The Barona Band of Mission Indians held their 42nd Pow Wow this past weekend, from Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 2. Hundreds gathered to commemorate and renew their heritage by immersing themselves in the old ways. Powwow Princess Karina Okuniewicz was present, and the special contests included: Men’s Fancy Dance, and Hand Drum Contest. There was also gourd dancing, followed by The Grand Entry.
The Barona Band of Mission Indians held their 42nd Pow Wow this past weekend, from Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 2. Hundreds gathered to commemorate and renew their heritage by immersing themselves in the old ways. Powwow Princess Karina Okuniewicz was present, and the special contests included: Men’s Fancy Dance, and Hand Drum Contest. There was also gourd dancing, followed by The Grand Entry.
The Grand Entry is a time honored and formal event that is heralded by the all the people entering the arena. The flags carried generally include the U.S. Flag, Tribal Flags the POW Flag, and Eagle Staffs.
The Barona Band of Mission Indians began their life on the Barona Ranch, which today is the Barona Indian Reservation near Lakeside in 1932. They are about 30 miles north east of San Diego, and lived for many years without modern conveniences such as electricity. However, their lives changed in 1994 with the help and consulting guidance of Venture Catalyst, when they opened the Barona Casino that evolved into the world renowned Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino.
The Barona Cultural Center and Museum, which opened in January of 2,000, is a testament to the past, present and future of Barona and their people. This center is dedicated to education and provides hands on history lessons to preserve the culture and history for future generations. The Barona Cultural Center and Museum is open to the public, serving an important Native American history resource for children and adults who want to learn more about this very important and ancient culture.
The Barona Community has proudly become a major supporter of many community programs. They provide College Scholarships, funding of over $400,000 a year to emergency services, Sponsorships and Charitable Givings, and they commit to giving back to the community by donating to many charities.
For more information about the Barona Band of Mission Indians, please visit www.barona-nsn.gov.
