The Children of Many Colors Intertribal Powwow is our signature event. It began in 1994 on a horse ranch in Moorpark when the owner of the ranch announced, twelve days before his own annual fundraiser, that there would be a powwow, and that Redbird would put it on. The Sarcinella family and a number of other community members came together in a sometimes humorous and slightly frantic effort to put together a proper gathering. We had twelve dancers, including Saginaw Grant; our drum was Red Spirit, who arrived slightly late, one singer at a time...their house had caught fire the night before. It was hot and dusty and the ground was hard and there was no shade. And we learned so many things about the honor, commitment, selflessness, generosity and pride that goes into being part of a powwow, and the tremendous responsibility it is to host such a gathering.
Understanding some little bit of that responsibility, we realized a powwow is not a party, or a fundraiser, or something you do to bring attention to yourself. Later that same year, Oren Lyons, Turtle Clan and Faithkeeper of the Onendaga Nation, spoke at Claremont College. One thing he said particularly resonated with Redbird's founder. Lyons said "Every woman is a mother, and every man an uncle, to every child, no matter what color they are." He spoke to our responsibility as human beings to care for the planet and the seven generations to come. He spoke to the need for right action in all of our affairs and on all levels of interaction, from personal to world governments.
If, in some way, a powwow could embody this philosophy, could remind people of this fundamental message, then it was worth the effort to continue. And so the Children of Many Colors Powwow came to be.
Understanding some little bit of that responsibility, we realized a powwow is not a party, or a fundraiser, or something you do to bring attention to yourself. Later that same year, Oren Lyons, Turtle Clan and Faithkeeper of the Onendaga Nation, spoke at Claremont College. One thing he said particularly resonated with Redbird's founder. Lyons said "Every woman is a mother, and every man an uncle, to every child, no matter what color they are." He spoke to our responsibility as human beings to care for the planet and the seven generations to come. He spoke to the need for right action in all of our affairs and on all levels of interaction, from personal to world governments.
If, in some way, a powwow could embody this philosophy, could remind people of this fundamental message, then it was worth the effort to continue. And so the Children of Many Colors Powwow came to be.
