| |
 |
| Police
escort for the Children, Parents, Community Members,
and all those who joined us this day to celebrate
Wellbriety and the Healing of Native Men and Children. |
|
Thursday, May 8, began with a Sunrise Prayer
Ceremony at Niagara Falls' Terrapin Point, just a few miles
from the Tuscarora Indian Nation. Our Wellbriety Day at Tuscarora
had begun. After a breakfast served by the 7-Clan AA group
of the Tuscarora Nation, more than 75 people gathered at the
Nation School about two miles from the 7-Clan Grounds. Throughout
the day Jill Clause-Hamby the Site Coordinator, and Valerie
Staats, Native American Program Coordinator of Freedom Way
(Enkatatewenniiohake) for the New York State Office of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse Services, along with numerous volunteers
and supporters, served nourishment, guidance, and enthusiastic
support for everyone who came to the event.
 |
| Don
Coyhis smudges the children who will participate
in the Ceremonial Walk from Nation School to 7-Clan
for today's event. |
|
The children and the men who would lead the
Ceremonial Walk from the Nation School to the meeting place
of the 7 Clan were standing in front of the school awaiting
the Sacred Hoop. Don Coyhis told the Story of the Hoop and
the Four Gifts of the Hoop—Healing, Unity, Hope, and
the Power to Forgive the Unforgivable. As Don offered the
cleansing smoke from the Medicine plants to those who would
make the long walk today, others prepared the Host Drum—the
Fireside Drum from Canada—on the back of a trailer so
that they could sing for the people as they walked. Drum Members
for the Tuscarora event include Roger
LaFurme, Keeper of the Drum, as well as Sid
Davis • Don McCAuley • Bert Hill • Joe, Paul • and Barry Lickers.
There were also several women with hand drums with us at Tuscarora
today. Together, these men and women reflected back to us
the heartbeat of the mother earth.
 |
| As
we arrived at 7-Clan, everyone gathered to hear
the "Ganonyok" -Thanksgiving Address from the Children. |
|
There was a police escort to ensure the safety
of all those who were walking today. Leading with the Sacred
Hoop were also many carrying Eagle Staffs. The Drumming and
Singing continued during the entire Walk. When the Walkers
and escorts arrived at 7-Clan, the men and children were welcomed
back into the circle by the women. These women were singing,
drumming, and trilling as they welcomed the men and children
back. Joining the women in this welcoming
were another 75 people who did not walk this day. So our numbers
swelled to 150 for today's Wellbriety Day Gathering.
The Children led the Opening Ceremony
with Ganonyok, the traditional Iroquois Thanksgiving Address.
Here is a part of the Ganonyok, which was recited that morning:
|
"Whenever
we are gathered, it is always good to remember all of
our relations, to remember our place in creation. We
do this by acknowledging and giving thanks to all the
Creator's Creation. Beginning by humbling the self and
by asking everyone's forgiveness and pity of all the
imperfections that we may forget to acknowledge.
"We
continue to raise our heads towards the heavens and
we acknowledge Grandmother Moon, Grandfather Sun, and
the stars. They continue to fulfill their duties and
for this we are grateful. We acknowledge the Four Messengers.
They brought the message of peace to all the world to
tell us that we are to be peaceful people to live in
a peaceful world. For them, we are grateful. And now
we give thanks to the Creator for all of Creation, that
we may walk in beauty, pray in beauty, and dream in
beauty. We now bring our hearts and minds together to
give thanks for this life that we've been given."
|
Following this Blessing and Opening Ceremony,
the Sacred Hoop was taken into the lodge where the 7-Clan
members and supporters had kept a Sacred Fire going for several
days. The Hoop was set up inside that Lodge so that throughout
the day people could go and have individual time with the
Hoop and with one another. After everyone had an opportunity
to have some water or other refreshments, we gathered under
a large awning near the Lodge. Don Coyhis then shared about
the Wellbriety Movement and this Journey—Healing Native Men
and Children. Afterwards, we viewed the documentary video
of the Third Journey—Healing Native Women and Children. This
was followed by an 'open mic' where many people shared their
feelings.
 |
| Valerie
Staats is presented with a replica of the Sacred
Hoop by Jill Clause-Hamby on behalf of White Bison. |
|
Many thanks for sharing. You spoke from your
hearts. You're part of the healing, and we were blessed to
be here today are grateful to each of you: Jay
Claus • Jill Clause-Hamby • Sid Davis • Harry Jay Hill • Mark
Porter • Jason E. Hamby • Jane Palmer-Poole • Brandi Garbinsky
• Valerie Staats • Reggie Crouse • James Porter • Cheryl A.
Harms • and Michelle Frys
The 7-Clan was honored for their 27th year AA
Anniversary. This group holds and facilitates Talking Circles
for Children and for Adults, Sweat Lodge Ceremonies, and Culturally
Relevant Teachings, including Drumming and Singing. Several
People who spoke here today told us how much they had received
from utilizing the White Bison Medicine
Wheel and 12 Steps Program in their Recovery. A few
were aware of the Daughters of Tradition
Program and expressed great interest in the announcement
of the soon to be released Sons of
Tradition Program.
Prior to the Closing Ceremony, we all gathered
out in the open grassy area and the Sacred Hoop was brought
out of the Lodge and into the center of our Circle. Don Coyhis
demonstrated the connectedness of individuals, families, communities,
and nations with the yarn exercise. Once the connectedness
had been visualized with the use of the yarn, the women and
children were asked to come into the center of the circle
and the role of the men in our families and communities was
visibly demonstrated by the circle of protection they formed
for the women and children of this community.
 |
The
Circle of Protection
Men participate in the yarn exercise circle at Tuscarora.
Next, women and children entered the circle |
|
After an honoring and give-away by community
members, we were all offered the opportunity to place some
tobacco into the Sacred Hoop. This tobacco offering symbolizes
our prayers. Some pray for themselves, others for family members
or friends. Some prayed for their communities, nations, mother
earth, and our global community. Some offered a song for their
prayers. After the prayer ceremony, the circle was collapsed
in a good way so that each person had the opportunity to shake
the hands of everyone else in the circle.
It was a good day. One of those days where you're
tired, but it's a good kind of tired. We made many new friends.
And were thrilled to have old friends join up with us as well.
The White Bison "Hoop Crew" this year is made up of Don, Vette
and Amanda. For Amanda and myself, it was an especially wonderful
reunion with our friends from Tonawanda—Deanna Homer, Jeannie
Taradena and Nancy Potter. They had somehow found the time
to make it to all three events in the Buffalo area: Tonawanda,
Allegany Seneca, and now here they were in Tuscarora. At the
previous events these women had brought many children with
them. Today they were on their own.
We found a few minutes during the day to go
together into the Lodge and spend some time with the Sacred
Fire and the Sacred Hoop. These Journeys and the gatherings
are such strong experiences—physically, emotionally, mentally,
and spiritually—that many of the friendships formed during
these events are as close as some relationships that take
years to form. We offered our prayers to the Fire and to the
Hoop and we gave thanks for the gifts of one another. We couldn't
say good-bye. Instead, we used an old way of walking away—on
our separate paths at the end of the day.
—These
good feelings, these tears, these smiles....
—All that we have shared together this day,
—I will keep in my heart until I see you again. |
Vette Middleton
Richard Simonelli
|
