Q & A on the Dragonfly Gala!
“What is it all about?”
Every year for years now, the 501c3 nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center holds the Dragonfly Gala on the second Saturday of August, and a community of more than 300 people celebrate saving and sharing Southern California Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts. This year’s gala is scheduled from 4-8 pm Aug. 12, 2023, at Morongo Community Center on the reservation, and we’re celebrating Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s 20th anniversary — along with our founders, Ernest and June Siva.
Ernest and June Siva visit with Kim Marcus, a Dragonfly Award honoree, at the 2022 gala (Carlos Puma Photo)
“What can I expect?”
We visit with old and new friends. We eat a delicious BBQ dinner, including Native foods and yummy desserts. We enjoy interactive Native cultural displays and exhibits. We find joy in traditional music such as bird-singing and dancing. We shop at the Center’s famous silent auction featuring Native American art, jewelry, and eclectic dragonfly items. And every year we award the Dragonfly Award for soaring achievements in saving and sharing Native American cultures.
The late Elder Jane Dumas (Kumeyaay) receiving the Dragonfly Award from Ernest Siva in 2005.
“What’s special this year?”
This is a super special gala. This year we are honoring our founders, Ernest and June Siva, and we have some special fun surprises for all gala participants to celebrate the Sivas and our Center’s 20th anniversary!
“Tribal Hat,” by the late Robert Hiram Meltzer (1921-1987), a renowned artist who lived in Cherry Valley, California. Gift from Friends of Banning Library to Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.
Our theme is DRAGONFLIES and we encourage people to wear dragonfly themes and HATS in a salute to our founders Ernest and June Siva. (Back story on hats: HERE.)
Why Dragonflies?
A dragonfly is a powerful communicator and messenger in traditional Southern California Indigenous cultures.
You can really call a dragonfly to come to you, with the Dragonfly Song.
As Ernest Siva says in his book, Voices of the Flute (Ushkana Press, © 2004),
“The Dragonfly Song is a Serrano/Cahuilla lullaby. If you see a dragonfly hovering about and you sing this song, the dragonfly will either come to you, or stay away from you. It is a good sign if he comes to you, and not so good if he stays away. The teaching goes, if you are kind and have kind thoughts, he will come to you. Conversely, if you are troubled, nervous, angry, etc., he will leave your presence. The elders say, “Mehuun terrux!”, “Quiet your heart!” In other words, be calm and confident before proceeding with anything of importance.”
Here, Elder Kim Marcus (a Dragonfly Award winner) tells his personal story about the Dragonfly Song:
The Learning Center is filled with art of dragonflies and we embrace the spirit behind the Dragonfly Song. This is Ernest Siva’s “signature song,” and also is at the foundation of the his many-year romance with his wife, June Siva. Ernest Siva has taught uncounted people of all walks of life and different generations this Cahuilla-Serrano lullaby.
Ernest Siva teaches the Dragonfly Song HERE.
Discover more about the Dragonfly Song HERE.
Ernest Siva tells stories about the Dragonfly Song HERE.
Ernest Siva opens the dragonfly-adorned doors at Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in Banning. (Pat Murkland Photo)
Special Dragonfly attractions at the 2023 Dragonfly Gala
Dragonfly Exchange: BRING A DRAGONFLY (art, handmade, be creative!) and TAKE HOME someone else’s, uplift everyone’s spirits and share the peaceful heart that calls in the dragonfly. Or just take a dragonfly to bring home. Led by Morongo School.
Dragonfly Selfie Station: A beautiful dragonfly art backdrop that celebrates Ernest and June Siva’s story. Take photos of each other for a happy memory of the Dragonfly Gala.
Dragonfly Art Displays: 20 years of dragonflies at Dorothy Ramon Learning Center including art of our head dragonflies, Ernest and June Siva.
Also: Dragonfly Song storytelling animation by Isaac Webb.
Special Dragonfly Surprise! (Cannot spill the beans here. Ernest and June Siva edit and contribute to every newsletter, and we want to surprise them.)
“How much does the Dragonfly Gala cost?”
TABLES: Deer Table $1,000 (seats 8), Bighorn Table $2,000 (seats 10), Dragonfly Table $3,000 (seats 10); SPONSORSHIPS ALSO AVAILABLE.
Individual tickets, $60.
This is our annual fund-raiser for our 501c3 nonprofit and all proceeds directly help us save and share Native American cultures and support our nonprofit programs, events, and publications (including this free online weekly cultural newsletter, News From Dorothy Ramon Learning Center).
“How do I get tickets to the Dragonfly Gala?”
Three ways, by AUGUST 10:
Simply email us to reserve your spot, and pay at the door of the Gala. (Cash or card at the door.)
PLEASE RSVP HERE. Your RSVP helps us make sure we can serve everyone! SEATING IS LIMITED. DEADLINE IS AUGUST 10.Old-fashioned pay by mail: Mail check or money order to Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, PO Box 1510, Banning, CA 92220, and tell us specifically what it is for. Note: With this option you need to do this early to make sure we will get it, and confirm payment well before the gala.
Electronic pay ($ or credit card): Log into your Paypal account; add 3 percent processing fee; send pay to: info (AT) dorothyramon (DOT) org. Tell us what it’s for in the NOTES.
Thank you
News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center is always FREE. We love to hear from you. PLEASE EMAIL. Thanks as always for reading along with us, from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva and Editor Pat Murkland. July 26, 2023. Please like, subscribe, share!
And please consider supporting our 501c3 nonprofit: