The last reported Big Time hosted by the Amah Mutsun, or
Mutsun-speaking people, took place in 1854
San Juan Bautista – Native Americans from around the state will gather in San Juan Bautista this weekend for a regional festival known as “Big Time,” a traditional tribal event last held in the area 150 years ago.
The event, hosted by local Amah Mutsun Indians, is open to the general public as well, according to Quirina Luna-Costillas, an event organizer and head of the Mutsun Language Foundation.
“This is when you invite outside tribes to come in,” Luna-Costillas explained. “It’s a time when you would trade with each other, play games. People would find mates. This is a tradition that’s gone on for centuries.”
The last reported Big Time hosted by the Amah Mutsun, or Mutsun-speaking people, took place in 1854 in San Juan Bautista, as documented by historian C. Hart Merriam. About 4,000 natives attended that gathering.
Nowadays, the events focus on education about Native American history and traditions. Luna-Costillas said the tribe this weekend will hold demonstrations on tribal basket weaving, boat building, dance, and jewelry-making.
The Amah Mutsun tribe has roots in the area around a number of missions, including Mission San Juan Bautista and Mission Santa Cruz. Two rival councils are now fighting for control of the 500-plus member tribe in its efforts to gain federal recognition – the first step necessary to reclaiming Sargent Ranch, thousands of acres of ancestral lands southwest of Gilroy.
Despite the political turmoil, leaders continue to emphasize the tribe’s cultural traditions and historic roots in the area. The Saturday event is free and offers a chance for local residents to learn about both the Mutsun people and Indians from elsewhere in the state. Luna-Costillas expected tribal representatives from as far away as Clear Lake and Jackson.
“Our people will actually be dancing for the first time in close to 100 years,” she said.
The Big Time event takes place Sat. Sept. 3, from 11am through the evening hours at San Juan School, 100 Nyland Drive, San Juan Bautista. Visitors are invited to a tribal feast afterward.
For more information, contact Luna-Costillas at (209) 204-4554.
Serdar Tumgoren covers City Hall for The Dispatch. Reach him at 408-847-7109 or [email protected].
