San Man Pow Wow '26

This year was our 30th year anniversay!!! I remember being in the backseat, hardly able to see over the window, going with my dad to pow wow meetings. He would pick me up from school and we would drive straight to pick up t-shirt designs, or fill out some needed paperwork. Sometimes he would have hours long phone call meetings and he would give me money for snacks for the vending machine. My dad, Cruz Chacon, had a vision of bringing pow wow culture to our tribe. Traditionally, my tribe did not have pow wows, we are bird singers and bird dancers. So his idea was something that really excited our tribe. He wanted to build up all southern california tribes and really bring us together. He wanted to do so on our ancestreal lands. My sister, my cousins, and I would run up and down the field or bleachers at various pow wows, handing out flyers to our pow wow, telling them to come. We were very little and very cute so people always took the flyers from us, which my parents and god father realized to. So it was our "job" to pass out as many of our flyers as we could, to every pow wow they took us too. We went everywhere!!! Gatherings of the Nations, Santa Cruz Pow Wow, Santa Fe Indian Market. It hardly felt like a job but, more like a fun family road trip.

` Looking back now, I don't think any of us would have thought about the 30th anniversary. Not that we never thought posssible but, my dad and godfather wanted exactly that. An event that put our culture and our homeland at the front and center. Something special, that would last for years and generations to come. Something that really excited people and connected people from all areas. It's an honor to work it every year and to learn more every year. While my dad may no longer physically with us, he is especially felt each year at the pow wow. This year a hawk flew over the entire grounds for about 5 whole minuets on Friday morning during set up. The whole crew all smiled at each other because we all knew it was him checking in on us, giving us his blessing before our busy weekend begun.

This year we had a pop up Men's Traditional Special in his honor. That was the style he danced so it just felt appropriate. It was a beautiful special, I teared up during it because the power and emotion was just so strong. The Cruz Chacon Sweetheart Special is an annual tradtion at our pow wow. This dance was given to my dad as a gift tp him and to also help bring the style over here to Southern California. Since his passing it has become a special to honor him. I may be very biased, but it is one of the most specail parts of our pow wow. It's my personal favorite...... along with the bird singers and fancy shawl dancers. Okay and also the grass dancers and jingle dress dancers. Fine, i love it all, okay!!!!

Basically what I'm saying is, attending is not only keeping the culture alive but also, my dad's spirit alive. So much of him is sill in this pow wow and I think that's what makes our pow wow feel so special. If you havent attended, please consider doing so! We're the 3rd weekend of September every year! (usually)