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Don
Coyhis shares the story of the Hoop and the Wellbriety
Movement in Boston.
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The White Bison Hoop Crew pulled up to the old
brick building in the heart of Boston. The sign on the front
of the building was adorned by artwork that made it easily
recognizable as a Native community center. In the midst of
the urban metropolis of a large city we were welcomed to the
North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB).
NAICOB serves the needs of more than 6,000 Native
Americans and Alaskan Natives who live within a forty-mile
radius. We were honored to have over one-hundred people from
NAICOB and the local community join us at this Wellbriety
Day Gathering. We felt at home from the moment we arrived.
People greeted us in the parking lot and offered to help carry
our things from the van to the big open room in the heart
of their Center. There was coffee, juices, and breakfast foods
already prepared and served by good hearts to appreciative
people. Just like back home, the minute we finished our breakfast
meal and left to begin the day's activities, those same good
hearts and serving hands began cleaning up and preparing for
the mid-day feast. In the heart of the building that houses
NAICOB you can forget that you are in the middle of a large
urban city. It feels more like you’re gathering at the
kitchen table of a relative.
Each local Indian Community we visit sends out
its own signals to announce we're coming. It's as though the
old-time village criers have been there before us. Here's
what they announced in Boston:
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The
White Bison Journey of the Sacred Hoop is coming with
a day-long wellness event for Native American and those
working with them in sobriety and recovery. The Wellbriety
Day visit and agenda consists of ceremonial events,
presentations by Don Coyhis of White Bison Inc., as
well as by members of the Native American community.
We will have pot-luck feasts and meals. All activities
are aimed at educating our community by providing culture-specific
resources to help us live well lives, free of addictions
and other dysfunctional behaviors.
The
Wellbriety Movement and this Fourth Journey of the Sacred
Hoop will focus on Healing Native Men and Children.
The 100 Eagle Feather Hoop is a Native American cultural
element that is an important part of each Wellbriety
Day visit on Hoop Journey IV. The Hoop carries the gifts
of Healing, Hope, Unity, and the Power to Forgive the
Unforgivable. It is a centerpiece of the Wellbriety
day gathering in our community.
Culture-specific
means that a video, book, or training program is presented
in a general format that Native Americans are familiar
with. Some of the tools of White Bison include:
•
The Medicine Wheel and 12 Steps videos for men and for
women.
• The Red Road to Wellbriety Book.
• The Seven Philosophies for a Native American
Man booklet
• The Daughters of Tradition prevention program
for Native American girls.
• The Sons of Tradition prevention program for
Native American boys.
• The Hoop Journey Documentary videos… and much
more.
As
Native Americans we are proud of our heritage, our cultural
gifts, and the healing journey all of us must take.
This Hoop Journey Visit is part of that process. We
encourage you to come to Wellbriety Day, to share our
ceremony, learning circles, and our feasts and pot-lucks.
We welcome you as our neighbors to share our healing
pride.
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The Boston Indian Community didn’t just put
on a Wellbriety event. The folks we met live, share, and support
one another in healing. They welcome organizations like White
Bison to come to their community and bring the tools and resources
that will help them continue the healing of individuals and
family that make up their community called the Native American
Indian Center of Boston.
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At
home in Boston--safe in Grandma's arms...
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Our
Song To You
From the Opening Prayer, to the NAICOB Singers
From the Dancers who answer the call of the Drum
and lead the procession for the Entrance of the Sacred Hoop
To those who actively participate by listening so attentively
From the scheduled Speakers who shared their stories and life
lessons
on their own Red Road to Wellbriety
To the impromptu speakers who offered feedback throughout
the gathering From the tiny baby girl, only 4 weeks of age,
to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers
From the time of planning for this Gathering,
and to the Closing Ceremony
where the women were surrounded by the Spiritual WarriorsThe
Protectors.
For all of this
we give thanks
for a day focused on the Healing of Native Men and Children.
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The
NAICOB Singers offer an Honor Song during the
Entrance of the Sacred Hoop.
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Lucinda
Light Bringer sang a Warrior's Honor Song as the
men admitted the women and children into the Circle
of Wellbriety and Protection
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The
Indian Center in Boston on a sunny day in April.
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In this good place we could feel the Spirit
of the Ancestors and their desire for the healing of our Warriors
and Children. The Ancestors were strong in the Circle when
we were all gifted with a song by a beautiful woman, Lucinda
Light Bringer, as she stood in the center of the Circle of
Protectors—the healed men who watch out for, and watch
over the women, children, and Elders of their community. For
everything we experienced this day in the seen and the unseen
world, we are grateful.
Vette
Middleton
Richard Simonelli
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We, at White
Bison, extend our appreciation to the following for
their contributions to today’s Wellbriety Gathering
in Boston, Massachusetts:
• Sam
Sapiel (Opening Prayer)
• JoAnne
Dunn (Executive Director of NAICOB)
• Don
Silva (NAICOB Coordinator of today’s event)
• ALL
of the people of the NAICOB Community who work behind
the scenes
• John
Swzyd (Tecumseh House, House Director)
• The
Local Al-Anon Community which supports and promotes
healing.
•
DRUM—The NAICOB
Singers:
Alex • Chee Nul Ka Pocknett • Timothy Swallow • Monolito
Swallow • Don Silva
• The
Dancers who brought honor to themselves, their families,
and community during the Entry of the Sacred Hoop:
Chee Nul Ka Pocknett • Madas Pocknett • Shyanne • Casey
• Reina • Mailin Little • Felice Little • Dominique
Little • Kayla Little • Audry Little (‘Auntie’ to all
the Dancers)
• Hoop
Carriers:
Don Barnaby • Dale Francis • George Estudillo • John
C. Oleson, Jr.
• Speakers:
Don Barnaby • Monolito Swallow • Virginia (Gia) Augustine
• Randall Moore • Millie Noble
Thank you
to all of the People of NAICOB. Your name may not appear
in materials, your face may not be the picture that
is printed on a brochure to represent what is healing
and good… but you are a vital part of healing.
We
honor all of you.
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 Coming
Soon to the Boston Indian Community
Native
American
Red-Road Sobriety Pow-Wow
May 31 June 1, 2003
10 AM 5 PM Grand Entry at 12:30 PM
Drums
by Invitation ONLY!
Iron River and Medicine Bear Drums
Flute Playing No Open Fires No Drugs or Alcohol
Allowed (DUHH!)
Traders
by Invitation ONLY • 508-880-6887
Sponsored by the Red-Road Native Americans in Recovery
Directions:
1940 County St. Next to Roderick Excavating
(Across from Dighton Hwy Dept) Route 138 Dighton,
Mass.
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