(Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) During the powwow at Barona, Williams was representing her Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas as its junior tribal princess, a title which she won in May after fundraising to support programs at the Indian Health Services clinic on her reservation. While many of those attending the powwow Sunday were from San Diego County, some came from much further away, like Sasha Williams, 11, who traveled more than 1,500 miles with her family from Livingston, Texas. “Over the years, the families wanted to have appreciation to show the honoring of that society for all the hard work that they do protecting.” “They saw a need for a protective society to keep the villages safe from predators - wolves, bears and mountain lions,” Phillips said.

Phillips, who is Kiowa, said the dance was created as a way to honor those who kept watch at night as the tribe was traveling south from Canada.

On the last day of the powwow Sunday, a group of gourd dancers kicked off the day demonstrating a ceremonial dance that originated in the Kiowa Tribe.