PALA - The Pala Band of Mission Indians will hold its third annual "Honoring Traditions" Powwow August 27 to 29, 2010 on the Pala Indian Reservation. This event is free and open to the public.

Several different classes of powwow dancing contests will be offered. Seven award-winning powwow drum groups will provide the music for the dancers. Other activities include bird singing, an exhibition of "shinny," a traditional Native American ball game, and a peon tournament. The prizes for contests range from $50 to $1,000, with over $85,000 in total winnings available.

There will be variety of food vendors, including traditional fry bread and Indian tacos. Native American arts and crafts vendors will have booths as well.

Ruben Little Head will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

"We are excited to have this event continue to this year," said Robert Smith, chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. "We hope to expand our outreach to meet over 2,000 attendees who can reflect and honor our culture while having fun and bonding with the community."