Commentary: November is a month of celebration
By Richard Gomez
November 12, 2007
Native American tribes throughout the United States are celebrating Native American Heritage Month during the month of November by hosting various activities designed to educate, honor and show respect to our ancestors.
From family gatherings to elaborate dinners, the events during Native American Heritage Month provide individuals with an opportunity to honor the generations of Native Americans who have added to the character of the United States of America.
The month is also an occasion to celebrate the many accomplishments and the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.
Locally, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors started off the month by adopting an honorary resolution proclaiming November as Native American Heritage Month in Santa BarbaraCounty. Co-sponsored by 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal and 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone, the resolution recognizes the positive impact that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has on the community.
The resolution was presented at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, and was a perfect beginning for a time of celebration. The next evening, we hosted our annual dinner for tribal members, their families, friends and an array of dignitaries in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
Although we celebrate our heritage every day by honoring and respecting the way of life of our Chumash ancestors, our Native American Heritage event provides us with an opportunity to share our culture with our friends.
The audience was entertained by the world-renowned dance troupe, the American Indian Dance Theatre, and also by Jana, a young contemporary Native American singer who has been nominated for a GRAMMY and a NAMMY.
Our event, which attracts a larger crowd every year, educated and entertained our guests, and provided them with a glimpse into Native American culture.
While we were breaking bread with friends, across the country in Washington, D.C., a group of five Santa Ynez Chumash adults, The Samala Singers, performed at a series of events hosted by the National Indian Gaming Association as part of their Native American Heritage Month celebration.
The group, who have worked diligently as language apprentices for the past year on bringing our language back to life, sang traditional songs in “Samala,” the language spoken by the Chumash of Santa Ynez.
The Samala Singers — Nakia Lent, Kathy Marshall, Carmen Sandoval, Tom Lopez and Frank Dominguez — were scheduled to perform a special rendition of “Amazing Grace” translated into our language at our own event.
However, when an invitation to perform in Washington, D.C. arrived, it was an opportunity that was too valuable to decline. We are proud that the Samala Singers traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent our tribe in this capacity.
We are also pleased that our own Native American Heritage event touched so many hearts and demonstrated the pride we feel in being Chumash. Every year, we work hard to include a wide variety of individuals on the invitation list to ensure that more people participate in the joy of celebrating Native American culture.
We hope that many people will take the time this month to learn more about Native Americans and celebrate the heritage of the first people of America.
Richard Gomez is the vice chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.