Native American tribes from throughout North America will come together in Santa Ynez to celebrate Indigenous heritage and culture at the Chumash Intertribal Powwow on October 4 and 5.
The powwow is open to the public at the corner of Meadowvale Road and Highway 246 in Santa Ynez. Admission is $5 and parking is free.
“This year’s annual Chumash Intertribal Powwow is extra special as we mark 60 years since our tribe’s first powwow in Santa Ynez,” according to Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn. “We look forward to welcoming tribes from throughout North America to celebrate our heritage and culture.”
The two-day gathering is the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ largest cultural event of the year. It features dancing, singing, drumming, arts, crafts and more in an educational event that allows the tribe to share their Chumash heritage with tribes from across North America and the local community.
The event draws hundreds of members of tribal nations from throughout the U.S. and Canada to participate in dancing and drumming competitions, with more than $155,000 in cash prizes being offered this year. Dancing categories range in age from young children to 70 years and older. Dance styles include traditional, straight, fancy, grass, jingle dress, buckskin, cloth and chicken. The event will also feature informational booths and vendors selling traditional native food, regalia and arts and crafts.
The Santa Ynez Indian Reservation is located in Santa Barbara County and was established and officially recognized by the federal government in 1901. Today, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation.