Here are a few photos from a powwow at the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside, California, where I was invited to participate in documenting the festivities. I was called into the circle, saged, blessed, and welcomed by the community. It was such an honor to be a guest in this space and I feel very fortunate to have had this experience.

“Our Ancestors tell us that from the beginning of time our people "ataaxam" have always occupied the San Luis Rey Valley, including the coastline, the neighboring lagoons, the oak forest, the lush meadows, the vernal springs, and the creeks and rivers to the north and south of the valley. The ataaxam harvested the fertile land and sea, and their extensive knowledge of the environment was passed on through culture, songs, stories and dances from generation to generation.

The Spaniards established the Mission San Luis Rey in 1798 as part of the El Camino Real trail between Mission San Diego (1769) and Mission San Juan Capistrano (1776). During this period, the missionaries imposed the name San Luiseño on the original inhabitants of the land. Many ataaxam people suffered and died as a result of the European diseases, forced labor and loss of the way of life due to relocation….”

Visit the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians website to learn more.