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Hoop Journey III Ends in Denver!
Learning Events for both Youth and Adults Create a Strong
Visit
Come to the Circles of Recovery Conference
in Billings, Montana, September 26-29, to meet old friends
and continue the Wellbriety Journey
This
is the last stop of the Journey of the Sacred Hoop in 2002.
We've held events in hotels, in schools, in treatment centers,
and in American Indian Centers. This one is being held in
a community center—The Southwest Improvement Council—Westwood
Community Center to be exact. If you looked up "community
center" in the dictionary, we bet you would find this
Center listed as a description of what one should be.
The
people who live in this area of Denver have a group garden
as part of the Center. Children ride up to us on bicycles
in the parking lot as we're unpacking the Hoop Van. "Are
you with White Bison?" they ask.
"Yes,
we are. Are you coming to the event tonight?" we
questioned.
"Yes,
my Mom and my little brother and sister are coming. We're
all coming!"
How
exciting! To find such a sense of community in the heart of
a large city—Denver, Colorado.
Now
is Our Future
The Denver Singers Drum Group—Frank Sherwood,
Manuel (Junior) - Conquering Bear, Paul, Jeff Reyna, and Robert
Reyna each held hand drums and sang a beautiful honor song
as the Sacred Hoop of 100 Eagle Feathers was brought into
the main hall of the Community Center on the evening of July
26th. Following the opening ceremony, Don Coyhis of White
Bison gifted Frank Sherwood and the Denver Singers with the
last of the hand made Drum Sticks that had been given to White
Bison by Leo Smith when we first began this Journey, way back
in Nez Perce Country. Thank you again Leo for the gift of
those sticks. They have been a blessing to many men and women
as we traveled these 7,000 miles on this Journey.
The
Hoop Carriers for the evening event were Kerma Martinez, Sharyn
Iron, Bessie Sherwood, and Della Bad Wound. Everyone stood
as they entered the main hall and placed the Sacred Hoop on
the stand. Following the opening ceremony, Don shared about
the mission and goals of White Bison. Don also told of the
Vision of the Sacred Hoop and the Four Gifts the Elders had
put into the Hoop: Forgiving the Unforgivable - Unity - Healing
- Hope. Don then shared about the First and Second Journeys
of the Sacred Hoop with the forty-five People who attended
this evening event. We viewed a part of the documentary film,
Healing of a Nation before we gathered our chairs around into
a circle. The Talking Circle that followed was blessed by
the presence of many children. We were all so grateful to
see our future represented by the children of this community.
We were also reminded by their presence, that today—now—is
our future.
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were all so grateful to see our future represented by
the children of this community. We were also reminded
by their presence, that today—now—is
our future. |
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| Hoop
Carriers Gerald
Montour, Phyllis King, Sumon Pincharoen, and Monica
Rodriguez as they prepare to carry the Sacred Hoop
for the Opening Ceremony on July 27th at the Community
Center in Denver. |
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A Beautiful
Day!
Mother Nature blessed us with perfect weather for both days
of the Denver Wellbriety Conference. As the Hoop Carriers
prepared for the opening ceremony on July 27th by using the
Medicine (smoke from the sage plant) for purification, over
100 people gathered in the gymnasium of the Community
Center for a day of Healing of Native Women and Children.
We were honored to have Monica Rodriguez, Sumon Pincharoen,
Gerald Montour, and Phyllis King carry the Sacred Hoop for
the People of this Community.
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| Left
to Right. Drum Group--Gerald Montour, Harold Marris,
Carrie Howell, and Brittney Marris prepare to sing
an Honor Song as the Hoop is brought in.
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The
Drum today consists of Harold Marris, Brittney Marris, Carrie
Howell, and Gerald Montour. Their voices blended beautifully
for the Honor Song as the Hoop came into our Circle, and again
as we all took the time to honor Ingrid—Flying Eagle
Woman.
Following
the entrance of the Sacred Hoop and the Honor Songs, Don Coyhis
shared the Story of the Sacred Hoop and told of the three
Journeys. Don also shared about the programs and tools that
are available through White Bison, including the Medicine
Wheel and 12 Steps for Men and also a separate program
for Women. There were some Firestarters attending the
Conference and we were very happy to see them and get an update
on their Circles. Also attending this day was Sumon Pincharoem,
a young female student at a University in Thailand. She was
so excited about the programs of White Bison and was to soon
return to Thailand. Don offered to give her a set of the tapes
and workshop booklets so she could take them back to her Country
and introduce her People to Wellbriety through the Medicine
Wheel and 12 Steps. Sumon was grateful and charming, the kind
of daughter every Mother hopes for. We wish you the best Sumon!
