, to accept any requests for Head Staff participation since 1990. The primary reason is that for the past fifteen years I am blessed with the opportunity to give back and care for my 98-year Mother, Mary Ortiz Cook. She is the daughter of Cipriano Santa Maria Ortiz and Teresa Escalante Ortiz from Tucson Arizona. I had a little experience in direct elder care from living with my Father, Charles Scott Cook, until he passed away in 1986. He is the son of George Putnum Cook and Nellie Holbrook Cook from Guthrie, Oklahoma. Thank you, Sycuan Pow wow committee, for all my relations.

The Yuman song response is beyond expectation. Sycuan Tribal member George Prieto is heard to respond to the excellent turn out, “ There are so many beautiful lady dancers we may have to build a bigger arena.” Both Colorado River-Kumeyaay and Northern Cauhilla songs were sung for the dancers. Representative teams of Bird song singers took the microphone and presented songs that moved the feet and emotions of the dancers. It was truly, glorious. Each morning, before the pow wow began, Ron Christman, Santa Ysabel Ipai, sang traditional Tipai Tukuk Bird songs.

The Yuman songs are thousands of years old. Yet, I believe, Sycuan was the first to host a public Bird dance completion. Not too many years ago, social opportunities to enjoy these songs were mostly at Fiestas or ‘by invitation only’ gatherings. Sadly, too often I have over heard comments on Bird Singing from outside observers to the Tipai-Kumeyaay culture, “They all sound alike." also "They just go back and forth, over and over." Yet, to the informed, these songs are a sweet sophistication of multiple related songs. The lead singer may or may not elect to bring out double step, or triple step songs, spins, turns. Facing the Singers the dancers will often assemble, mostly female, and guided by the gourd rattle and song join in the presentation. The dancing is often inspired by the moment and song selection of the lead singer.

Saturday night, just East of the pow wow grounds, the "Peon" competition took place. This is a highly competitive game of complex strategy, skill and calculation.

It is played with eight players - four on each side, with an additional man or woman to act as umpire (Koymi). The two sides are usually made up of male or female players from different tribes or bands. The game itself is played with eight "peon sticks"- four white, and four black (usually made of sheep bone or coyote bone). They are about three inches long and a quarter of an inch in diameter. The object of the game is for one side to win all the tally sticks. The Koymi, at the end awards tally sticks corresponding to the number of correct guesses from one side to the other. The game is won when one side wins all of the tally sticks.

Much betting accompanies the game among both the men and the women. The game may be won in a short time, or it may - as frequently happens - prolonging itself through an entire night, until the early morning, with several hundred dollars or more changing hands!

The sixteenth annual Sycuan Pow wow 2005 saw beautiful regalia, feathers flying, ribbons flashing in the sun and beadwork sparkling in complex designs. It is a real bell-ringing day. Tribal tradition is visible in each smile and proud face across the circle. I saw many friends, familiar faces, all of us a little older but still enjoying our Indian ways. Songs echoed in the Sycuan canyons of time immemorial. Calling to all our relations: Here we are once again, we are what you taught us, we are what has been before and will continue to be, Indian people. Thanks to the Creator for the health and opportunity to be here together again. Mehan, A ho and thank you all.