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The
Natives -in-Sobriety Drum (N.I.S.) of the Eastern Cherokee
Nation Highlights the Theme of Hoop Journey IV
L
to R Sonny Ledford, Noah Ledford, Greg Leading Fox,
John Grant Jr. (Lead Singer for Natives In Sobriety
Drum) Not Pictured David Edward Wachacha and Kimsey
Taylor.
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The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians welcomed
the Sacred Hoop and the Wellbriety Movement to their land
again today! The White Bison Staff and Walkers who came to
this community in June of 2000 on the Wiping of the Tears
Walk from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. (Hoop Journey II)
were so inspired by the beauty of the people and their ancestral
land. We renewed old friendships and met many new friends
who are walking The Red Road to Wellbriety during this first
event of the Fourth Journey—Healing Native Men and Children.
Stories and descriptions of today's Wellbriety Gathering preceded
the arrival of the Hoop in flyers and handouts distributed
throughout the community by AYeGA—Awakening the Recovery
Spirit, the grassroots organization which coordinated today's
gathering.
There were 100 people walking The Red Road to
Wellbriety at the Cherokee Casino Hotel for this kick-off
event of Hoop Journey 2003. They had come from near and far.
People had driven from Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee
and Georgia to join in this day of Healing. The day began
in a good way—with prayer. The Drum—Natives in Sobriety—sang
an Honor Song as the smoke from sage provided by supporters
of White Bison was offered to everyone in the circle. The
beat of the Drum and the voices of the Singers filled the
Conference Center as the Hoop was carried in and placed on
its stand.
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Hoop
Journey IV begins in Cherokee, NC on April 9, 2003
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The Day Begins
The day's presentations began when Don Coyhis, White Bison's
Founder and President, shared his own feelings about how the
Wellbriety movement had come to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee
Nation. "When we first started
doing this work in the late 80's, we felt like maybe it was
too late," he said. "Maybe
there was nothing we could do. But the Elders told us, 'no,
it's not too late,'" he went on. "They
talked to us about Circles and Cycles of life. Elders from
many Tribes told us about the signs of this healing time we
are in. They explained to us that what we were trying to do
before was at the wrong time. That everything has it's season.
They told us, 'You can plant corn at any time, but it won't
grow unless it is planted in the right season.' The Elders
told us that now is the season for the seeds of healing to
be planted and to grow."
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Participants
gather around the new White Bison Wellbriety products
table.
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Don went on to share many of the Elder's teachings
and how they can be applied in the healing work we need to
do as individuals, families, communities, and nations. After
Don had shared the story of the Sacred Hoop and the tools
and resources available, we viewed the video of The 3rd Journey
of the Sacred Hoop 2002, Healing Native Women and Children,
which took place last summer west of the Mississippi river.
After watching the Hoop Journey III video, participants
began to share about their feelings and response to what they
had seen and heard to this point. Here are some of their words:
Sonny Ledford
"The video really touched me. Especially
about the Children. It brought tears to my eyes. My son, Noah
and I are with this N.I.S (Natives in Sobriety) Drum and it's
a sober Drum. Life wasn't always that way for Noah. Just like
the children in the video. Thank you for being here."
Patty Grant
"That video and this movement is
a powerful message about how we can begin to talk to one another.
One of the things that touched me in the video was hearing
the man talk about his own experience of being an abuser.
Often times, many people don't have that courage to share.
We have a lot of secrets that we carry around. That keeps
us in our addiction and keeps us from healing."
Herbert Wachacha
"Not too long ago I didn't want to
talk about this. It's so hard when you've been taught to keep
family secrets. I know I hurt my kids. I hurt my family. I
hurt my community and today I'm trying to change that. I have
an Alanon family now, and I'm not perfect, but I'm not hurting
anyone and I'm healing. Thank you for being here and sharing
that video where I could hear other people share their secrets
and feel free to share mine."
