The popular homemade salsa and tortilla contests had a total of 10 participants with many eager judges casting votes for their favorites. Tyler Macias said it was hard to choose because they were so good. Red, green and brown varieties of salsas identified only by bowls marked A-H were spooned onto provided tortilla chip rounds for the taste testing.

“I liked A,” said Arthur Lopez Jr. “It was a little bit hot but not real hot – it was just right. It also had a fire-roasted chiles taste.”

That is the salsa that went on to win the contest for Ruby Arrietta with the most votes. Adonna Salgado won the tortilla contest.

“This is the first time I entered,” Salgado said. “I always say I’m going to do it but this year I put in the effort to make sure I did.”

There were several vendors on site selling clothing and specialty food items. This was in addition to the free lunch enjoyed by all inside the Sports Complex. Shredded turkey, beef and chicken were served with tortillas along with rice, beans and several salads. Leftover salsa was available alongside other condiments.

A highlight of the Fiesta was the introduction of the two candidates who are vying for the title of $ovóova Po’$wáamay (Daughter of Soboba). They are Su’la Arviso and Raya Salgado. Both young women will be participating in many cultural activities during the next few months that will culminate in a crowning in October, the month when the Soboba Fiestas were originally held.

Geneva Mojado, Chairwoman of the DoS Committee and Vice Chairwoman for Tribal Council, said the last time the event was held was in 1969 when Virginia Duenas was crowned Fiesta Maiden. Also serving on the committee are Vice Chairwoman Monica Herrera, Secretary Iyana Briones, Treasurer Rhonda Valenzuella, and members Tatiana Diaz, Carrie Garcia, Summer Helms, Andrea Relopez, Adona Salgado, and Anthony Vallez.

At a booth, the Committee offered information and a sneak peek at the crown and sash that will be worn by the chosen Daughter of Soboba. They also held a 50/50 drawing to help fund travelling expenses once a maiden is crowned.

Mojado said the committee was formed in October 2021 with a mission statement that says the committee intends to support, empower and enhance the well-being of Native women through achieving emotional, social and economic self-sufficiency. “Our young women are the baskets of the community. $ovóova Po’$wáamay shall be an esteemed role model honoring her tribe and Native people,” she read.

 As the last crowned Fiesta Maiden, Duenas shared what it meant to her to hold that title. She said back in 1969 the competition included being able to shoot an arrow into a bullseye to show they could be successful hunters, sew a button on a piece of cloth to show they could take care of themselves and others, and make and roll a tortilla teaching young women how to cook for themselves and their families. “Today there are other requirements,” Duenas said. “I appreciate all the things I learned.”

Raya said some of her proudest accomplishments didn’t come with awards or recognition. “They came at moments that reminded me of why I started and looking back and seeing all my progress,” she said. “That’s the kind of impact I want to see in the little ones around me because representation does matter.”

Raya Salgado, 15, is the daughter of Daniel Salgado (Cahuilla) and Rhonda Valenzuella (Soboba). Virginia Duenas is her aunt.

“As Native youth, it’s important that we stay engaged and take an active role in our community,” she said. Raya has been a member of Soboba Youth Council, a Soboba Fire Explorer for the past several years, and part of her school’s Native American club. “Those experiences have shown me what it means to serve others, to be disciplined, and to keep going even when things get tough. They tell me that resilience isn’t just about being strong in tough moments; it’s about standing up for what you believe it, it’s about showing up day after day with the intention of making a difference.”

Su’la Arviso is the daughter of Nate and Melissa Arviso and said, “From a young age, I always wanted to represent and bring awareness to our people. Coming from a family of leaders like my grandmother Mary Mojado, godmother Geneva Mojado and great-grandfather Anthony Mojado, I too aspire to carry the leadership skills.”

She helped create the first Four Directions Club while in elementary school and continued with it at San Jacinto High School, where is still thrives. She got involved with Native Challenge and TANF while attending North Mountain Middle School. Su’la has supported Assemblymember James Ramos in his efforts to champion Native American rights. She is pursuing her college degree in Early Childhood Education with the goal of working at the Soboba Tribal Preschool to help educate the youth. She hopes to eventually serve her people on Tribal Council.

