NEA recognizes Redbird Powwow

Press Release
For Immediate Release April 24, 2007

Redbird Awarded NEA Grant for Powwow

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded Redbird, a Simi Valley, California based non profit organization promoting Native American cultural awareness and preservation, a grant in the amount of $5,000.00 for the production of the Children of Many Colors Powwow, to take place at Moorpark College July 20-22, 2007.

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded over $12 million dollars to organizations promoting traditional arts, music, dance and theatre in their 2007 funding cycle. The grant awarded to Redbird will have a significant impact on the group’s ability to host this year’s gathering, and to sustain its operations throughout the year.

The Children of Many Colors Powwow was first held in 1994 at Peters Arabian Ranch in Moorpark. Open to and welcoming the public, it quickly outgrew the private residence and was moved to Moorpark College in 1996. However, after the untimely death of its eldest Board Members, Redbird chose to stop hosting the cultural event for a number of years. The gathering emerged again in 2004 at Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County. Although the powwow was a success, the financial burden of its production was overwhelming.

In June 2006, the powwow returned to Moorpark College amidst a record heat wave. Despite the triple digit temperatures, Native American dancers, singers and vendors carried on.

The Redbird powwow is what is often called a “traditional” gathering, as opposed to a contest powwow, where dancers and drums compete for cash prizes. Many people feel that these types of gatherings are threatened by the larger and better funded casino powwows, and need to be supported because they offer a very different kind of experience, to both native and non-native people, than their casino cousins.

“There is more of a family atmosphere at the smaller, traditional powwows” says Corina Roberts, Founder of Redbird. “Contest powwows provide a valuable source of income for dancers, singers and vendors, as they are usually better attended. They also attract some of the finest Native American dancers and drums, who deserve to be acknowledged for the skill and effort they have devoted to learning and sharing their traditional songs and dance styles. But sometimes the competitive atmosphere takes something away from the spirit of the gathering itself.”

The grant awarded to Redbird comes at a crucial time for the small, all-volunteer group. After a budget shortfall of $1,250.00 on the 2006 powwow, this year’s gathering faced serious challenges.

“It costs money to put on a powwow” explained Roberts. “You need insurance, you need to feed your head staff, you need to provide a place for them to stay, you need toilets, food service sinks, lights, a sound system…and you need to advertise if you want anyone to come to the gathering. We weren’t going to be able to cover our expenses this year without something like a miracle. This is our miracle.”

Redbird is funded entirely through donations. In recent years, like so many non profit groups, they have struggled to stay afloat. The NEA grant will provide enough funding to insure that the powwow continues for another year.

Redbird’s 2007
Children of Many Colors Native American Intertribal Powwow
July 20-22, 2007
Moorpark College Athletic Field
7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, California 93021

Friday, July 20 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Open Native American Flute Circle
Saturday July 21 11 a.m. -10 p.m.
Gourd Dancing, Grand Entry, Intertribal and Exhibition Dancing
Sunday, July 22 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Gourd Dancing, Grand Entry, Intertribal and Exhibition Dancing

Native American Art, Craft, Food and Fine Jewelry Vendors
Informational and Non Profit Organizations
Tipi Village – Tipis Welcome
All Drums Welcome
All Dancers Welcome
Public Welcome

$2.00 suggested donation to benefit Redbird,
a 501(c)(3) non profit association

Host Northern Drum
Wild Horse Singers
Master of Ceremonies
Michael A. Reifel, San Carlos Apache
Head Gourd Dancer
David Patterson, Sac and Fox Nation
Additional Head Staff TBA May 1, 2007

For further information contact:
Redbird
P.O. Box 702
Simi Valley, CA 93062
(805) 217-0364
Email: redbirds_vision [at] hotmail.com
Website: http://www.RedbirdsVision.org

Redbird
Promoting the awareness and celebration of Indigenous cultures and people and creating a sustainable future

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