Bolado Park hosts Hollister Native American Gathering Sept. 7 & 8

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Indigenous dancers, crafts, foods, drumming, storytelling and more will be featured at the Second Annual Hollister Native American Gathering. Hosted by the Youth Alliance and the Indigenous Nations Diversity Network (INDN), the event takes place Sept. 7 and 8 at Bolado Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

“We had the event at Hollister High School last year,” said INDN committee member Heidi Conner. “It was one day, and many felt it wasn’t enough. Bolado Park allows us to spread things out a bit more.”

The gathering will showcase a range of Native American dance traditions, including Razzle Dazzle, Bear, Women’s Fancy Shawl and Pomo dancers. Craft instruction in making God’s Eyes, medicine bags and walking sticks will be held throughout the day and are open youths and adults.

On Sept. 8 the gathering also includes a tribute to veterans and awards to local Indigenous leaders. 

Posthumous Indigenous Leadership awards will be given to:

• Jo Barrios Wahdan, Pima, a member of the Tena Indian Council, co-founder of the Honoring of the Elders and the Youth Alliance, and San Benito County librarian for 25 years 
• Fred Whitebear, a member of the Fort Becky Assiniboine tribe, lawyer and tribal manager for several tribes, Episcopal seminary graduate and hospital chaplain 
• Howard Harris, a member of the San Benito County Farm Bureau for 75 years and author of many county ordinances

Indigenous Leadership Award recipients include:

• Rose Cihuapilli Amador, Yaqui/Mexica, president and CEO of ConXión to Community, Executive Producer of Native Voice TV
• Michael Kotella Mefpa Duran, counselor at the San José Indian Health Center and member of the Native American Strategic Planning Workgroup
• Valentin Lopez, chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Native American advisor to the University of California relating to repatriation. 

Congressmember Zoe Lofgren, a representative from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ office and Hollister Mayor Mia Casey will also speak on that day.

The gathering was inspired by Laynee Reyna’s Indian Market, held in San Juan Bautista for 35 years before scheduling conflicts with the San Juan Rib Cookoff ended the event in 2020. Many participants in this weekend’s gathering, including the Amah-Ka-Tura Ohlone Cultural Group and the Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dancers, were longtime participants in the market. 

Reyna accompanied INDN Chairwoman Elvira Robinson Zaragoza to a meeting with San Benito High School District Superintendent Shawn Tannenbaum, which resulted in his permission to use the football field in July 2023 for the first gathering.

“I got her in the wheelchair and took her to the high school,” Zaragoza said. “I said, ‘Sean, we want to have a native gathering. And we want to have it at the high school.’ And he said, ‘Then go for it; we will do whatever we can.’ That was our beginning.” 

This year, the gathering will be held under the auspices of the San Benito County Youth Alliance and the newly formed INDN. Conner said the organization is intended to educate the community about the traditions, culture, art, music and dance of the local Indigenous peoples.

“We started this to provide forums and events that will help people get an idea of some of those cultures here in California that have been here a lot longer than most others have been, and also to support furthering these Indigenous cultures.”

Admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. 

Native American Gathering schedule:

Saturday, September 7
10:00 a.m. – Land Acknowledgement And Opening Prayer, Ceremonial Fire
10:30 a.m. – Patrick Orozco And Amah-Ka-Tura Ohlone Cultural Group
11:15 a.m. – Opening
11:30 a.m. – Storytelling W/ Kanyon Coyotewoman Sayers-Roods
11:50 a.m. – Mary Macias, Purepecha Poetry
12:05 p.m. – Razzle Dazzle And Bear Dancers
1:00 p.m. – Honoring Veterans Over Age Of 65
1:45 p.m. – Inter-Tribal
2:30 p.m. – Charles  Wall On Flute, Grass Dance
2:50 p.m. – Valentin Lopez Speaking
3:10 p.m. – Linda Lopez And Four Seasons Lodge Healing Circle
4:10 p.m. – Women’s Fancy Shawl Dancers
5:00 p.m. – Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dancers, Community Friendship Dance
6:00 p.m. – Closing By Indian Board Members & Smudging

Sunday, September 8
10:30 a.m. – Opening Song And Prayer
11:00 a.m. – Patrick Orozco And Amah-Ka-Tura Ohlone Cultural Group
12:00 p.m. – Sonoma County Youth Pomo Dancers, Friendship Dance
1:00 p.m. – Indigenous Leadership Awards
2:00 p.m. – Grupo Nauhcampa Communidad De Danza Conchera
3:00 p.m. – Rosanna Alvarez, Author/ Poet    
3:20 p.m. – Inter-Tribal
3:45 p.m. – Razzle Dazzle Bear Dancers, Healing Friendship Dance
4:45 p.m. – Mary Macias, Purepecha Poet
5:00 p.m. – Oaxacan Diablos De Tecomate
6:00 p.m. – Closing/ Fire Is Turned Off

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