Keith Brown
"I've struggled with AA and been
in and out of Recovery for many years now. I'm telling you,
this Red Road to Wellbriety is the best thing that has ever
happened. I've been sober now for 4 years! I'm from the Catawba
Nation in South Carolina, a four hour drive from here, and
I was on the White Bison website and saw the Hoop was coming
here to Cherokee and I said ‘I've gotta go'."
A Youth
"I'm very grateful for being sober
for 60 days now *thunderous applause* I'm grateful for coming
here to UNITY and them helping me. Being here today really
helps me. Thank you."
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Noah
Ledford, singing with the Natives in Sobriety Drum.
We honor you, Noah!
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What is Unity?
UNITY is an Inter-Tribal Treatment Center for Youth that is
located in Cherokee N.C. White Bison went to the UNITY center
the night before the event for a visit with the young people
who were beginning their walk on the Red Road to Wellbriety.
There were Cherokee, Chippewa, Oneida, Navajo, Sioux and young
people from many other Tribes across Turtle Island who were
working the programs at UNITY.
Lance Howe works for the UNITY Center and we
were grateful to him and to the young people at UNITY who
not only volunteered to share their stories of healing, but
were anxious to share because they wanted other young people
to join them in this time of healing. Many of the youth from
the Center attended the Wellbriety Gathering today and shared
from their heart. We were all inspired to hear them.
Many people stood to share about secrets and
healing throughout the Wellbriety Day events. During the afternoon
we were treated to a Drug Free Puppet Show presented by the
High School "NDN Puppeteers." Bill Reed was the
speaker for the afternoon and shared his experiences on the
Red Road to Wellbriety. Wellbriety Day moved quickly on this
first Hoop Journey visit in the Eastern Cherokee Nation.
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Co-coordinator
Susan Leading Fox is honored with the gift of a miniature
Sacred Hoop. Don Coyhis is at the right.
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Saying Goodbye
During the closing Ceremony all of the Men and male Children
formed a Circle around the Sacred Hoop. Don talked to everyone
about the interconnectedness of all of the people in the family
or community and demonstrated this as he asked each man to
toss a ball of yarn back and forth within their circle to
create a great spider web of connection.
Each man saw how his thoughts, actions, and
spirit impacted others in their family, community, and nations.
Then the web was raised high above the Sacred Hoop and the
women and young girls were invited to come into this sacred
circle surrounded by the men of this community. There we were
told about the old ways of our People. The men were the protectors
of the women and children. No one could come into their families
or communities and hurt anyone with this circle of men in
place, whose responsibility it was to keep the people safe
and to provide for them.
This was a powerful ceremony and there were
many tears from the women within the circle as they looked
around at the men who formed the protection that surrounded
them in this circle. One of the participants told us, "I
have heard people say that the Women and Children are Sacred
and should always be respected and taken care of. But I have
never seen this teaching come to life like it did for me today
in this Ceremony. I have never felt so loved, respected, and
taken care of in my whole life as I do in this circle."
That's what this Journey is about. Healing Men
and Children. Working toward a time in our families and communities
where all people can feel that they are loved and respected.
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Closing
ceremony--lots of hugs, tears and good feelings!
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The Elders had told us that Now is the time
for the Healing. Today we have been shown again that the Elders
spoke the truth to us. It is time. We look forward to the
next Gathering on this Journey. And the next circle, and the
next, and the next. We are excited about all the possibilities
and all the healing that will take place.
Thank You!
White Bison thanks the Community Members in Cherokee, NC and
all of the people who traveled so far to attend today's event.
Special thanks go to Susan Leading Fox and Virginia Johnson-Snell,
co coordinators of the Hoop Journey visit to the Eastern Cherokee
Nation. Many thanks to AYeGA—Awakening the Recovery Spirit,
the grassroots organization which coordinated today's gathering.
We are also grateful to the Tribal Government of the Eastern
Cherokee Nation for its support of this sobriety and recovery
event.
Vette Middleton
Richard Simonelli
Please
see the printer friendly pdf version for an interview
with Susan Leading Fox of Cherokee.
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