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Wellbriety Day Comes to Oakland, California!
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Tilford
Denver (left) is an APC Volunteer and Community Events
Coordinator. He coordinated the Hoop Journey visit to
Oakland for White Bison. White Bison extends our appreciation
to Tilford and all of the Volunteers who made this such
a memorable event!
Vette Middleton travels with the Hoop Journey as the videographer
and photojournalist/writer for White Bison. |
To
get to the Island of Alameda from Oakland, one must drive
thru what the locals call "The Tube." It's
a tunnel going under the bay water to and from the Island.
The "Tube" was very symbolic of this particular
Wellbriety Event.
| "The
People of Alameda and the surrounding communities reminded
everyone that there is light, even in the darkness we
sometimes find ourselves in when we are not walking on
the Good Red Road." |
Healing
Native Women and Children.
When one enters a tunnel, there is darkness. However, there
was light at the end of the tunnel as we drove and the People
of Alameda and the surrounding communities reminded everyone
that there is light, even in the darkness we sometimes find
ourselves in when we are not walking on the Good Red Road––not
living in a good and healthy way.
The
Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) was the host for this event.
Alameda Point is a new community under development at the
site of the former Alameda Naval Air Station. The APC manages
service-enriched housing and community space on this island
for formerly homeless individuals and families. Tilford Denver,
APC Volunteer and Community Events Coordinator, was the Coordinator
for this Healing Gathering. Tilford is a Firestarter and an
avid supporter of White Bison. There were many volunteers
to assist Tilford and White Bison Staff with all of that busy
work that it takes to hold an event like this. One of the
volunteers said, "I'm honored to be able to do
this work here today, to do as much as I can for the women
and children so that they can have this day of healing."
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| Talking
Circle in the Community Mural Room after the Healing of
a Nation video. |
The
Friendship House, an alcohol and drug abuse treatment facility
for American Indian People located in San Francisco, ferried
many of the residents of their Facility across the Bay to
the Island. Many other organizations partnered with the APC
for this Gathering. Among them were—
•
Alameda Teen Action Council,
• Domestic Violence Survivor's Group of Alameda,
• Al-Anon, and
• IPOC (Indian People Organizing for Change)
When
the White Bison Staff arrived at the APC Center Friday evening,
we were greeted by the Volunteers and forty-five People from
the Local Community who had gathered to view the Wellbriety
Movement Documentary Video and to hold a Talking Circle with
Don Coyhis. The reaction to the video and the Talking Circle
was very touching. Many people said, "We have been waiting
for this for a long time––we are so happy you are
here and that we could be a part of this Circle." Each
of the participants in this evening gathering was given a
copy of the video after the Circle was completed. The conditions
of this give-away are:
"You must show this video to at least five more people––even
if you watch it yourself…five times!"
The
people laughed at this comment, but told us over and over
that they had many more than five people with whom they were
eager to share the video. Those who were unable to attend
this evening event learned about the video from those who
had viewed it as they attended the next day. And as a result,
the product table was swarmed by those wanting a copy and
promising that they would show it to many individuals and
groups.
| "There
were Dancers in beautiful regalia and there were also
Friendship Dances in which all the People were invited
to join. As the day's activities continued, the People
would walk in and out of the arena, offering tobacco and
prayers for this Healing to continue." |
Wellbriety
Day
The following morning the day dawned bright and clear. Outside
the APC Community Center is a large grassy area. This area
had been transformed into "The Wellbriety Arena"
and was encircled by bales of hay for seating. The wind blowing
off the water kept the temperatures comfortable even in the
bright sunshine. The Sacred Hoop was carried into the Eastern
Door of the Wellbriety Arena by Sally Gallegos, Aurora Mamea,
Dawn Gemmill, and Marilyn St. Germaine. They were followed
by Myra Smith, carrying the red silhouette of Brandy Jo. As
the women circled the interior of Wellbriety Arena, the 100
Eagle Feathers danced in the wind and three-hundred People
stood as The Drum Eagle Nation sang an Honor Song. Eileen
Baustian and Fred Short then offered a Prayer Song.
