This year’s $ovóova Po’$wáamay Crowning Ceremony brought more than 300 guests to the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center, Oct. 10. Three candidates vied for the title, also known as the Daughter of Soboba. This title was derived from the Soboba Fiesta Maiden Contest that was last held in 1970. The contest was revived last year resulting in the first $ovóova Po’$wáamay crowning of Su’la Arviso. This year’s participants were Se’ish Lula Morillo, So’a Nelson, and Raya Salgado, who also competed last year.
The $ovóova Po’$wáamay Committee worked with the three young women throughout the past year hosting various activities, workshops, and retreats. Committee members are Chair Geneva Mojado, Vice Chair Monica Herrera, Secretary Iyana Briones, Treasurer Carrie Garcia, Members-at-Large Andrea Relopez and Adona Salgado, Digital Media Officer Summer Helms, and Committee Member Anthony “Bear” Valez.
Mojado introduced members of the Soboba Foundation and Soboba Tribal Council and thanked them and others for their support and contributions to this program. Briones, on behalf of the committee and the Tribe, took the stage to give heartfelt thanks to Arviso for her past year of service. Appreciation was expressed for setting a great example and for carrying the title with respect while honoring her community, culture, and the young women she represents.
She said the current $ovóova Po’$wáamay spent the past year attending nearly 80 events, including pow wows, kewets, gatherings, and fiestas throughout Indian Country. “The dedication that she’s shown in representing Soboba is amazing,” Briones said. “We hope this program continues to provide a platform for all of Soboba’s young women to connect with each other and our culture. The young women of our Tribe are all unique – some have been fortunate enough to grow up with deep connections to the culture, language, customs, and traditions. Others may be building their understanding from a different starting point. It is our hope to provide mentorship, community, and a space for education and success among our young women. Sometimes, all that’s stopping someone from connection is an invitation. We will continue to invite the women and girls of Soboba to come together in the spirit of connection, learning, and hope, so we can grow stronger roots as a Tribe.”
Keynote speaker Ta’Sheena Trujillo is from the Pala Indian Reservation, with ancestral ties to the Village of Kupa, now known as Warner Springs. Through her social media platform, REZZED311, she focuses on cultural and traditional healing while using humor and open conversation to address sensitive and sometimes controversial Native topics. Her work promotes unity, personal growth, and wellbeing across the mental, physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of life.
Each candidate set up a table inside the event center that reflected some of their recent accomplishments and displayed many of their cultural connections. Aside from an archery demonstration that was held and recorded earlier in the day, they were judged on their performance at the event itself. Judges scored them on their language knowledge, a cultural demonstration, public speaking, and a talent demonstration.
Judges, who were determined by a random drawing, were Lucille Briones, Michele Gonzales, Mia Gonzalez, Eustacia Maciel, Raina Maciel, Catherine Modesto, and Sally Ortiz. Committee member Andrea Relopez invited each candidate to share a little bit about themselves with the panel.
Se’ish Lula Morillo is the daughter of Ed Morillo of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and Natalie Nicole Carrizosa of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Raised in a family rooted in culture, leadership, and service, she has developed a strong appreciation for her heritage and the responsibility of carrying it forward. Se’ish is a bird dancer and recently celebrated her coming-out ceremony at the UCR Powwow, where she began her journey as a Fancy Shawl dancer. She is currently studying Business at California Indian Nations College with plans to continue her education in fashion styling.
So’a Nelson is a Tribal member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians with ancestral ties to the Anowaan (Soboba), Lavaquish (Old Pala), Guassac (La Jolla), and QuisQuis (San Pasqual) clans. Raised in a family of leadership and cultural knowledge, she became involved in her culture at an early age, learning basketweaving and later sharing that knowledge with others. So’a also began bird dancing at age 12 and has participated in cultural events throughout California and beyond. Her involvement includes the Four Directions Native American Club, California Native American Day, Native American Heritage Month, and representing Southern California tribes at the State Capitol.
Raya Salgado is an enrolled member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians with Luiseño and Cahuilla roots. She serves as Chairwoman of the Soboba Tribal Youth Council, Media Officer for the Four Directions Native American Club at San Jacinto High School, and has been actively involved in community service, cultural preservation, and storytelling from a young age. Through her social media platform @rezbound, Raya connects with Native communities, artists, organizations, and cultural leaders to share Native stories and perspectives. She is also writing a collection of memories, stories, knowledge, and interviews dedicated to preserving and sharing Luiseño and Cahuilla culture for future generations.
