Pechanga Powwow 2006

[Ivanasnagu]

I attended the Pechanga powwow in Cali over the weekend. If you attended, what did you think about the contest results? I was really disappointed in the adult divisions results. I think there was a problem in tabulations since several won that probably shouldn't have. Some people were shut out that should have placed. Some of the invited drums were terrible and people had to contest to them. Also I found the arena director (Randy Pico) insulting and arrogant. I should have saved my gas money and waited to drive to Cali until September for Thunder and Lightning. This pow-wow sucked.

[Ninja]

Who were the winners and who do you think should have won or placed?

[laokie]

I too was at the powwow and agree with every complaint you mentioned and more! We couldn't figure how in the world some of those winners placed! But I think a part of the problem was the fire on Friday that backed up the traffic on the freeway and made a lot of dancers late and miss Grand Entry. Therefore, they missed those precious points. I think that the Pico's should have taken this into consideration and scratched the grand entry points for that evening, but Randy and Norman run this powwow their way and they leave no room for anything that is not on their schedule! What they say goes and will not hesitate to get in your face when something happens that they didn't "approve"! This isn't really Pechanga's powwow, it's the Pico Family Powwow, funded by the Pechanga Indians!

[tradishjingle]

I agree with what everyones saying. I heard gasps from people when they announced some of the winners names. In mens traditional 2 of my favorite dancers didn't come in and another of my favorite came in at 4th, it was unbelievable.

I dont know what happened, maybe tabulations or maybe the fire making people late.

[One_Chey_Ojib]

Yeah the Mens No. Traditional results was very shocking. When they announced the first place winner I was like who the ?? is that. And was floored when I saw him walking out...I really thought Nathan Largo should have taken first or at least placed.

That Traffic was terrible...we made it to grand entry on friday by luck because they push it back. But others were not so lucky. Even on Saturday it took forever to get there.

Is it me or does something always go wrong at this pow wow? hmmm just a thought.

[indio]

Me and my dad discussed the pw results a couple of days ago too. He went. He said something they were trying to pick winners that were from califas. That just might make people who aren't from the area not want to go next year. That's too bad.

[One_Chey_Ojib]

I dont recall all the winners so would someone post them.

[fritopye]

I've never been to this powwow but I've heard complaints from those that have attended in previous years. They also complained about the Picos. Do the Picos belong to the tribe that sponsors this powwow? If not, the sponsoring tribe needs to wise up and hire someone else to run the powwow.

[Mike Hawk]

Jacked up everything!
Randy Pico was trying to run EVERYTHING
Teen boys tradish had 2 dancers... n they gave them 3 songs
They told a teen boys fancy dancer to walk off and have a seat, then they got on the mic and said "ok lets give this boy a hand" even though they made him leave
They made everyone stay dressed saturday afternoon until 5 and just said "um.. ok i guess.. umm... everyone is excused until 7:00 SHARP!" Didnt have exhibition or anything
The little one contest thing was messed up. Only got two crusty songs
I am the type of person that has fun at a powwow no matter what, but this one made me feel different. Even the white people said it was stupid. They usually go crazy when they see someone with a feather but they were all "man ive been to better powwows than this in GERMANY!!!" Thats kind of embarassing
I could go on and on but ill let someone else say something

[Ivanasnagu]

I think the Picos should have waived ALL points on Friday night and do the right thing for all dancers sitting in traffic. It was disrespectful to all those traveling. Friday night could have been relaxing and enjoyable and maybe some of the many specials could have been run instead. Gosh, they even had a memorial song on Sunday, why not Friday night?? Then they held the dancers for a few hours on Saturday afternoon just to keep them in the arena for their spectator show.

I think the biggest disappointment was the men's northern traditional and men's southern straight dance. Both of the contests were messed up. When they called up the first place winner of the northern traditional I could not believe it either. I hope people had a chance to look over the tabulations. I won't be back to Pechanga next year. I'm gonna save my hours at work and my gas money for the real deal. No more Pico Family powwow for this girl.

[laokie]

And the biggest problem with this powwow is the fact that the Pico's run it themselves. They do not have a powwow committee and never have, but yet they know nothing about powwows! They are Cali Indians first of all and aside from that fact they do not EVER attend any other powwows around California the rest of the year! Ok, maybe Norman might show up to Gourd Dance at San Manuel, but other than that they are not and never have been "powwow people", but yet they think they have the knowledge to run this powwow on their own, Norman being the "big" boss and Randy being his gofer! Every year this powwow gets worse and worse, more restrictions, everything has to run exactly on schedule, nothing can be changed-it's gotta be their rules and that's that!
Who knew that a fire would start around 1:30 on Friday afternoon and close up the freeway in both directions for the rest of the evening? That's why so many dancers were late, we just lucked out and got there early enough to avoid all that, but a lot weren't. But would they forget about the points for Grand Entry that evening......NOT, can't change the rules. But yet the dancers had to be there to register themselves....although I know of an instance were they let someone register his whole family cause they were stuck in traffic and couldn't make it on time, but then again he's also from a Cal tribe, but they wouldn't let anybody else do that. So why was he the exception?

[Kakeeya]

So who won???????

[Furiously-Fancy]

I almost drove 1,000 miles to this pow-wow. By the sound of it.....I'm glad I went to Arlee instead. People warned be against this Pechanga business.....said I should wait for Cali's BEST!!.....Morongo. So I will. Still curious about the winners.......someone please post!

[Ivanasnagu]

I took off four days and drove two of them to get to Cali. I'll have to see how my funds are to get to Morongo. I might have to wait until next year.

I almost drove 1,000 miles to this pow-wow. By the sound of it.....I'm glad I went to Arlee instead. People warned be against this Pechanga business.....said I should wait for Cali's BEST!!.....Morongo. So I will. Still curious about the winners.......someone please post!

[Homalosa]

So who won???????

uh yeah!