Cupa Centennial
2003 The Pala tribe hosted a public fiesta from 2 to 9 p.m. May 2,1003 at the traditional village of Cupa, (Warner’s Spring resort on state Route 79 northeast of Lake Henshaw). The Cupa Village along with Wilakal and Matagui has been significant from earliest times. This valley is directly on the most traveled route from the Colorado River to the Los Angeles basin and all the tribal villages there. Long before any European contact this valley is an example of the respectful nature of tribal people living together. Completely different language groups living within sight of each other and yet not imposing their will on another. Indian singing, dancing and food are an important part of many public celebrations.
Singer’s voices again move and weave in the traditional Village of Cupa. Singers were invited from Southern California and Arizona to participate in singing the world into being with the song cycle tradition of the people.
Pala
Vice Chairman, Leroy Miranda, who directs the tribe's Cupa Cultural Center,
has done extensive research on the relocation. Miranda's great-grandmother,
Rosinda Nolasquez, was the last survivor of the expulsion. She died in
1987 at age 94 and is buried in the small Cupa cemetery at Warner Springs.
The return to Warner Springs was Miranda's idea. In an interview with
Chet Barfield he said, "The reason we did it is so our people can remember
where they came from. We want this to be an awakening and a curing of
a tragic time in our history." AmericanIndianSource.com
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