Spirit Ride gallops into Moorpark for American Indian rite
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

GETTING READY FOR THE CEREMONY- At the Lakota Spirit Rider Ceremony, cameras were allowed only during the horse painting. Those not actually riding the horses decorate them for the riders. Younger members of the tribe are given to the task of searching for flags hidden in the neighboring hills.

There will be singing, dancing, drumming and praying at the sixth annual Spirit Ride ceremony this weekend.

Simply put, it will be a celebration of diversity.

The Spirit Ride, a revered American Indian celebration, is returning to Moorpark for a third straight year. Peter Catches Jr., or Zintkala Oyate, is a 37thgeneration Lakota medicine man who is traveling from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to perform the ceremony, which starts today, Oct. 26, and ends on Sunday at the Spirit Dancer Ranch.

"It is one of the oldest ways of praying. This ceremony goes back thousands and thousands of years," said Manny Sandoval, who helped organize the event with author and music therapist Christine Stevens.

Sandoval, who is a Navajo Pueblo, also goes by Council Pipe or Eagle Elk.

"It's a time to purify ourselves of all our impurities. It is about the unity of the people coming together and helping each other to put on the event."

Today is a work day that includes cleaning up the land and setting up camp in preparation for the ceremony. The Chumash Nation will bless the land around noon.

The ceremony lasts from 9 a.m. to sunset on Saturday and Sunday with singing and drumming all day. Two sweat lodges- ceremonial sauna-like structures where spiritual connections are made- will be open both nights.

During Spirit Ride, there is an event called the Sacred Hoop, which signifies the unification of different people. Red, black, white and yellow flags are scattered in a nearby ravine. The flags represent people scattered around the world. Four young girls use their hands to paint horses many colors. Four spirit riders are then selected to ride the horses and find the flags. Once the flags are collected, the spirit riders bring the colors together, into the center of the ring.

"That's what the ceremony is about- bringing the community together," said Sandoval, who lives in Northridge.

Children are also an important part of the celebration.

"Children are really respected by the Lakota," said Stevens, who was busy this week evacuating her home in Stevenson Ranch because of the fires. "From the Lakota perspective, those children are sacred and key people of our ceremony."

Catches, who comes from a long line of respected medicine men, had a vision to honor his father with this ceremony.

November was been proclaimed Native American Month by Los Angeles City Hall last year, and Sandoval will open the month's festivities with a water ceremony at the Los Angeles River at Bette Davis Park at 8 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 1. The firstever American Indian parade will take place on Sat., Nov. 10 in downtown Los Angeles.

Regarding the Spirit Ride, Sandoval encourages the public "to come and participate and not be spectators. Everybody's going to get something out of it. It's a little different for everybody."

"I just love this ceremony," Stevens said. "Anyone in Los Angeles can enjoy this, going from the city to the middle of nowhere and being back in nature. It's an experience that just cleanses your soul and we're very lucky to host it.

"This is for people who would like to come in a positive spirit and be part of a prayer and ceremony. It's for anyone who has any interest in Native American spirituality. It's a great opportunity to participate and feel the connections to the roots of America, of American Indians."

Spirit Dancer Ranch is at 6397 Gabbert Road. For more information or to RSVP or volunteer, call (310) 770-3398.