SANTA YNEZ, CA – California-style Native American singing, dancing, food and games will take place at the 16th annual Chumash Culture Day from 1pm to 9pm, on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Elders Park, located on the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation. Arts and crafts vendors, food booths and basket-making demonstrations will also be featured.
“After two years of streaming our annual event online, we are excited to welcome everyone back to our reservation for Chumash Culture Day,” said Nakia Zavalla, Culture Director of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “It’s always meaningful to engage in traditional songs, dance and culture with fellow California-based tribes and members of the public as well.”
Chumash Culture Day is sponsored by the Tribal Elders Council and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Culture Department. The Tribal Elders Council is a division of the tribal government that is responsible for preserving cultural resources and maintaining the tribe’s heritage, history and traditions.
The Santa Ynez Indian Reservation is located in Santa Barbara County and was established and officially recognized by the federal government on December 27, 1901. Today, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation. The tribe is a self-governing sovereign nation and follows the laws set forth in its tribal constitution.
