Indigenous Artists Honor Legacy at Fathers' Day Fest

The 27th Annual Fathers' Day Celebration in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens recently paid tribute to the late Marcelo Aviles. Aviles, who served as the programming director for two decades until his passing in May 2026, was instrumental in showcasing diverse arts, including theater, music, and dance.

His impactful career is marked by the production of 2,000 free public events. These events employed 15,000 performing artists and reached an estimated 1.5 million audience members. Many artists who performed at this year's celebration had previously worked with Aviles.

The ceremony also served to remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Performances included songs by Aurora Mamea and Kendra "Everybody's Talking" of the Sweet Lodge Sistaz, and poetry from former San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck and K.R. Morrison.

Traditional dances and songs were presented by the Winnama Ba-Kay Yachma Pomo Dancers, led by Chester and Coleen McCloud. Manny Lieras performed honor songs with his daughters, accompanied by intertribal powwow dancers. The celebration concluded with a performance by Paul Steward and his band, Twice as Good, known for their blend of blues, rock, and Pomo influences.