TRIBES CLOSE SEASON WITH LAST DANCE.Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer When the seasons change and the colder weather approaches, bears begin their period of hibernation. So do 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. dancers at Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. To commemorate this period of dormancy, dancers gathered for one last celebration before packing it in until spring. ``This is our way of closing,'' said Dee Roybal, also known as Two Moon Woman. ``There's a time you have to stop and focus. The bear hibernates and so do we.'' Dancers pounded sticks against their hands, the ground and other sticks as they circled and spun in the dance area. Dancers were adorned a·dorn tr.v. a·dorned, a·dorn·ing, a·dorns 1. To lend beauty to: "the pale mimosas that adorned the favorite promenade" Ronald Firbank. 2. with colorful paint and animal skins. Audience members held hands and wound their way through the area in a snake dance snake dance n. 1. A ceremonial dance of the Hopi in which the dancers traditionally carry live snakes in their mouths. 2. A procession of people who join hands and move forward in a zigzag line. Noun 1. . Competitive 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. dance events are not in the Tongva tradition, so Sunday's event was more of a simple gathering, Roybal said. About 30 dancers and volunteers from all across Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, gathered to perform themes of travel, hunting and the circle of life. ``It's really an honor for this land,'' said Ranger Pam Darty. ``People come from far away.'' The event was essentially Tongva, although Chumash people The Chumash are a Native American people who historically inhabit mainly the southern coastal regions of California, in the vicinity of what is now San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, extending from Morro Bay in the north to Malibu in the south. and a variety of mixed tribes participated, Roybal said. American Indian performers use their down time to repair and add to their traditional outfits. ``We make everything on our own,'' Roybal said. ``It's continuous. I never stop. You've always got to keep adding to your regalia.'' Roybal hoped that the non-Indians who attended the event would come away with a sense of the culture. Too many school texts focus exclusively on larger tribes like the Apache, she said. ``Nobody really knows about the little tribes,'' Roybal said. And just as the bear comes out of hibernation, the dancing will begin again. ``We usually start back in March, April,'' Roybal said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) (Ran in Simi and Conejo Editions only) Mark Acuna laughs Sunday at a closing ceremony for the Indian dance season. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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