OCEANSIDE — The San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians welcomed the public and tribes from across the region and country to its 26th annual Inter-Tribal Powwow over the weekend.
Held each year on the grounds of Mission San Luis Rey, the two-day powwow invites tribes to share customs, enjoy tribal music and dancing, shop among arts and crafts vendors, and participate in other cultural activities.
The central focus of the powwow was the dancing arena, where dancers from local and visiting tribes wore colorful, elaborate regalia representing their people and ancestry as they performed traditional dances passed down through generations. Each dance carries its own purpose and meaning.
The San Luis Rey Band is made up of Luiseño people, or payómkawichum, which means “people of the west.” Luiseño people are native to Southern California, including parts of North San Diego County and southern Riverside County.
The San Luis Rey Band is associated with six other Luiseño tribes: La Jolla, Pala, Pauma, Pechanga, Rincon and Soboba.
While many Luiseño people live on reservations throughout the region, most now reside in cities. Despite this, the San Luis Rey Band has maintained its identity as a people on its ancestral tribal lands in Oceanside.
According to the tribe, its people face ongoing challenges in preserving what remains of their cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations. One way they do so is by hosting the annual powwow, inviting both Native and non-Native people to participate in workshops and activities that teach payómkawichum culture.
The San Luis Rey Mission Indian Foundation is the event’s primary sponsor. Supporting tribes include Barona, Soboba, Pauma/Yuima, Pechanga, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Other supporters include California State Parks, CSG Visual Communications, Frazier Farms and Grand Pacific Resorts.
