KUMEYAAY GATHERING Yuman Family of Bird Singers Dancers

The family of Yuman California Indian bird singers and Yuman bird dancers sing and dance to their traditional cultural music during the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation TRADITIONAL GATHERING, September 10, 2005.

Kumeyaay Caption Information: LEAD SINGER: MR. LARRY HAMMOND JR., SINGERS: LIONEL HAMMOND, NATHAN DICK, LEVI EVANSTON, ISIAH EVANSTON,TIM AKA BIM STEVENS, MARY WALEMA, EDDIE LEAL, JOHNNY HEMMERS, TYRONE THOMAS, HUBERT MCCORD, SAM EVANSTON, SHAN LEWIS JR., GABRIEL LEIVAS, KIETH JENKINS, JESSE OCHOA, ELIAS AMEELYENAH, EDWARD DOCK, EMILIANO CASTILLO, DANIEL CASTILLO, UNCLE JOE SCERATO. Source: AHA MACAV AVI KWA AME BIRD SINGERS: General Info MySpace. Kumeyaay singer Sam Brown Jr., Viejas Indian Reservation, is also pictured in the Yuman singers group.

Yuman Native American musicians playing GOURD RATTLES and singing with cultural dancers pictured above may include the Cocopah-Cucapa, Kumeyaay-Kumiai, Quechan, Mohave, Paipai- Pai Pai, Ipai-Tipai, Kiliwa, Yavapai, Havasupai, Hualapai, Maricopa, Luiseño and Cahuilla Indians of Southern California, southwest Arizona, and northern Baja California Mexico.

RON CHRISTMAN, Kumeyaay, was emcee for the birdsingers, and ARLENE GALVAN directed the event. Please see americanindiansource.com feature on Ron Christman, including audio recording of Mr. Christman performing live, and a Ron Christman Ipai-Tipai published article about Traditional Origins of Southern California Bird Songs.

KUMEYAAY FIESTA

In the old days long before the electric light, the traditional "Kumeyaay gatherings" were known as KUMEYAAY FIESTA.

These inter-band fiestas or parties would go on for several days.

The host band prepared great feasts and entertainment free for their guests, and the people would come together from miles around to honor, teach, eat, sing, dance, play games, to socialize and celebrate.

Or so some say...

KUMEYAAY CULTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN by Gary G. BALLARD.