“I strongly believe it’s important to help guide our youth not just with education but traditional values,” Su’la said. “We must help prepare the next seven generations and make sure each and every single one of these kids feel pride within themselves to be Native, to be from Soboba. We must pave the way for our kids in a traditional manner because without our culture, we are lost.”

There was bird singing throughout the event as well as recorded music provided by DJ Mike Nevarez. Emcee Joseph Ontiveros from Soboba’s Cultural Resource Department kept the crowd informed with announcements throughout the event. A special one, which he believes to be a first for the Fiesta, was the public marriage proposal to Christina Logan by her boyfriend of 14 months, Jose Carrera. She said yes.

An appearance by the Zuni Olla Maidens was well received by the crowd. The Zuni Olla Maidens are a well-respected dance troupe from Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico, known for singing, drumming and their trademark dance while balancing pottery on their heads. The Zuni Olla Maidens are also unique in that their group has always consisted of related women, making it a family affair for more than 70 years.

Rounding out the day were softball games, a three-legged race, watermelon eating contest and a tug-of-war. Peon games began at dusk and continued well past midnight.

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Several food vendors were set up behind the shady ramadas that were built to encircle the grassy area where bird singers and dancers were well-received throughout the day. Michael Mirelez, who led the Desert Cahuilla Bird Singers from Torres Martinez, has been teaching a class through Soboba TANF and Cultural Resources for almost eight years. Each Tuesday, from 6 to 8 p.m., he conducts Cahuilla Language Through Bird Songs that is open to all Tribal communities by RSVP to 951-663-6261. Some of his students who were present at the Fiesta joined in.

“I do this because I have a passion for it,” said Mirelez, who teaches at three other reservations. “Our dances have always been unified; we’re all dancing together, and we are trying hard to bring that back.”

Also presenting were Larry Hammond and the Mojave Bird Singers, Ft. Mojave; Jonny Ray Hemers and the Rez Life Bird Singers, Ft. Mojave; Mickey Salazar, Kumeyaay Bird Songs, San Jose de la Zorra; George Zuniga, Kumeyaay Birdsongs, Santa Ysabel; Mojave Boy, Ft. Mojave; Painiktem Singers, Pass Cahuilla Bird Singers, Agua Caliente; and Wayne Nelson and the Intertribal Bird Singers, So Cal.

Another highlight was a performance by the Apache Crown Dancers from White River, Arizona.

Co-ed sports were front and center with horseshoe and one-pitch softball tournaments starting at 11 a.m. There were 20 players in the double-elimination horseshoe tournament; the winners were Kathy Pico and Shad Wulf.

For the one-pitch softball tournament, the Beernuts took home first place among the field of 12 teams. The Soboba-based team roster was Andy Silvas, Noel Alverez, Noel Alverez Jr., Brave Alvarez, Davi Bentiste, Jocie Bentist, Fabian Correra, Tot Briones, Ciara Ramos, Jeremiah Ramos, Crystal Devore and Ane Pahulu.

Games and contests were also popular activities. The tortilla contest was won by Kat Duro. Alice Helms, 92, was one of six entrants in the salsa contest which she has entered for many years, having won first place in the past. This year the top honors went to Ruby Arrietta.

“I use all fresh ingredients and roast everything with garlic,” Helms said.

All contestants had to submit a quart of salsa. A small amount was placed in bowls for tasting by guests who then cast a vote for their favorite. The rest of the salsa was available at the free lunch that was served inside the gymnasium. Meal contributors were Wayne Nelson who slowly smoked the shredded beef and turkey overnight before barbecuing it, Yolanda Rhodes who provided the homemade tortillas, and Anita Morillo and Jacob Rivera who made the sides that included salads, beans and rice. Also provided was homemade wewish, an acorn mush that was one of the main food staples of the Indigenous peoples of California. After the hearty meal, there were plenty of sweets supplied by guests at the potluck dessert table.

