The City of Malibu announced will host the 15th Annual Chumash Day Powwow and Intertribal Gathering at Bluffs Park this Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. The celebration honors Malibu’s original settlers and First Americans, the Chumash Indians.
The event brings Native Americans representing hundreds of tribes from all over the country to Bluffs Park and includes tribal ceremonies, Chumash history storytelling and traditional Native American food.
Last year’s Chumash Day Master of Ceremony, Eddie Green Flag of the Pish Shumi Tribe shared the meaning of traditional dancing with The Malibu Times, saying, “I started dancing only around seven years ago. I’ve been going to Powwow with my grandma since I was little. I always wanted to be a dancer. One day Tony Little Hawk crossed my path and actually helped save my life. He took me through the ceremonies, one of the dancers was in his prayer circle, and I told him I wanted to dance because I didn’t want to do the other things I was doing.”
The celebration is scheduled to kick off Saturday at 11 a.m. with gourd dancers led by well-known Native American Saginaw Grant, followed by opening ceremonies at 1 p.m.
Admission and parking will be free and the city will provide a shuttle bus to transport attendees to and from designated parking areas on Malibu Canyon Road and in the vacant lot on the corner of Webb and Civic Center ways. Event hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 pm. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
