Source: Alec Berard
Uncategorized
July 2017 Indian Voices
TONKAWA Elders club May 2014
TONKAWA Elders club
May, 2014 meeting is Cancelled.
MAY 10 & 11
American Indian Heritage Pow wow
Balboa Park – Park Blvd & Presidents Way
10am – 6pm
Click here for Flier
MAY 17-18
3rd Annual Eagle and Condor Intertribal Powwow
DeAnza Park, 1434 S Euclid Ave/W Phillips St, Ontario, Ca
Info: 909-226-5263
MAY 23 & 24
UC Riverside Pow wow
5pm – 10pm
UCR Sports Complex 1000 Blaine St Riverside, CA
MAY 23-25
18th Annual Standing Bear Powwow
Kern county Fairgrounds
1142 South P St, Bakersfield, CA
Info: Gene Albitre @ 661/ 589-3181
JUNE 14-15
Powwow by the Sea
Pier Plaza, Seacoast Drive & Evergreen
Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Info: Jackson @ 619/423-6610
Our Beloved elder and cultural treasure has passed on and is now with her relatives. Your prayers are appreciated.
More information TBA.
Jane Dumas was a very special Native American. She is a lineal descendent of Chief, Manuel Hatam. For thousands upon thousands of years Kumeyaay people lived all over this San Diego coastal area: Tecolote Canyon, Florida Canyon, Indian Point, Balboa Park and Chollas Creek. If we were to ask ourselves, where are the Indians today? The answer is, right here in the City and greater San Diego area! That is correct! There are hundreds of tribal people still living near to their original Tribal locations. Many more have been scattered by modern events: historical, political or military. Too often sickness and the pressures of modern life have taken the greater toll on the local Kumeyaay populations.
Jane Dumas was often the first person called to mind when anyone needs a local reference about tribal issues. She is a humble person who would rather work for the improvement of situations rather than confrontation and attention of self. She grew up in a dirt-floored home, hauling water by the bucket. She spoke Kumeyaay and Spanish before English. Jane Dumas is a member of the Jamul Band of Kumeyaay Indians in East County. She is a well-known and widely respected elder, teacher, and leader in San Diego’s American Indian community and in San Diego at-large.
For decades, Jane has been speaking in classrooms and at public events, sharing knowledge of Kumeyaay culture and medicine, and stressing the value of traditional language and history in today’s urban and American Indian societies. In 1981, Jane helped found the San Diego American Indian Health Center, and since 1986 she has been described as an “anchor, leader, peacemaker, and bridge between Indian and non-Indians in the areas of medicine and education” and believes that “we can become healthier as both individuals and as a community by incorporating traditional knowledge and spirituality.”
As a member of East County’s Jamul Indian band of Kumeyaay, Dumas was often called to schools, parks or other forums to explain Kumeyaay history, language and traditions. Other Indians seek advice on ceremonial protocol: who should sit where, speak first, say which prayer.
Two things set Dumas apart. She is one of very few elders from a reservation to make a mark in San Diego’s so-called urban Indian community — people of Apache, Cherokee, Navajo, Lakota or other tribal descent. Further, she is revered for her vast knowledge of plants, herbs and ancient remedies. Bushes, grasses, even tiny weeds that most people don’t even notice hold incredible power and spiritual value to her.
“Even when I travel, I take the time to look at what’s in the ground,” she said. “It all has a good, warm feeling. It’s almost like a human feeling they pass on to you, the plants. “Some of them aren’t so friendly, just like people.”
Dumas worked for 20 years at San Diego’s Urban Indian Clinic, first as a home-health aide and then as a “traditional medicine specialist.” Since 1986 she also has been a board member for the Indian Human Resource Center. “She’s influenced everybody, urban and reservation,” said Richard Bugbee, an Old Town San Diego resident and Luiseño. “She’s kind of kept the traditions alive.”
She learned about plants from her mother, Isabel Thing, a renowned Kumeyaay healer who treated maladies from headaches to malaria and gangrene.
At one of her mother’s favorite gathering spots, by the Sweetwater River near State Route 94 in Rancho San Diego, Dumas points at this and that with her cane, listing plant names in English or Kumeyaay. Everything around her has some use.
