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Living the Seventh Generation in Rapid City
The He Sapa Learning Center—an extension of the Oglala
Lakota College—is located in the shadows of the Black
Hills of South Dakota. The Learning Center had been closed
for the summer and only reopened on July 22nd. With only one
day to prepare for the arrival of the Journey of the Sacred
Hoop III and the Wellbriety Conference to be held on July
23rd and 24th, there was an amazing display of teamwork and
cooperation by staff and volunteers to prepare the building
and make all of those last minute arrangements necessary for
a Gathering of People.
| We're
bringing back our language, making our spirituality
strong, Blessing Unci Maka, while singing her song. |
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Sacred
Hoop Carriers, Marie Randall, Verilyn Lone Wolf,
Harriet Maya, and Agnes Randall lead the procession
to Honor the Four Directions prior to the Opening
Ceremony on the second day, July 24th , at the Oglala
College, He Sapa Learning Center. |
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Day
One—Songs and Prayers
On the first day of the Wellbriety Conference, the Sacred Hoop
was carried by two women—Marie Randall and Verilyn Lone
Wolf. Joining the women were two of our youth—Preston Tuttle
and David Pourier. The voice of another young man filled our
senses and not only brought smiles to our faces, but also brought
life to the words written by Candi Brings Plenty, which you
can read in the box just below in the story.
"We're bringing back our language, making our spirituality
strong, Blessing Unci Maka, while singing her song,"
said Ms. Brings Plenty. The people stood as the young man offered
the gift of an Honor Song during the time the Sacred Hoop was
brought into the Learning Center and placed on the stand in
the center of our circle.
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we were setting up and preparing for the entrance of the
Sacred Hoop of 100 Eagle Feathers on the first day of
the Rapid City Visit, July 23rd, we noticed a writing
on the Student Bulletin Board in the hallway of the Learning
Center. It was written by a student whom we were told
has received many acclamations and several scholarship
offers. Often we have spoken and written about this time
of awakening and change that we are now living. The young
writer of this message states the youth perspective beautifully.
We
are the Grandchildren...
By Candi Brings Plenty
We
are the grandchildren of a wise mysterious spirit. If
you listen to the winds, soon you will hear it. Our
people once lived with a strong traditional heart—praying
each day for their children to be healthy and smart.
Then came a time when our Elders were taken from home.
A time when the buffalo were dying with a few left to
roam. Their spirituality started to cease and our sacred
language was weak. Soon that mysterious spirit could
hardly speak.
Then
a sacred prophecy came along saying seven elks from
now our traditions will grow strong. The grandchildren
will struggle in the start. In the end, once again they'll
live with a traditional heart. Today we look to the
four winds—the
sky—and
down to the green grass. We are the Seventh Generation
with guidance from the past. The Hoop has been broken
and it is up to us to mend. Our Lakota values once weakened,
now it's up to us to defend.
We
are honored to carry the gift of change. To some it
is pleasant, to others it's strange. We've reached into
our hearts and looked deep down inside. Finding the
courage and wisdom, filling our circles with pride.
We're bringing back our language, making our spirituality
strong. Blessing Unci Maka, while singing her
song. We are leaders in the school and role models to
young and old. We will help those in need and ourselves
to walk the "Red Road."
We've
learned to respect our Elders, our mothers and the ground
where she stands. We'll walk in the journey of life
holding each other's hands. We will become humble, soaring
like a bird once again—so
the Great Spirit can be heard. Speaking through the
Elders, strong and loud. We are the generation where
the seventh elk stands up proud. We are Tunaksila's
sacred creation, because we are living the Seventh Generation.
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| Some
of the People attending the Wellbriety Conference
in Rapid City as they listen to Don Coyhis and Marie
Randall share Traditional Teachings and contemporary
tools for Healing and Hope. |
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The room felt good, having been blessed with a purification
wazilya by Ron Randall. Ron had cleansed the room with the Medicine
of the sage plant prior to our gathering on this day. Ron had
also been outside at the beginning of the day and offered the
Medicine to the Hoop Carriers and to all of the 50 People who
gathered for this Wellbriety Conference. It was a good way to
begin a day of sharing and healing. After a welcome from Janice
Richards—the Coordinator for the Rapid City event—we
began this first day with some wisdom shared by Marie Randall.
