Rodeo Is a Showcase of Tradition and Heritage, San Diego Should Scrap Ban Efforts

Josh Muse is vice chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. Raymond J. Welch is chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. John Christman is chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. 

For more than 100 years, rodeos have provided a stage for Native Americans and other Indigenous people to connect with their culture, heritage and animals. This is why the leadership of our tribes have taken the unusual step of jointly speaking out in opposition to a recently proposed ban of rodeos in the city of San Diego. 

In the last six weeks, we quickly came together with partners, friends and colleagues under the shared umbrella of the San Diego Rodeo Alliance to preserve an important tradition in our community. During this brief period, thousands have joined our alliance in opposition to the proposed ban. Other tribes are following. In fact, the Pechanga Band of Indians and Morongo Band of Mission Indians have also joined our cause in the last 24 hours in solidarity to protect the San Diego Rodeo, and surely more will follow.

While not commonly known, the concept of rodeo dates back well before the city of San Diego existed, representing practices established on Indigenous lands. 

For those unfamiliar with rodeo, it’s a meaningful expression of skills and traditions handed down by our ancestors. It holds a special place in our hearts, and showcases the heritage of Mexican (Charreadas), Black, Western and many LGBTQ+ communities. 

Sadly, there’s a long history of Hollywood appropriating Black, Hispanic and Indigenous heritage in the re-telling of the American cowboy narrative, often without proper representation of our stories. 

The tide is slowly changing, with more documentaries, shows and movies than ever before on the contributions of these original cowboys whose names we’ll never know. 

Still, misconceptions persist, underscoring the importance of an open dialogue. 

The proposal to ban rodeos city-wide, while still in a conceptual phase, has prompted us to call for a more informed approach. 

For reference, we encourage San Diego stakeholders to look at the city of Los Angeles, where after proposing a ban, Councilmembers recognized they failed to engage impacted communities, and needed to begin their educational journey on what rodeo truly represents. 

After hearing these collective voices, attempts were made at amendments to protect only certain rodeo practices by cultural traditions. However, this raised further concerns, resulting in their proposal being sent back to the drawing board. 

It is impossible to segregate rodeo by tradition. Every event, from team roping to bull riding, traces its origins back to Black, Indigenous and Hispanic roots. Many are manifestations of skills crucial for survival that evolved into practices that now celebrate our history and resiliency, educating youth by connecting past, present and future generations through our storied traditions. 

Rodeo is also not mere entertainment. It is a showcase of heritage that preserves skills and ranching traditions. It provides opportunities for countless Indigenous families and supports nonprofits, hospitals, scholarships and organizations in our communities. 

A traveling practice at its core, rodeo empowers Indigenous participants to share our heritage in urban cities that sit on Indigenous lands. In fact, the San Diego Rodeo provides a unique, annual opportunity to be seen and heard by more than 45,000 people beyond our Tribal lands. 

It behooves us to consider the cultural enrichment and shared values of the thousands of attendees who gather each year for these three days, showcasing a collective respect for tradition, community and animal welfare that far outweighs the dissenting voices. 

An issue of common ground for all spectators, participants, supporters and opponents of the rodeo is animal welfare. There is nothing we take more seriously when planning and conducting an event. We believe the care and respect that Tribes (and organizers we work with for the San Diego Rodeo, such as C5 and Outriders) show for animal life is exceptional. We do not support or condone harm to our animals during a rodeo, and we go to great lengths to ensure their safety. 

Rodeo opponents in San Diego have suggested that we use electric prods and other harmful devices. That is false. In fact, the San Diego Humane Society was onsite during the rodeo to oversee the treatment of animals, and their final report documenting the event found no violations of the law or mistreatment of animals. From our standpoint, that speaks for itself. 

We have come together to urge San Diego City leaders to pause and reflect on its effort and begin its own education and outreach process. Oftentimes, engaging impacted communities as a first step to policymaking can lead to more equitable and informed decisions. 

We look forward to working with local elected officials and other stakeholders to find a common-sense solution that allows rodeos to continue in the city of San Diego. It is an important part of San Diego’s history and integral part of our culture.