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In Photos: Moompetam American Indian Festival returns to the Aquarium of the Pacific

byRichard H. Grant, Photo Editor
September 19, 2022
3 minute read
Jacque Tahuka-Nunez of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians and Acjachemen Nation tells stories to children and demonstrates some Native American instruments at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 17, 2022. The storytelling is a part of the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the indigenous people of the Long Beach area. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
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The sound of chanting and drums welcomed guests at the Aquarium of the Pacific this weekend for its 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival. 

The weekend of education and art was made in collaboration with the tribes that originally inhabited the Southern California coast. 

Moompetam comes from the Tongva word for saltwater and is used to describe the “people of the ocean.” The Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno and Kumeyaay tribes are among the first natives to inhabit most of what is now the Los Angeles area. 

During the festival, representatives from the Indigenous tribes displayed artwork and tools that were created by their ancestors and demonstrated how they used the land to create them. Educators showed how the leaves of the Yucca plant were used for binding and clothing, iridescent abalone shells that became jewelry and acorns that were used for food and entertainment. 

In addition to the educational booths, tribal leaders also led in storytelling and performed songs and dances from their people.

In Photos:

Jacque Tahuka-Nunez of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians and Acjachemen Nation tells stories to children and demonstrates some Native American instruments at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 17, 2022. The storytelling is a part of the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the Indigenous people of the Long Beach area. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Oscar Warholler demonstrates how to weave the leaves of the Yucca plant used by the Chumash people for various applications, from binding to clothing. The demonstration was part of the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the Indigenous people of the Long Beach area at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Oscar Warholler (far right) demonstrates how to weave the leaves of the Yucca plant used by the Chumash people for various applications, from binding to clothing to festival visitors. The demonstration was part of the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the Indigenous people of the Long Beach area at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Domingo Belardes of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians demonstrates a hand drill on shells that were often used as jewelry at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Dee Dominguez of the Ventureno Chumash tribe poses for a portrait with some of the weaved fiber hats made by her people at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Jacque Tahuka-Nunez of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians and Acjachemen Nation tells stories to children and demonstrates some Native American instruments at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 17, 2022. The storytelling is a part of the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the Indigenous people of the Long Beach area. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Trish Rios of the Acjachemen Native American people uses a toy with a ring and a stick that the Indigenous people of Southern California used at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Trish Rios of the Acjachemen Native American people shows a toy with a ring and a stick used by the indigenous people of Southern California at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
From left to right, Naomi Knox, Domingo, and his daughter Marcella Belardes stand together for a portrait with some of the tools and jewelry used by the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians during the 18th annual Moompetam American Indian Festival that celebrates the Indigenous people of the Long Beach area on Sept. 17, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
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Richard H. Grant, Photo Editor