Since 2015, the Piipaash Matasheevm has been an annual celebration at which Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members celebrate the Piipaash culture. Originated by members of the Lehi Community with support from former SRPMIC President Delbert Ray Sr., the Piipaash Matasheevm is a social gathering that has grown from a small potluck and bird gathering known as the Gathering of the Gourds, founded by Earl and Carolyn Stacey nearly three decades ago, into a full-fledged intertribal social gathering that is held twice a year, in April and October. 

The event was organized and presented by the Piipaash Matasheevm Committee (PMC), a group of SRPMIC members and volunteers who dedicate their time each year to ensure the celebration is fun for families as they share the Piipaash culture and traditions. 

The springtime Piipaash Matasheevm, a two-day gathering generally held on a weekend in April, primarily features SRPMIC singers and performers. In the fall, the Piipaash Matasheevm is a one-day gathering with an open call for bird singers and dancers near and far to perform. 

This year’s fall Piipaash Matasheevm, held on October 5, featured intertribal dancers, singers and performers from across Indian Country. These included members of the SRPMIC group Bird Singing and Dancing by the River. Other groups included the Apache Crown Dancers, the Pascua Yaqui Deer Dancers and the Hopi Traditional Dance Group. 

SRPMIC Lehi Council members Deanna Scabby and Michael Dallas Sr. each greeted the guests prior to the day-long celebration. “This is an opportunity for us all to come together,” began Scabby. “The dream and the goal of the committee has always been to teach the young ones who they are and for them to not forget their culture.” 

During his welcome speech, Dallas requested a round of applause for all the Community veterans who were in attendance. He then detailed the origins of the Lehi Gathering Area. “This area here was just dirt. There was an old house here,” he began. “To think of what it has become now, I want to thank the [SRPMIC] Public Works Department that maintains and oversees this area.”

Pacer Reina and Garfield Nish served as the emcees for the entire event, which began at noon and ended at 10 p.m. at the Lehi Gathering Area. Ready as ever with his sharp sense of humor, Reina provided humorous Dad jokes as Nish provided insight into the Piipaash traditions throughout the celebration. 

To further ensure families enjoyed the one-day celebration, the PMC collaborated with SRPMIC Public Works to set up a misting station tent for people to receive a brief cool-down if needed. The PMC and Public Works also collaborated to install a large temporary tent in the Lehi grassy area to protect the performers, dancers and singers from the triple-digit heat, which lasted throughout the day and into the night. 

Reina later stated, “We invite different singers from different areas. If you know about Bird Singing and Dancing [By the River], you know these types of songs are sung from the Havasupai all the way down to Southern California and even into Northern Mexico,” he added. “That’s why we’re here, to encourage anyone and everyone to come on out and sing, take part and learn.”

Following Reina and Nish’s welcome, Community member Jorge Gonzales performed a hoop dance and invited everyone to join in. “The hoop dance originates from the Taos Pueblo New Mexico Indians,” shared Gonzales prior to his performance. He added, “This is a storytelling and healing dance for those who are feeling sick spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.”

Gonzales’s hoop dance told the story of a man roaming the desert as he searched for signs from the Creator. “The images that I make with my hoops are the images that the man sees in the desert. The eagles, butterflies, the world, and at some point maybe even the Creator himself.” 

Later, Alfonso Pesado’s performance immediately packed the grassy field with dancers and tribal royalty from across Indian Country, including Maritza Barley, the 2024-2025 Ms. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Powwow Princess; Revine Nerva, 2024-2025 Miss Quechan Nation; Aubrey Palone, 2024-2025 Miss Quechan Nation First Attendant, and more. 

Many family members from the original Gathering of the Gourds were in attendance. Lehi seniors Eddie Vest, Bob Aguilar, Garnet Gates and more attended the gathering along with their children, family members and loved ones. 

When asked about the importance of attending this October’s Piipaash Matasheevm, Vest revealed one of his favorite things about attending the gatherings. “The people,” Vest said. “The traditional music and being with the people.”

Vest shared his personal history of the Gathering of the Gourds and Piipaash Matasheevm as he and his family rested underneath the shade of some nearby trees. He recalled singing and dancing with Frank Thomas (bot) when the Gathering of the Gourds first started. 

“I remember. We used to sing together, but he passed away,” Vest shared. Now a Lehi senior, Vest has made it a point to attend both the spring and fall Piipaash Matasheevm gatherings with his family.

From its origins as a small potluck gathering decades ago, the Piipaash Matasheevm has grown with every year. The number of performers, dancers and attendees increase with every gathering. Plans for the April Piipaash Matasheevm are well underway as the SRPMIC and PMC collectively plan to ensure that the next Piipaash Matasheevm continues to celebrate the people, culture and traditions of the Piipaash. 

The committee also thanked the following participants and contributors to this
year’s event:

• Guests who traveled from near and far
• SRPMIC Council
• Public Works: Crystal, Rocky, Fausto and team
• Salt River Veterans Offi ce staff: Troy, Amanda and Sierra
• A/V staff: Robb, Darren and the PA staff
• Community Development Department
• Fleet Department
• Cultural Resources Department
• Miss Salt River and Court
• Young River People’s Council
• Lehi Boys & Girls Club
• The Salt River Community Children’s Foundation
• The Salt River police and fi re departments
• Day workers
• Salt River Materials Group
• Salt River Gaming Enterprise
• Vendors
• Our spouses, kids and grandkids!

O’odham Action News Would Like to Thank:

Elaina Osife
Ardell Moore
Former SRPMIC President Delbert Ray Sr.
The Piipaash Matasheevm Committee (PMC)
Bird Singing and Dancing by the River
Apache Crown Dancers
The Pascua Yaqui Deer Dancers
The Hopi Traditional Dance Group
SRPMIC Lehi Council member Deanna Scabby
SRPMIC Lehi Council member Michael Dallas Sr.
Pacer Reina
Garfi eld Nish
Jorge Gonzales
Alfonso Pesado
Maritza Barley, the 2024-2025 Ms. University of
California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Revine Nerva, 2024-2025 Miss Quechan Nation
Aubrey Palone, 2024-2025 Miss Quechan Nation
First Attendant
Eddie Vest
Bob Aguilar
Garnet Gates
Frank Thomas (bot)
SRPMIC Public Works
SRPMIC Day Labor Program
SRPMIC Human Resources
SRPMIC Council
SRPMIC Veterans