California Native Vote Project’s Skoden Indigenous Music Festival

A Day of Great Music and Great Reasons to Vote

Monterey Park, CA – October 21, 2024

The California Native Vote Project (CNVP) is sponsoring the first of what it hopes will be an annual event, the Skoden Indigenous Music Festival October 26 from 3 – 8 pm October 26 at Barnes Park Amphitheater in Monterey Park. Doors open at 2.

Translated, the definition of “skoden” is Native slang “let’s go then” (used frequently on the FX series “Reservation Dogs”) In the context of the festival, it serves as a powerful call to action  – both for the music, and as motivation to to get out the Native vote.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, and will feature food trucks (and free food – “Indian” tacos made from fry bread for the first 200 attendees), as well as Native vendors and information booths, to help raise awareness and answer questions about the upcoming election and how it impacts Southern California Native communities. A ballot drop box is on site at Barnes Park.

“Not everybody goes to a pow wow, not everybody goes to a cultural event,” says festival organizer Rene Williams, CNVP’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. “Being able to connect with more community members in different ways is really important and it’s also great to celebrate our community in a different way. Bring a blanket and a ballot.”.

Comedian Krazy Kasey AKA Rezzalicious AKA Kasey Nicholson (A’aa’nii’nin, White Clay Nation) will emcee the event features an eclectic lineup of Native artists, from blues and rock guitarists to poetry and hip hop to soulful singer-songwriters and alternative rock.

Performers include:

• Levi Platero Band (Navajo Nation)
• Bobby Sanchez (Peruvian)
• Sage Bond (Diné/Apache)
• Stella Standingbear (Lakota)
• Yelawolf (Cherokee)
• One Way Sky