Pow Wow

Yesterday a good friend invited us to visit him at the Pow Wow in Temecula. The beauty of the Native American culture was breath taking. From the very young to the wise and aged the dancers in full gala preformed.

Young and Wise danced.

This was the most incredible headdress. The cat was so angry, his ears at attack mode, his nose wrinkled in aggression, mouth open, teeth showing and eyes focused on his prey. While the face of the Native American is painted with Bear Track which depending on his tribe can mean many things and conveys a message of leadership and authority. Makes sense as to why he has on this headdress of the angry cat. At any rate they both are just incredible.

I hope you can see the intricate bead work on this headdress. Although the women’s headdresses are not as loud and bold as the men, more than likely as ,we as a gender are not either, they are so beautiful. Created with thought and patience, just like us!

Look at this shot… sun setting in the 108 temp sky, the men are awaiting to be called to dance, I am sweating with a bunch of strangers wishing they would all just disappear so I could take my pictures without them standing in front of me like I don’t have a camera shoved in my face.

Okay, so this little guy Xavier, stole my heart. Just look at his precious face! Mac, our friend, calls him X, I call him adorable. He was preforming in the dance and gave us our very own private preview

The next few photos are X’s performance for us.

Well you get the jest of it, he is adorable and is learning the ways of his ancestors, X we wish great things for you and thank you for the dance.

The children dance last and again the crowds are circling in and I am just able to snap this for you to see before they block my view for ever.
There is such pride and history within the Native American culture and this 4th of July I will be in thanks for them sharing this culture with me and the thousands who attended.