The Soboba Elders sponsored Bingo games from 10:30 to noon, which was a popular activity. Grease pole climbing, a watermelon eating contest and some tug-of-war sessions kept everyone’s interest. Peon games began at dusk and lasted well into the night. The pool and playground were also open and children enjoyed both throughout the event that occurred during a day of sunny and warm temperatures.

Soboba Tribal Preschool students earned much-deserved applause and smiles from the crowd as they performed three songs they have learned. One about colors was in the Luiseño language.

Sitting under one of the ramadas constructed with help from Noli Indian School students and enjoying a nice breeze, Alice Helms said that back in her grandmother’s day they didn’t have tents and canopies to provide shade so ramadas were a necessity. Today they serve as a reminder of the cultural traditions that Tribal members know are important to continue for future generations.

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Peon games for men, women and children, horseshoes, tug-of-war, greased pole climbing and other competitive games were offered. A fun cake walk for all ages saw lots of sweet treats won with help from announcer Joe Ontiveros, Soboba’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and DJ Mike Nevarez. Salsa and tortilla contests produced lots of delicious entries with Vincent and Vanessa being voted as top salsa makers and Elizabeth Russell winning for the tastiest tortillas.

Vendors, sharing fun food items and lots of merchandise, dotted the perimeter of the Sports Complex’s large grassy area. A huge tent was erected with folding chairs underneath to provide shade and breezes during the sunny afternoon, and it got plenty of use. There were also traditional ramadas that were built for the occasion, providing additional shade and comfort for families that brought their own chairs and gear.

Several Soboba departments shared resources with visitors. Members of the Soboba Foundation, Tribal Council and Tribal Executive Offices joined together to offer lots of reasons for guests to stop by their booths. Representatives and volunteers with the Soboba Foundation gave every guest a free Maui rolling cooler that is perfect for picnics, tailgate parties, hiking or a day at the beach, just in time for summer.

A Tribal member-only raffle, giving away two Soboba-branded easy-up canopies, was sponsored by Tribal Council, who also provided frozen treats to those wanting to cool off with ice cream or popsicles. Tribal Council also encouraged Tribal members to scan QR codes to participate in a Luiseño Language Assessment, a Septic System Questionnaire for Soboba residents and an opportunity to sign up for Korbyt, the Tribe’s newest notification system.

Christian Aceves, Soboba Tribal Environmental Department Director, shared a demonstration of watershed and what his department is doing on the Soboba Indian Reservation to keep pollution out of its waterways. The most ambitious project is determining riparian zones where plants can be situated near roadways and other areas where runoff is common. “What happens upstream, happens downstream,” he said, adding that runoff after rainfall is how harmful items on solid ground find their way into water sources.

The Soboba Reservation riparian areas include many native species only found in this general area of the United States. STED, with the help of the Soboba Public Works Department , was able to plant more than 80 native species recommended by Soboba’s Cultural Resource Department, which included Coast Live Oak, California Scrub Oak, Western Sycamore, Sugar Bush and Red Willow. Riparian areas supply food, cover and water for a large variety of animals.

Soboba’s Public Safety, T.A.N.F., Family Services, Legacy Bank and Fire Department all offered information and fun freebies. Mikayla Mendoza, Emergency Services Coordinator, will be working with the Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC) and the Soboba Fire Department to present the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) basic training class, June 2-4. The course is being offered to Tribal members, reservation residents and Soboba employees at no cost.

The pool and splash pad were open for those that wanted to enjoy the water and the playground was filled with energetic children who wanted to climb and swing. Both baseball fields were open to host six teams playing co-ed one-pitch softball. In an early game won by team Beernuts, the fast action resulted in the required seven innings being completed in less than 20 minutes.

Steve Lopez, Assistant Director of the Sports Complex, oversaw the horseshoe tournament that promised more than $2,000 in payouts to the best players, making for some very competitive games.

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