By Brandon Bocanegra, November 18, 2025
Joyful yells known as gritos echoed in Pomona as people gathered to celebrate the city’s first annual Native American heritage festival Sunday Nov. 9 at Lopez Urban Farm from 12.
This event has been in the works since June, all to bring together a community and celebrate in indigenous culture, according to Julian Angel Ibanez Mandujano, Pomona’s chairman of parks and recreation.
“The event is a native heritage one, but it’s also to bridge the gap and show representation for native tribes that are underrepresented,” Ibanez Mandujano said. “We are trying to honor everything. That’s why we put on our flyer the Eagle, Condor and Quetzal because its North America, South America and Mexico. All three of us, just unified.”
Attendees from near and far filled the farm to celebrate the days festivities. Rows of self-owned vendors gathered to not only show off their creations but share their culture and identity to the city of Pomona.
“We wanted something the community felt they could participate in,” Ibanez Mandujano said
The farm featured a variety of vendors including Hispanic food, traditional native clothing as well as representational graphic tees, live realism spray paint art of animals, water conservation education, community art workshops, live poetry readings and several danza performances which focus on tradition rather than movement to music.
The opening ceremony began with a land acknowledgement that recognized where the audience stood is Tongva land and facing each cardinal direction to the beat of a drum.
The traditional dance group Danza Azteca Tonatiuh performed several dances such as the Fire Dance to acknowledge the Sun, the Paloma or Dove Dance to signify peace and the Tlaloc dance to bring good water to the area.
Spectators took the opportunity to celebrate Aztec culture with the Ozomatli, also known as the Monkey Dance, by learning each step and going through the danza in its entirety.
People from across California came to see these performances, like Francisco Teran who is from Santa Clarita. Initially, he came to see his friends and brother but did not hesitate to get involved with the community in the Ozomatli danza.
“You get to share energy with the community around you and engage in laughter and play,” Teran said. “It’s more so about just enjoying the pleasures of being with a community, so that’s the energy I was perceiving and sharing with everybody. It was beautiful.”
After the first set of danzas came a period of rest from the heat and a chance to explore what each vendor had to offer, from aguas frescas, handmade crystal jewelry, clothing and fine art pieces.
Poets took to the stage in intervals proclaiming their identity, past, emotions and culture for audience members to find comfort in and hear varying perspectives of life. Featured poets included Peter Lechuga, Consuelo, Jeszabel Millan and Nadia Cristina.
Avocado Heights Vaqueros showed off their trick roping performance rooted in indigenous Mexican culture through the Ixtle, a strong natural fiber from the agave plant, according to the group’s Instagram. The crowd cheered as the Ixtle rope swung like a tornado around each vaquero carefully moving around, demonstrating control and spiritual harmony.
As the sun began to set, dancers put on masks of old men with large smiles and rosy cheeks for La Danza de los Viejitos. Originating from Michoacan, this danza is a celebration of the joy of life performed near Día De Los Muertos. What started off slow became fast paced with spins and stomps to music as a reminder not to underestimate the elderly and the wisdom they possess.
The evening closed with a tight drum circle ceremony, putting an end to the festival but not the history of the cultures shared.
Sunny Soon, a dancer from the Danza Azteca Tonatiuh, emphasized the importance of events that celebrate native culture like this.
“It’s really important to highlight that history, especially when it’s being taught in our school systems as something that’s dormant or dead,” Soon said. “They’re still here and people deserve their culture to be spread and keep it alive.”
Those interested in learning or celebrating native culture can visit the farm on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to learn about native plants, according to Ibanez Mandujano.
Danza Azteca Tonatiuh also holds danza classes every Wednesday in La Puente and can be contacted through their official Instagram.
“I feel like it’s important for people to know that these types of events are supposed to highlight native people but is for all people to attend, participate and celebrate all cultures,” Soon said. “If we keep doing that, it grows unity. So, encourage other people to host events that are culturally centered and outreach to communities that can grow solidarity between each other’s groups.”
