Cabazon Band Of Mission Indians

Nearly 500 Native American dancers from the United States and Canada are converging on the Cabazon Indian Reservation near Indio this weekend. The occasion is the sixth annual Keh-Wit Taspa Indio Powwow, one of the largest cultural celebrations in the Southwest. "It's like a big family reunion for many," says Judy Stapp, one of the organizers of the event. It's also a way to pass on traditions. "A lot of children participate, and that's really what this is all about," she adds.

Paul SMITH lives on land once used by California's desert Indians. He displays grinding stones, arrow points, beads and other artifacts found at the spectacular fan palm oasis in Twentynine Palms that has been in his wife's family since 1928. "So how come there isn't a five-story Marriott Hotel here?" says the lawyer, who runs an inn at the site. "There could be, but there won't be. We've respected that." Smith, who's on the Joshua Tree National Park Assn.'

State regulators found inadequate environmental safeguards at a Coachella Valley soil recycling company blamed for noxious odors that sickened children at a nearby school but said the mountains of contaminated soil do not pose a serious health threat. Western Environmental Inc., which operates a waste facility on the reservation of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians near Mecca, did not meet California hazardous waste standards "in a number of significant areas," according to a state Department of Toxic Substances Control report released last week.

* Parade. It will begin to look a lot more like Christmas when grand marshal Robert Urich leads more than 100 television, film and music stars, floats, marching bands and more in the 67th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade Nov. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. The parade starts in front of Paramount Pictures on Melrose and ends at Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street. (323) 469-2337. * Festival.

Gov. Pete Wilson on Friday set an April 7 primary to fill the congressional seat vacated by the death of Sonny Bono, with the late lawmaker's widow, Mary, widely expected to enter the contest. Republicans on both coasts said Friday that Mary Bono has talked with party strategists in recent days and is edging toward an announcement of her candidacy as early as next week.

Mary Bono, the widow of U.S. Rep. Sonny Bono, officially declared her candidacy Thursday to succeed her late husband in Congress, tiptoeing into the contest via news release. "Prior to reaching this decision, I had many in-depth discussions with my family and close friends," she said in a seven-paragraph statement faxed to reporters. "We all agreed that Sonny would have encouraged me to continue his work. I want to do that."

An amicable solution just might be possible in one of California's longest running legal battles, the fight involving Las Vegas-style video slot machines on American Indian reservations throughout the state. But it's only possible if Gov. Pete Wilson and several tribal officials ease up on the trench warfare and negotiate.