Staff Report

All ages are welcome to experience California-style Native American singing and dancing during the 13^th annual Chumash Culture Day from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at the Tribal Hall on the Santa Ynez reservation.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature arts and crafts vendors, food booths and basket-making demonstrations. All ages are welcome.

“Our annual Chumash Culture Day showcases the talents and traditions of California-based tribes,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “It’s also a great opportunity for members of the public to visit the reservation, enjoy a day of song and dance, and learn more about our culture.”

The event begins at 1 p.m. with a blessing and will be followed by an honoring of elders. California native dancing and singing will occur from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again following a dinner break from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A traditional Handgame Tournament will start at 5 p.m., with teams competing for first-place ($1,000), second-place ($750) and third-place ($500) prizes.

Chumash Culture Day is sponsored by the Tribal Elders Council and the Cultural Department of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The 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 Chumash reservation is located at 100 Via Juana Lane, Santa Ynez. For more information, call the Santa Ynez Chumash Tribal Hall at 805-688-7997.