This berry makes a tea. This seed is crushed into a poultice for poisonous bites. This leaf can be smoked like tobacco, or used as foot pads in shoes.
“She helped me understand how everything was connected,” Bugbee said. “From communicating to the land and to the plants before you took them, to actually looking at the plants. Looking at their water source. Being able to tell which one was healthier not by how big it was, but by how bright it was.”
At the San Diego clinic where Dumas worked until 2000, she recommended herbal remedies but also encouraged Indian patients to trust modern medicine. She describes both as gifts from the Creator. “I felt I was not a counselor, but people would talk to me and I would listen,” she said. “If they asked me, I’d say, ‘This is what I would do.’ ”
That subdued style is a hallmark of Dumas’ influence in Indian country, Bugbee says.
“People seem to come to her, and she directs them,” he said. “If there’s any kind of squabble, she settles it. She’s not real forceful about it. I don’t even know if she knows she’s doing it.” Bugbee said if Dumas were asked to do an opening invocation, she would say no. “But if you asked her to do a welcoming, she’d say, ‘Fine.'”
Viejas Chairman Anthony Pico, one of California’s most high-profile Indian leaders throughout the past twenty years, called Dumas “a major force” in promoting awareness of Kumeyaay culture to tribal youths as well as the public. “She’s a true warrior,” he said, “and someone who’s very, very valuable in the Kumeyaay community.”
Walked on Juaneño Tribal Leader David Belardes Dies at Age 67
Juaneño Tribal Leader David Belardes Dies at Age 67
David Belardes, tribal chairman of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, died on December 29 after a brave battle with cancer.
Serving his tribe since the 1970s, Belardes was repeatedly elected chairman for the Juaneños of the Acjachemen Nation since 1989. The tribe is currently a non-federally recognizied coastal tribe still living in and around their ancestral lands of Orange County, Riverside west county, Los Angeles south county, and San Diego north county.
Belardes, who grew up with the “old knowledge,” cared dearly for his people — all of whom he knew, most of them personally. Over the years, he became a highly respected and successful leader in dealing with the politics, ceremonies, and social services for his tribe, among numerous other responsibilities he gladly took on.
In San Juan Capistrano, Belardes was the head of a cultural museum at the Blas Aguilar Adobe/Foundation, which was originally built for his mission neophyte family in 1794 and later in 1845 for his Californio Mexican colonist family. It now belongs to the City and is operated as an interpretive center of Juaneño/Acjachemen history. Thanks to David’s time and efforts, this museum and its foundation will received a preservation grant that will ensure his people’s legacy forever.
Having sat on Chairman Belardes’s tribal council off and on since 1997 (as I currently do), I can personally attest to the many selfless traits that made him such a great leader and friend. Like many others, I owe the respect and dignity I now have for my Juaneño tribal brothers and sisters to David Belardes — who, despite much political and cultural controversy, brought people together.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, tribal members, and all who had the good fortune to know and work with him.
Yawaa (Peace)
Abel Silvas
San Diego, CA
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Yoga 4 the Homeless December 23, 2015
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TONKAWA San Diego Elders Club December 13, 2009 minutes
What a bright warm Sunday. The day smells so fresh and rinsed off. We had a representative number of members and guests in attendance this Sunday. Early arrivals this Sunday December 13, 2009 are TONKAWA Vice President Jerry Starnes and Roy Cook. Followed closely by Manuel and Celia Flores. Nellie Ruiz and El Bissara enter smiling. Nellie has a Holiday card for all attending this meeting.
We had some shocking surprises while setting up the room. The wet, damp weather brought stiffness to joints and affected balance too. Bouncing back to the set up, we could not find serving utensils and serving tableware items. Barbara kept opening drawers long after we had all sat down and resigned ourselves to eating with a spoon and a bowl. She found the entire missing item misplaced from the shelves into a drawer. We are low on large plated and coffee cups.
Vehicle parking continues to be a very sore point. Celia Flores told of a recent experience talking her out of a ticket. Others also contributed amusing stories of their being caught or slipping away. Oh yes, Celia said that she turned left across the double lines and got the flashing lights right away. But since she had Manuel in the passenger seat, in a Santa suit, the officer let her and Santa go free to deliver the gifts.