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| The
Women carry the Sacred Hoop into the Wellbriety Arena
to open the Event |
Once
the Sacred Hoop had been set on the stand in the center of
the Wellbriety Arena, we were welcomed by Jack Shepherd, APC
Executive Director. Then Don Coyhis shared the Story of the
Sacred Hoop and the Wellbriety Movement. Don said, "The
Elders said we will know that the Healing is working when
we see the young people singing the old songs." Two
young girls sang a song in their Native language to "greet
the new day," accompanied by Eileen Baustian on a hand
Drum. The Elders would be pleased to witness this day and
the coming of the Prophecies.
| "As
the women circled the interior of Wellbriety Arena, the
100 Eagle Feathers danced in the wind and three-hundred
People stood as The Drum Eagle Nation sang an Honor Song." |
Linda
Lilly then addressed the gathering and told of the struggles
of her family. Her parents had taught her to keep a sense
of personal responsibility, which had served her well. Ms.
Lilly had overcome poverty and oppression and was a shining
example of overcoming adversity and hardship. There was great
applause as she shared her own experience of walking in "darkness"
to come out into the "light of Wellbriety." When
she shared that she now has a Masters Degree in Education,
you could hear the whispers—"See, if she can
do it… we can do it too."
Moving
into the Community Center the attendees of this Conference
choose between Panels discussing diabetes, Indian Child Welfare
Act, HIV, Education, Social Services, Homeless Housing, and
Separatism Issues. Throughout the day there were opportunities
to attend Al-Anon, AA, and NA Meetings.
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| Everyone
joined in during a Friendship Dance at the Wellbriety
Arena Pow-Wow. |
When
we broke for lunch, everyone met back outside at the Wellbriety
Arena for a Community Bar-b-que and Wellbriety Pow-Wow. There
were Dancers in beautiful regalia and there were also Friendship
Dances in which all the People were invited to join. Eagle
Nation Drum sang as the People came together from all directions
of life and danced together in celebration of The Healing
of Women and Children. As the day's activities continued,
the People would walk in and out of the arena, offering tobacco
and prayers for this Healing to continue. The Gathering ended
with a Ceremony to awaken and bless a new Women's Drum
Group. Angela Apache-Davis, Nicole Amion, Corrina Gould, and
Dawn Gemmill, members of the new Drum, were presented with
four beautifully decorated Drum Sticks to honor their commitment
to the Healing of the People.
These
Drum Sticks were given to the Hoop Journey by one of the Nez
Perce Warriors who met us at Lolo Pass on the way to Lapwai,
Idaho. (Please see Issue #4, page 6). These hand made gifts
from the Nez Perce People were given to honor the Healing
of Women and Children in Journey III, so it seemed fitting
to give them to the new Women's Drum Group.
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Sacred
Hoop
Art
Gallery
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The
Sacred Hoop Art Gallery
created by The San Francisco Friendship House. |
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These
are the images of the participants of the Women's
Health Project. In honor of the Sacred Hoop Journey III
and to honor all the Women and Children who are in the
process of healing, the residents of the San Francisco
Friendship House created these prints for their own healing
and for those who view them.
In our women's art therapy group we reflected on
our own Wellbriety and this is what became of these reflections.
We hope that you carry some of our growth, hope and healing
as you witness them. We believe that through the art we
have transformed some part of us as we see ourselves as
creators of change. |
COMMENTS
FROM THE ARTISTS
Bonnie: "When I see my image I see all the darkness….
It helps me recognize that my life has been dark…
and I know that I can make it lighter."
Dawn: "Mine is healing from the inside out."
Shawna: "I named mine 'Choices' because I chose to
drink instead of dealing with my problems… and I
can choose something else."
Cheryl: "What I find interesting is that I came from
a place where I didn't feel a lot of emotions and
as I look at these I am sitting here in tears… I
am 36 years old and I am moved by a bunch of women's
pictures."
Ruby: "All of these pictures are beautiful and unique.
I didn't have a theme in mind when I made it, but
it is related to being in jail. I named it 'Love and Hope'."
Loretta: "It took my breath away when I saw it. I
still can't believe how it came out. My world was
so scrambled and now I am over here..." |
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The
Story of the Raven
A Northwest Native
Legend
Artist – John Powers
The Chief stole the sun out of the sky. Put
it in a box and took the sun from the People.
The Raven stole the sun and gave it back to
the People. Our disease stole the sun from our
life and put it in a bottle. The program put
the light back into our life. Working
the Twelve Steps and believing in a Higher Power
will bring the sun and our life back to us.
Mr.
and Mrs. John Powers donated several prints
of this limited edition Painting—The Story
of the Raven. White Bison will be raffling
these prints at each of the locations during
this Journey. Proceeds from these raffles
will be used for gas and other expenses.
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