High-pitched chants and thumping drum beats filled the air Saturday afternoon, as hundreds of elaborately dressed dancers filled the Tachi Palace’s outdoor events arena.

It could have been one of the many concerts that take place at the same site, but it was the Santa Rosa Rancheria’s 9th Annual Pow Wow, which will continue this afternoonSunday.

Native Americans representing more than 100 tribes gathered to connect with their culture through song, dance and food.

The Pow Wow was incorporated into the Tachi-Yokut tribe’s Santa Rosa Days nine years ago and is now a highlight of the two-day festivities, which also include a softball tournament.

Santa Rosa Days are based on the tribe’s Catholic tradition and have been held in honor of the tribe’s patron saint, Saint Rosa of Lima, since the Rancheria’s establishment in the early 1900s.

Saginaw Grant of Santa Barbara was among the crowd who came to see old friends and make new ones.

“This is our way of life and this is our way to talk to our Creator,” he said of the tribal dancing.

Grant, an elder member of the Sac-n-Fox, Iowa and Otoe-Missouri tribes, has represented his Native American culture in several feature films and TV shows, including, “My Name is Earl.”

He attends many pow wows throughout the year, and he was one of the first to enter the circular arena where dancing took place throughout the day.

“Each dance you’ll see a story being told,” he said. “A lot of things happen out there, each song is a prayer song.”

The arena itself was blessed prior to the opening ceremony and is considered sacred among the tribe members.

Young and old decked out in full regalia were called to the arena throughout the day as it was their turn to dance.

Each part of their outfit was unique to their own individual tribe, including that of Matthew Zepeda who came from Pismo Beach.

“I miss dancing; it’s been awhile, but it’s medicine for me and this is a way of recharging,” he said.

He is a member of the Apache tribe and wore his family colors of yellow and orange, signifying a sunset. Around his wrists were beaded cuffs with red roses in remembrance of his wife, Rosalinda.

A turkey feather headdress adorned his head, which he said is a symbol of protection and is unique to each individual tribe.

“As you dance, everyone identifies you by what you wear,” he said.

Other tribes wore pheasant, hawk or eagle feathers like 14-year-old Wamblie Chips-Clark who came to the Pow Wow with his parents from San Diego.

He performed a war dance on Saturday with wings made from eagle feathers hung on his back.

“It’s entertaining and connects me to my Lakota culture,” Wamblie said.

Dozens of spectators watched the dancers from the bleachers or meandered among the vendors who sold everything from handmade beaded jewelry to Indian fry bread.

Cousins Vicki Peachee and Nicki Smith came from Fresno to watch the dancing and get a taste of their own Native American culture.

“We kinda go everywhere for these,” Peachee said. “It’s really fun to watch the kids dance, and we’re part Cherokee.”

The Pow Wow will continue at 12:45 p.m. and will commence with the closing ceremony at 5:45 p.m.

This reporter can be reached at 583-2427.

(Aug. 30, 2009)