We heard from others during the day and one of the speakers,
Mavis Bad Cob, reminded us that prayer can help us to overcome
anything. Mavis also said, "Our Lakota People, we don't
show our affection. We don't hug. We need to change that. We
need to hug our children and show our affection."
Vette
Middleton spoke about White Bison and the Wellbriety Movement,
sharing the Journeys that had already taken place and some
of the "miracles"—called coincidences by some—that
occurred in the places where that Sacred Hoop had traveled.
The documentary video Healing of a Nation was then
viewed. Following the video, the chairs were moved and placed
around the Sacred Hoop. There was a powerfully healing Talking
Circle and prayer.
Next
Day—Teachings and Presentations
Lunch on the first day was sponsored by the Oglala Sioux
Tribe Youth Opportunity Program —"In honor of our
Women and Children." There was also a delicious meal
in the evening provided by Marilyn Pourier. Thank you!
to all of the people who worked so hard to assist Janice Richards
with the planning of this event and to all of the volunteers
who gave their time and put forth so much effort to ensure
the success of this Conference.
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| Marie
Randall, teaching about the Sacredness of Creation.
Marie shared about the sacred water carried by the
women and our roles and responsibilities as life
givers. These Teachings were handed down to Marie
from her Grandmother. |
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We were honored to receive teachings from Marie Randall on the
sacredness of creation. She passed along the stories and lessons
her own Grandmother had given to her as a young woman. Marie
shared with us about the teachings of the Four Directions and
the sacredness of life givers (women) and of children. Marie
is a "library" of traditional teachings, culture,
and language. We at White Bison urge all of those who live in
this area to take any and every opportunity to spend time with
Elders like Marie. To learn those teachings of our Ancestors.
Especially our youth who are "Living the Seventh Generation"
| We
were honored to receive teachings from Marie Randall
on the sacredness of creation. She passed along
the stories and lessons her own Grandmother had
given to her as a young woman. |
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Don
Coyhis, (center) and to his right Janice Richards,
the coordinator of the Wellbriety Conference held
at the He Sapa Learning Center in Rapid City.
They are pictured during the Closing Ceremony. |
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Don
Coyhis spoke on the last day of our Conference andshared about
the teachings and tools that are available thru the White
Bison programs. Sharon White Fawn gave an overview of the
Daughters of Tradition program, ending her presentation with,
"You many think that as a facilitator of this program
you are doing this for the young girls and young women, but
trust me… you too will receive healing from the process
of using this program."
We
were glad to have the local chapter of Al-Anon represented
at this Conference. And we were delighted to once again partner
with the fine folks from the SACRED CIRCLE—a National
Resource Center to end violence against Native Women. This
organization is dedicated to actions that promote the safety
and sovereignty of Native Women. Their teachings, "Women
are Sacred—Violence is not Traditional—There is
no excuse for domestic violence" are strong and effective.
On the back of one of their many hand-outs is a Cheyenne proverb
that is probably more relevant in these times than ever before:
"A
nation is not defeated until the hearts of it's women are
on the ground.Then it is done, no matter how brave it's
warriors or how strong it's weapons."
| You
many think that as a facilitator of this program you are
doing this for the young girls and young women, but trust
me… you too will receive healing from the process
of using this program. |
During
the Closing Ceremony, we were offered the opportunity to share
our prayers with all of the other prayers that have been given
during this Journey of Healing Native Women and Children.
There was a strong feeling in that closing circle, and that
feeling—HOPE—is one of the Gifts of the Sacred
Hoop. Thank you to all of our old friends and the new friends
we made during our time in Rapid City. We take the prayers
of the people with us as we leave for Denver, Colorado—the
next event on this Journey—and we will continue to send
our prayers of hope to you.
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