San Quentin holds Native American Powwow

March 11, 2024

The group played many songs, including a medicine gather song, a sneak song, and an honor song.

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s Native American community held their first true Powwow since the pandemic in 2020.

The festival featured many traditional activities including:

singing
dancing
storytelling
feasting
and a jewelry give away.

Native American incarcerated standing at table — The incarcerated Native American community at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center held their first Powwow since the pandemic in 2020.

“These events give me an opportunity to connect not just with the Native community but also with the rest of the community,” said incarcerated resident Maxx Robinson. “And having our families here gives us a chance to bond with them through our traditions. I think these events bring me back in touch with my roots and myself. They reconnect me to my spiritual self and my path on the red road.”

The red road is a Native American tradition representing the path of righteous living. Following this path involves sobriety, participation in ceremony, and following tradition. Robinson said events like these help him avoid temptations of prison life and stay on the right path.

Native American Powwow music

Upon entering, participants formed a circle to dance to the drums and singing. They played many songs, including a medicine gather song, a sneak song, and an honor song.

Participants received elk jerky, tortilla chips, and fried bread with honey. During dinner, Native American tacos were served with venison, salmon, pies, cantaloupe, and a wide variety of other foods.

“Basically, we are praying to pass on our genetics, our culture, who we are as a people, to pass that on. That’s what the world renewal ceremony is about,” said incarcerated resident Jaden Green, of the Yurok tribe.

He contributed in many ways, but most noticeable was when he performed a jump dance ceremony, a song of prayer for future generations.

Story by Randy C. Thompson, Incarcerated Writer
Photos by Vincent E. O’Bannon, Incarcerated Photographer
San Quentin News