Cabazon, CA: Culture, Heritage and Tradition on display during Morongo Thunder & Lightning Pow Wow

In every dance step and every ceremonial drum beat, Native American culture, heritage and tradition were on full display during this weekend’s 32nd annual Morongo Thunder & Lightning Pow Wow.

More than 900 tribal dancers and 20 drum groups from across the U.S. and Canada are were expected to attend as vendors outside selling Native American food, jewelry, beads, pottery, clothing and basketry rounded out the event.

Admittedly I was a little spoiled after last week’s San Manuel Pow Wow at Cal State San Bernardino. I enjoyed making pictures under a spectacular overcast sky. This week’e event was held inside a tent to block the sunlight. Though light in color, it presented a lighting challenge in that the sides are open. From nearly every angle I wound up with blown-out areas of daylight in my pictures. Sometimes I shot from a low angle, though the lesser of two evils, still left a bright white distraction of the ceiling of the tent in the background of some of my pictures.