Two jumbo screens were positioned on either side of the room so everyone could clearly see the actions of each during their 5-10 minutes to demonstrate their cultural skill. Se’ish shared her basketweaving process, explaining the materials and tools she used and the design she was making. So’a shared a story of how the Luiseño people came to be. Raya constructed a small kÍicha/kÍsh, giving details of the materials and methods used for the overall structure.
For the public speaking portion, random questions were chosen from a basket. However, during one of the many workshops the girls attended, each was able to submit five questions to the committee they thought would be appropriate. They did not know which ones had been selected for this night. Another aspect of the workshop was learning more about the importance of stage presence and engaging with an audience with the guidance of Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos. After answering two questions apiece, all three were brought to the stage to answer the same question:
Sharing a talent showed the passion that each candidate has for their chosen demonstration. Se’ish showed how she is using her beadworking talent to create a beautiful medallion. So’a told a story while she weaved a basket. Raya talked about how documentation takes many forms and how her love of photography is just one way to tell a story. She showed a video she made for a class assignment that documents the importance of fire in Native culture.
While the judges’ votes were tabulated, Su’la Arviso shared what the past year of holding this title has meant to her. “I am filled with gratitude, pride and many emotions,” she said. “This past year has been more than a title or a crown. It has been a journey of learning, representing, serving, and carrying the love and strength of our people wherever I went. Each event brought new lessons, new friendships, and new memories. Each arena, every song, every dance, every introduction, reminded me of why I was given this opportunity. I wanted my actions to reflect the values of my family, my Tribe, and our people. I have never viewed this role as something that belonged only to me. This title was carried on behalf of all of us. It belonged to the people who supported me, encouraged me, ran beside me, prayed for me, and helped along the way.”
Arviso then addressed the three candidates, “Each of you has earned your place here through your dedication, preparation and willingness to step forward,” she said. “Remember that success is not measured only by the final results; success is also found in the courage to participate, the discipline to prepare, the grace to support others, and determination to continue even when something feels different. Celebrate your own progress while also recognizing the efforts of those around you. There is room for everyone to shine.”
The committee members joined Arviso on stage to crown Raya Salgado the 2026-2027 $ovóova Po’$wáamay. Salgado said, “This has been a milestone for me. For the last three years I’ve been able to take part in this program, I have been able to take away so much from it.”
“To me, being the 2026-2027 $ovóova Po’$wáamay means representing something much bigger than myself. I hope to leave something meaningful behind, carry our stories forward, and touch the lives of future generations,” Salgado said. “I know this experience will teach me lessons I’ll carry long after my reign comes to an end. Because a title may only last for a season, but what you learn from it and what you leave behind can last far beyond your time under that title.”
Salgado said she knows this role opens doors for her to make a difference in ways she may not have had the opportunity to do so before. “I want to use my voice, my photography, and the experiences this title brings to share the stories of my people and encourage others to take pride in who they are,” she said. “I know that every experience throughout my reign will teach me something new, and I hope to carry those lessons with me long after my time as Daughter of Soboba comes to an end.
For more information, https://soboba-nsn.gov/daughter-of-soboba.
Photos courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Caption for DOS 1: Raya Salgado is crowned the 2026-2027 $ovóova Po’$wáamay by last year’s title holder, Su’la Arviso, Oct. 10.
Caption for DOS 2: The 2026-2027 $ovóova Po’$wáamay Crowning Ceremony tales place at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center, Oct. 10. From left, Candidate Raya Salgado, reigning Daughter of Soboba Su’la Arivso, candidate So’a Nelson, and candidate Se’ish Lula Morillo.
Caption for DOS 3: The $ovóova Po’$wáamay Committee joins current title holder and this year’s candidates at the crowning ceremony, Oct. 10. From left, Andrea Relopez, Carrie Garcia, Geneva Mojado, Iyana Briones, Su’la Arviso, So’a Nelson, Se’ish Lula Morillo, Raya Salgado, Monica Herrera, and Adona Salgado.
Caption for DOS 4: Judges for the $ovóova Po’$wáamay Crowning Ceremony are, seated from left, Lucille Briones and Mia Gonzalez, and standing from left, Catherine Modesto, Eustacia Maciel, Raina Maciel, Sally Ortiz, and Michele Gonzales.
Caption for DOS 5: Se’ish Lula Morillo introduces herself at the 2026-2027 $ovóova Po’$wáamay (Daughter of Soboba) crowning ceremony, Oct. 10.
Caption for DOS 6: So’a Nelson explains the various basketweaving materials she uses during the demonstration portion of the contest.
Caption for DOS 7: Raya Salgado shows her archery skills as part of the contest to be named this year’s Daughter of Soboba. All three candidates were filmed earlier in the day in front of the judges and shown on the video screens at the evening’s event.
