Newsletter: Native communities share bird songs, dances and traditional stories at Safari Park for Indigenous Peoples Day
Plus, what to do if you or a loved one have an upcoming immigration court hearing or ICE check-in.
Sekon everyone!
Save the date: Before we jump into this week’s newsletter, we’d like to invite you to a free event for a community conversation about what's happening with immigration policies on Thursday, Nov. 6. We’ll share more details next week, but make sure to block off the evening so you don’t miss it!
Hundreds of people attended the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration Monday at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, filling its amphitheater with bird singing and dancing.
Throughout the day, guests heard tales from the Kumeyaay creation story, listened to live music, snacked on foods and drinks made with traditional ingredients, including prickly pear lemonade, and visited Indigenous craft booths. Visitors also joined a guided hike into the Safari Park Biodiversity Reserve, a 900-acre protected habitat home to more than 200 native species, including burrowing owls, California condors and desert tortoises.
Since 2021, the San Pasqual Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has hosted Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the park, which sits on the site of the tribe’s village before Spanish colonization.
Johnny Bear Contreras — a San Pasqual Band tribal member and one of the event organizers — said the event has grown significantly over its five years and become an annual tradition for many families.
“I like to think of a child that came when he was 5, now he's 10 and he's up there participating in birdsong,” he said. “In another five years, that child will be a teenager, and then five years after that, he’ll be 20, and then who’s to say? [He could be at] that point to where they'll be bringing their children, the grandchildren and maybe someday their great grandchildren.”
Growing participation from bird singers and dancers led organizers to move their performances from Mawazo Restaurant to the much larger Benbough Amphitheater this year.
Kumeyaay linguist, language consultant and educator Nicholas Smith from the San Pasqual Band shared parts of the traditional creation story throughout the day. At one point, his nephew chimed in from the crowd asking Smith to teach certain Kumeyaay words.
“A lot of the time, spaces like this are not for us, but when we're able to create spaces that are celebrating us, it’s so important, allowing our knowledge to really have its space and be in its homeland,” Smith said in an interview with Daylight.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance ambassador Marco Wendt said building a relationship with the original stewards of the land fits directly into the organization’s “one health approach” to protect biodiversity. He said that’s true whether the alliance partners with Indigenous communities on local California condor projects or with those in Cameroon’s Ebo Forest near its gorilla conservation sites.
“It's not only the plant life, the rich diversity of wildlife in these ecosystems, but also human beings,” Wendt said. “We are intricately connected to wildlife all over the world.”
Unlike former President Joe Biden who honored Indigenous People’s Day during his time in office, President Donald Trump has openly criticized the holiday and instead glorified Christopher Columbus in a recent proclamation.
As Contreras watched families sharing food and laughter in the park on Monday, he said the holiday’s power speaks more to Indigenous communities observing it. That’s especially true in San Diego, he said, which has the greatest number of individual, federally recognized tribes of any county in the United States.
“It's wonderful we have a specific day for it, but honestly, this could take place any day of the week with a few phone calls, a few food offerings, and you will see the same people come together,” Contreras said.
— Lauren J. Mapp
It’s almost time for Día de los Muertos, the multiday celebration honoring loved ones who have passed on, and San Diegans can honor the occasion with gatherings, community altars and festivals.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Guide for upcoming ICE check-in or immigration court hearing
Attorneys, human rights observers and volunteers shared what they've seen at the San Diego ICE office and what people with upcoming appointments or court hearings can do to prepare in case officers detain them.
— Kate Morrissey
ICE increases detentions of people coming to its office
Volunteers noticed an uptick in detentions at the San Diego ICE office last Thursday, and officers detained at least 11 people who came for appointments. Officials told one attorney after detaining her client that they planned to call in and detain everyone. They said the order came from Washington, D.C.
— Kate Morrissey
CoreCivic, the private prison company, requires strip searches after in-person visitation. Most people in ICE custody there don’t find out about the searches until after their first visit with loved ones, when they’re told to strip, squat and cough.
— Kate Morrissey for Capital & Main
San Diegans can choose from weekend events including a yoga and dance workout set to the music of “Rent,” Panther Day featuring a self-defense class, a book fair in North Park and a South Park Shop Local crafters market.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day was last Monday, but there are still two events in San Diego County honoring the holiday this weekend.
— Lauren J. Mapp
She Fest made its comeback last weekend after announcing its split from San Diego Pride earlier this year. The volunteer-run, LGBTQ+ collective centering the experiences of women and gender diverse people hosted its flagship event at Pop-up Winona on El Cajon Boulevard on Saturday.
— Lauren J. Mapp
Other news
About 2,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers went on strike across San Diego County Tuesday to demand better pay, staffing and benefits, according to KPBS.
Nearly a third of households in San Diego County don’t make enough money to pay for their basic needs, according to a study by United Way of California. CBS 8 reported that a family of four would need to make at least $116,000 a year to cover the cost of housing, food, transportation and childcare, but many families are missing that mark by about $50,000.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday establishing a $6 million reparations study, while also vetoing other bills supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus, AP News reported. The study through California State University will look into how to confirm a Black person in the state is a descendant of an enslaved person for a possible reparations program.
Meanwhile, Newsom rejected bills to review family claims over property seized through eminent domain and provide college and first-time homebuyer benefits to descendants of enslaved people.
Community members have an opportunity to meet the four finalists for county treasurer-tax collector on Oct. 30 at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa. Whoever is appointed to the role will serve until 2027, finishing the term for former Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister, who retired in August.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 18
Native American Heritage Festival: The Native Youth Foundation is hosting a festival honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Escondido. The day includes hands-on art booths, artist Lauren "Siyowin" Peters speaking on missing and murdered Indigenous people, live music, bird singing, a fashion show and food vendors. Admission is free. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Grape Day Park, 321 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
Pauma Fiesta: The Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians is holding a celebration of its history and culture in North County. The day includes traditional singing, peon, youth shinny games (a hockey-like game played with curved sticks), raffle prizes and Native food vendors. For more information, email Venessa Huaute at vmbrn103@gmail.com. 10 a.m., 777 Pauma Reservation Rd., Pauma Valley, CA 92061
No Kings! Demonstration: Local activists are gathering at Waterfront Park for a No Kings! demonstration to protest the actions of President Donald Trump. 10 a.m. - noon, Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy., San Diego, CA 92101
Panther Day: The San Diego Black Panther Party is hosting an event to honor the 59th anniversary of the party. The day will include a variety of activities, including an introduction to self-defense workshop. Led by an instructor with 15 years of martial arts experience, the class will focus on awareness, body language, avoiding vulnerability and projecting strength. 12 p.m., 6 Hensley St., San Diego, CA 92102
Building Immunity with Herbs: Herbalist Angelina Keselburg from Higher Vibration Tonics is teaching a free class about using plants to make teas, tinctures and simple remedies to strengthen immunity ahead of cold and flu season. 3 - 4 p.m., City Farmers Nursery, 3110 Euclid Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
Oct. 19
Tijuana River Action Month Closing Reception and Youth Art Exhibit: A trinational art reception and exhibit for all ages will include classes on healing with art in nature, workshops and an exhibition celebrating the beauty of the Tijuana River Valley. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, CA, 91932
South Park Shop Local: Artisans at a monthly makers market will offer crafted items like candles, planters and jewelry at Wicked Fit in South Park. 12 - 3 p.m., 1504 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102
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