Keep in touch and let us know how the program is doing in
Thailand. Firestarters in Thailand! Isn't this just amazing
how Spirit works?
| Keep
in touch and let us know how the program is doing in Thailand.
Firestarters in Thailand! Isn't this just amazing how
Spirit works? |
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| Denise
Engstrom facilitates the Positive Indian Parenting
Workshop during the Wellbriety Conference in
Denver. |
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Strong
Workshops
There were many workshops following our lunch break. The adult
workshops were held in the main hall and included all these:
ADULT
WORKSHOPS
Positive Indian Parenting - Denise Engstrom
Forgiveness and Resentment - Pearl Iron Shell
Mental Health - John H. Compton
Strengthening Families - Deborah Esquibel Hunt and
Nancy Luccero
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| Daughters
of Tradition Program
Pictured is a volunteer reading "A letter from
Grandma," which is part of the program materials
in the DOT kits. |
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The
first Workshop for Youth was the Daughters of Tradition
program. The Program was presented by Carrie Howell. Carrie
has worked as a youth counselor for twenty years and is also
the coordinator for the Denver Wellbriety Omniciye. She
did an excellent job of letting the youth and the parents and
family attending this workshop know about the DOT program and
the availability of kits to start DOT circles in this community.
Carrie involved both the youth and the adults in her presentation.
One of the "grandmothers" in the workshop assisted
by reading "A letter from Grandma" to the young people
who were gathered in a circle to hear about the program. During
the question and answer session that followed Carrie's presentation
came the familiar comment, "Where is the program for
the young men? What about our Sons of Tradition?" Continue
to watch the White Bison website and come to the Conference
in Billings, Montana. We will soon be able to answer that question
in a more complete way.
Other
Workshops for Youth were presented during the afternoon:
YOUTH
WORKSHOPS
Daughters of Tradition - Carrie Howell
Sacred Tree - Gerald Montour
Strength Identification - Verla Howell
During
the Closing Ceremony the Drum offered the Gathering another
Honor Song and the People came to the Sacred Hoop, adding
their prayers to the thousands of prayers that have been given
during this Journey. Don asked that we all remember Willie
Wolf in our prayers this day. Willie had been scheduled to
teach the Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps Workshop at this Conference.
He became very ill and had to be taken to the hospital just
as the event was starting on the 26th. Our best wishes to
you Willie—get well quickly! Our prayers will be with
you and your family.
| During
the Closing Ceremony the Drum offered the Gathering another
Honor Song and the People came to the Sacred Hoop, adding
their prayers to the thousands of prayers that have been
given during this Journey. |
Following
the tobacco offerings and prayers, we formed a circle around
the Sacred Hoop and closed the event by "collapsing the
circle," as one person after another passed within the
circle, shaking hands and giving hugs to their old friends
and also to the new friends made this day in the Community
Center.
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| Carrie
Howell, Denver Coordinator for the Wellbriety Conference
is presented with gifts from White Bison at the
close of the conference and the final Honoring event
of Hoop Journey III. |
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Carrie
Howell did an excellent job as the coordinator of this event.
White Bison gifted Carrie with a copy of the Children of Alcoholics
Video Series, a unique Journey Dreamcatcher, and a certificate
of Appreciation. We also took Carrie up on an offer to join
her for a midnight snack at a local restaurant near the center.
Carrie, like so many other coordinators on this journey, was
quick to point out that she had many people assisting her with
the planning and preparation for this event. We want to thank
the following organizations and people who made The Denver Visit
of the Sacred Hoop possible:
THANK
YOU DENVER!
Keiko Broken Leg - Kinn
Betty Boccaccio
Jami Horwitz
Verla Howell
Benny Samuels
Willie Wolf
Kelly Roy
Denver Health Community Voices
Denver Indian Family Resource Center
Denver Indian Health and Family Services
Lisa Harjo and Terri Rattler - Native American Cancer Research
Casey Family Services
Al-Anon
Seven Falls - and the Seven Falls Dancers
To
all the other volunteers whose names we have failed to mention
in this story, and in the stories for all of the sixteen sites
on this Journey—WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO!
We realize that there is not enough time and not enough space
to mention all of the people who work so hard behind the scenes
to make something like this possible!
For
all our relations...
Thank you to each one of you in each of the Hoop Journey
III communities
—White Bison Staff
Journey of the Sacred Hoop III
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