Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez and his family and Hollister Planning Commissioner David Huboi and his wife, Ravena, joined those dancing for rain on the lawn in from of Mission San Juan Bautista on Sunday. There were ceremonial songs and dances which were led by Laynee Reyna and Linda Lopez, a descendant of Toypurina, a Gabrieleno native of Southern California. Toypurina was exiled to the Carmel Mission after leading a revolt against San Gabriel Mission. She was part of the workforce which built Mission San Bautista.
The dancers are pledging to dance until it is raining on them. They reconize that it will take more than a day or two of rain to heal the earth and are doing their part to try to return the earth's spirit to health.
"We were very excited to come be partof this." said Mayor Velazquez.