POWWOW DRAWS THE PEOPLE : MOORPARK COLLEGE EVENT CELEBRATES ROOTS.Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer Courtney Red-Horse Mohl couldn't wait to get out in front of all the people at the Children of Many Colors powwow powwow American Indian ceremony or gathering of various kinds. Powwows originally were healing ceremonies, but the word could also refer to exuberant celebrations, with dancing and singing, of success in hunting or victory in battle. Saturday to do her fancy shawl dance. Along with her mother, actress Valerie Red-Horse, the 11-year-old from Tarzana was about to have her formal coming out as a fancy shawl dancer at the annual event sponsored by the Redbird redbird: see cardinal. organization at Moorpark College Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134 acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. . After this, she would be able to perform the dance at other powwows. The dance began in the 1930s after women stopped wearing heavy buffalo robes and blankets in favor of lighter, colorful clothing. The coming out was as important to her as it was to her mother, who served as the model for Mattel's Pocahontas doll and whose father was a full-blooded Cherokee. ``When you dance, it's great and I want to teach my children to dance,'' said Courtney. ``I think dancing will keep (my culture) going.'' Founded in 1992, the nonprofit Redbird organization provides free educational resources on indigenous cultures and promotes respect and understanding among all cultures, while networking among American Indians American Indians: see Americas, antiquity and prehistory of the; Natives, Middle American; Natives, North American; Natives, South American. and non-Indians for the benefit of both, officials said. About 10,000 visitors were expected to attend the two-day event, said Corina Roberts, founder and president of Redbird. The annual event, started in 1994 and growing larger each year, promotes cultural awareness and ``displaces racism,'' Roberts said. ``It think it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to lay aside some of our prejudices and misconceptions,'' she said. ``This is a good opportunity for people to learn and meet native people and talk to them one-to-one to find out how they really are, as opposed to how Hollywood presents them.'' The powwow features representatives of 50 tribes, 200 dancers and 45 vendors of Indian arts and crafts. Activities include storytelling, music and pony rides. Proceeds will benefit the American Indian American Indian or Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. Clinic/Main Artery; the Boys and Girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. Club of Pine Ridge Pine Ridge is the name of several places in the United States and Canada, including:
American Indian high school senior. The event's focus is on the future. ``We believe we have to support the seventh generation to come,'' said Redbird founding member Toni Sarcinella, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Moorpark and a Hunkpapa Indian. ``If every generation is responsible for the seventh generation ahead, our children will be cared for. You must care for the environment, for the world, for the seventh generation.'' Though she was also having her official fancy shawl dance coming-out, Valerie Red-Horse said she was happier for her daughter than she was for herself. ``I intend to keep my culture alive through my children, generation after generation,'' she said. The powwow continues today at the Moorpark College soccer field. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) Dancers make a grand entry Saturday at the Children of Many Colors powwow, sponsored by the nonprofit Redbird organization. (2--color) Drummers provide the beat for the dancers at the annual event. Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News |
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