Sharing the Joy

Native Voices Poetry Festival 2023

Despite the cold drizzle and downpours outside, the 2023 Native Voices Poetry Festival was well-warmed with the spirit of our community within Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. Singers, storytellers, exhibitors, and participants enjoyed a day of saving and sharing Southern California Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.

It was a day to remember, whether sharing the bountiful Native foods, enjoying Native arts, or listening to songs and stories sung and told in our own local Native American languages.

A special round of applause goes to Shaliyah Ben and Olivia Webb from the Native American Arts Center at Idyllwild Arts, the Festival’s major sponsor. They worked hard with us in helping plan this year’s Festival.

Here are a few Native Voices Festival scenes
by photographer Carlos Puma:

Ernest Siva, president of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, and Carolyn Horsman, board member, both family members of Dorothy Ramon, shared her stories in Serrano and English.

© Carlos Puma

Painiktem Bird Singers and Traditional Cahuilla Bird Singers were among those singing and dancing traditional bird songs, as the Festival celebrated the Native voice in all the arts.

© Carlos Puma

Morongo Cultural Department, Mother Earth Clan, and plant specialist Kat High offered tastes of Native foods to an eager crowd. The love of mesquite cookies was strong. Here, Maria Lorenzo of Morongo Cultural Department serves Festival goers.

© Carlos Puma

Elder Kim Marcus (Serrano-Cahuilla) was among singers and storytellers.

© Carlos Puma

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (pictured), Inlandia Institute, Banning Library and Friends of Banning Library, Idyllwild Arts, Riverside Arts Council, Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum, and San Manuel Education Department also were among exhibitors. Special screenings of the short documentary Saging the World were followed by Q & A sessions with film co-producer Rose Ramirez.

© Carlos Puma

One “Special Attraction” was a language panel discussing the revitalization of Serrrano and Cahuilla languages at Morongo and San Manuel reservations, featuring (from left) Aaron Saubel, Mark Levinson, and Joseph Henderer. We hope to expand this in the future to a daylong language conference.

© Carlos Puma

The family-friendly, free event offered lots of hands-on activities for kids and everyone else. Watch for a full day of creative workshops!

© Carlos Puma

Thanks to all who came, and thanks to all who support the 501c3 nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in our 20th year of saving and sharing Southern California Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.

Upcoming Events

March 26, 2023

Sweetwood: The Song of the Whale
Original music, accompanied by oboe, English horn, Irish whistles and recorders, guitar.

Sunday, March 26, 3 pm,
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s San Manuel Gathering Hall,
127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning, CA

Your $10 benefits Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s programs.

May 15, 2023

Stories, Poems, and Cultural Memories
With poet Georgiana Valoyce-Sanchez (Chumash/O’Odham)

6 pm May 15, Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s San Manuel Gathering Hall,
127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning, CA

Your $10 benefits Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s programs. Co-sponsored by the Native American Arts Center at Idyllwild Arts.

Thanks again!

Our weekly online newsletter, News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, is FREE. Please like. Please subscribe. Please share. Thank you from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva, and Editor Pat Murkland. We value your ideas: Please EMAIL. March 15, 2023.