KUMEYAAY VETERANS California Native American Children Picture Series, Sycuan Indian Reservation.
Photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Kumiai Children of San Jose de la Zorra

KUMEYAAY WAR VETERANS

CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN POWWOW CEREMONY - Kumeyaay Indian U.S. Marine and U.S. Army military veterans of past wars carry traditional Native American Indian ceremonial staffs during a pow-wow grand entry parade on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, near San Diego in Southern California.

The pictured authentic tribal staffs include a mounted eagle head, eagle feathers, animal furs, bead work, and a dream catcher.

Used extensively in Native American cultural ceremonies, the eagle and eagle feathers, including eagle feet, are sacred to most Native American people, including the Kumeyaay, and represent a connection to the Creator.

Traditional Kumeyaay tribes and Indigenous Nations hold their sacred ceremonial staffs with similar importance and reverence that patriotic Americans respect and honor their American flag.

In this photo, the Sycuan Color Guard, Sycuan Honor Guard (background carrying flags) and the four Native American veterans are posting the colors (flags, staffs) to begin the Native American pow wow.

Kumeyaay veterans pictured (r-l):

Kenneth Meza, Kumeyaay Jamul band, Roy Hunter, Mandan North Dakota, Hank Murphy, Sycuan Kumeyaay band, George Prietto, Kumeyaay Sycuan tribe. Kenneth Meza, Kumeyaay, has served as the elected chairman of the Jamul Indian Village, and Hank Murphy, Kumeyaay, has served the Sycuan band as the elected vice chairman. Mr. Murphy currently serves his Kumeyaay tribe as an elected Sycuan council member, and the fire chief and founder of the Sycuan Fire Department, headquartered on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, El Cajon, CA.

Photo/design by military photographer Gary G. Ballard, San Diego