The celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, with a blessing by Chumash/Tataviam elders Ted and Dennis Garcia. The dance arena will feature Blue Star, a Northern Style drum group from southern California. Throughout the day, the dance area activities will rotate between native dancers with music by Blue Star, hoop dancing by Sage Romero (Piute/Taos Pueblo), Yaqui deer dancers, and Aztec culture and dancing with Danza Azteca Xochipilli.
Ted and Dennis Garcia (Chumash/Tataviam) will share traditional Chumash stories in the native plant garden outside Joshua Cottage. Hands-on activities include working with clay and pounding acorns and pine nuts at the touch table exhibit in Joshua Cottage. Visitors can also tour the museum, staffed with docents.
Flint knapper Mike Thompson will demonstrate how to make arrowheads. The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and United American Indian Involvement will provide information about their organizations.
