Continuity in Ipai Culture

By Roy Cook


Santa Ysabel 11th annual Mataayum, Fiesta, Gathering is held in the original village site area of the Santa Ysabel valley. The original Santa Ysabel village name is ‘Ellykwanan “small mound made by a mole” for this gathering location. Historical documents and photographs have provided evidence of many of the past Ipai events and Ipai gatherings of culture expression. However, our focus today is the future and the Ipai youth. Congratulations to those Tribal members and volunteers that produced this event. Their efforts to organize games and activities that inspire educate and entertain are appreciated.

Traditionally villages would invite and host other bands, singers and teams. Great hospitality and social opportunities would emerge from these interactive experiences. News would be exchanged; songs and stories would be shared. Highly competitive teams would be matched and traditional gambling in various forms was enjoyed. For several hundred years, these gatherings were called Fiestas.


In the afternoon of a gorgeous bright, breezy day, the children enjoyed the watermelon eating contests. Devon Lomayesya sliced and judged the winners of the young and not so young competitors. No losers when you get to enjoy sweet chilled watermelon.

Later, after the first rounds of the horseshoe competition the traditional songs began. Each group could sing an hour or as long as they wished into the evening.

One traditional song composer of the recent past, Yellow Sky, was a good acquaintance of Ed Davis. Davis lived just over the hill by Mesa Grande, Tekemak “sheltered place”. Yellow Sky, Ammay Ta Quas, Pinta el Cielo Amarillo lived over 100 years and traveled from the Colorado River into Baja and back to the San Luis Rey river area. Today our Wildcat Song leader Jon Meza Cuero brought the songs that Yellow Sky composed back and put them into the wind and our hearts.

Many song groups and song leaders started to gather as the Santa Ysabel hosted and fed everyone a free meal that evening.

Much later, that night the serious Peon team guessing game and gambling took place. Naturally, at any time, anyone could drive over to the Santa Ysabel Casino for the $4.95 Prime rib dinner and Vegas style entertainment.