Roy Cook provided the luncheon blessing at 12:10. There is warm fellowship, years and years of living and wisdom close at hand. Lively conversation continues to bubble across the tables.
More members would have nicer to share company with this sunny Sunday. It feels so good to be alive and in the company of our respected American Indian TONKAWA Elders. The attending members and the tables looked fine and we sat down to an undefined potluck feast and donuts with good TONKAWA hot coffee. Jerry Starnes brought Sassafras tea to the members to enjoy.
Indian Voices publisher Rose Davis, TONKAWA member, brought in the latest copy of the newspaper hot off the press! Gwen Cooper enjoyed the good stories and great pictures of recent events.
We cleaned up, packed up and while some TONKAWA members were still packing ‘take-home snacks’, drinking coffee, talking and laughing, others went out the door by 1:45 pm.
It is always nice to see new members and guests drop in and are encouraged to return. This is a very nice down home meeting to attend. We are also very pleased to enjoy the regular attendance of TONKAWA along with community guests and family members. The next TONKAWA meeting is January 10, 2010.
Respectfully submitted:
Roy Cook, TONKAWA secretary
Soaring Eagles Dance the Chula Vista Night Parade
By Roy Cook
What a wonderful time of the year, December 5, 2009. Soaring Eagles children are at the center of the parade and sparkling like the bright lights of the stars in the night. SCAIR sponsored Soaring Eagles American Indian children received outstanding support from the dancing Intertribal singers, in regalia. In advance of the American Indian group are the American Indian Warriors Association, AIWA banner and a mobile Color Guard flag vehicle. All along the parade, as the Soaring Eagles passed in review, viewers’ cheers were constantly raised higher.
This parade lights up the Christmas season in Chula Vista, Dec.5 at 6pm. It is the largest night time parade in the south county. 100 happy participants are entered, with Christmas carolers, marching bands, lighted floats, drill teams and American Indians in Tribal regalia.
SCAIR American Indian dance instructor, Edward ‘Chuck’ Cadotte said, “Frank Gastelum held the Eagle Staff and led the dancers behind Carla Trouville’s vehicle as I sat in the truck bed and played appropriate recorded American Indian music for the dancers. Our group was in this order: Mens Traditional Dancers in front , Womens Traditional next, Fancy Shawl Dancers next, followed by the Jingle Dancers. The Grass Dancers brought up the rear. Followed by the families of the dancers.”
The Chula Vista Post Office was collecting letters for Santa along the parade route. The Chula Vista Police Department was collecting teddy bears along the parade route to donate to the Rady Children’s Hospital.
Soaring Eagles participation in the parade was provided and underwritten by San Diego Inter-tribal singer, Frank Gastelem and his family. San Diego Unified School District Title VII Indian Education coordinator, Vickie Gambala rode in the parade and said, “It is nice to see our Reservation friends and pow wow people come out and join in support of the parents and Soaring Eagle children.”
Every so often, it is nice to do something for general public appreciation and visibility. It is particularly encouraging to participate and receive positive response and a boost or pat on the back. As Indian people, we always know we are special but to be cheered and applauded when we look great and feel good goes a long way to bolster ones self-esteem.
There is more story and pictures to add to this second report. Send me three or more views of the evening for addition and inspiration to the story. Thanks.
Reservation News
Indian Voices, The archived articles from Reservation News has been re-categorized into National Page under specific state. check here for these articles.
Archival articles
To commence the introduction to Indian Voices for new readers, and dedicated fans, we will be providing summaries of archived articles from past issues. It is in this, that we hope researchers and students are able to gain access to information that further provides insight into Native American topics.
Introduction
Indian Voices is a paper in it’s 29th year of publication. We have commenced 2016 with the intent to expand our readership as well as our distribution, including social media and online blogs such as wordpress. It is an exciting time for us, as we have 100’s of article submissions of which these online resources will allows us to now submit to the world to read about Indian lives and any topics of interest of our readers. Look here to see articles that may not be found on our website or in our print version.
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