Escondido festival to celebrate art, cultural of indigenous people – San Diego Union-Tribune
Thousands of people are expected to attend what’s billed as the county’s first large festival celebrating the art and cultural of local indigenous people on April 19 at Grape Day Park in Escondido.
The City Council on Wednesday agreed to provide $61,950 for the festival, with the San Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay Indians providing $10,000.
Mayor Dane White said at the meeting that the idea for the festival came last summer when he and Council Member Judy Fitzgerald, then a candidate, met with members of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Tribal Council.
Fitzgerald predicted about 5,000 people might attend the event and said sponsoring the festival would be an opportunity to reciprocate the generosity of tribes that have funded many local events and programs.
“I really think it’s a great opportunity to really finally recognize and celebrate the inhabitants of San Diego, especially the Kumeyaay and the Luiseño that were here in Escondido long before we were,” she said. “I really think it’s a great opportunity for Escondido, putting it on the map, and for tourism.”
While all council members agreed the event would be a benefit to the city, some had sticker shock at the request for $61,950.
“I think this is a very important event,” Council Member Consuelo Martinez said. “I’m excited that it will be happening in Escondido. I’m a little surprised by the amount and the time of the request and not really having any details ahead of time.”
Martinez said she planned to attend the event and supported it, but she abstained from voting on it because she was uncomfortable about the amount and late request.
Council Member Joe Garcia had similar concerns but joined with other council members in voting to fund it.
“I think as city leaders we should be making sure we’re investing taxpayer dollars and not just spending it,” he said.
Garcia also said he had heard for months about a planned festival, but had expected it to cost the city between $5,000 and $15,000.
White noted that some organizations begin meetings with an acknowledgement that they are on tribal land, a practice not done in Escondido.
“I would much prefer to celebrate the history and the culture of our tribal neighbors in the city that we all live in and enjoy now much more in this fashion than just a statement,” he said.
Attendance at the festival will be free and will include vendors, displays of native art, a fashion show, informational booths and speakers, cultural performances and food booths.
Stephen Cope, chair of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, attended Wednesday’s meeting and said he was grateful for the funding.
Cope said he expects up to 16 Kumeyaay tribes to attend, and invitations also have been sent to Luiseño tribes who live north of Escondido.
“I’m hoping that it’s a structure of a lot of things that will basically tell our story to the community,” he said about the events planned for the day. “I’ve always felt in my heart that it’s been a long time coming, and that Native Americans have to tell their story to the world. And I’m hoping that this is the first step in getting to that point.”
The festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 19 and will begin with performance by San Pasqual and Kumeyaay bird singers.
Speakers beginning at 11:30 a.m. will include Kansas Middletent giving insights on indigenous traditions and contemporary challenges and Joe Perka addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.
A presentation on fashion, culture and native artists is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. and will feature designs by Rebekah Jarvey with Son Royce Jarvey and other local native models.
Five informational booths will focus on cultural preservation, language revitalization and Indigenous rights, and 10 booths will showcase traditional crafts, bead work, pottery and contemporary art. Five food booths will offer traditional and fusion dishes, including fry bread tacos.
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