HANTA
HO
"CLEARING THE WAY"
|
Keep climbing, the
grass is green there, the water gentle and clean, the air filled with
the fragrant scent of nature and the stately guardians (trees) await you.
Wilwilaasyk, All My Relations. |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Abraham | Steve | George | Jonathan | Justin |
|
Remember the lyrics to the Rap Song we wrote together, "The First Ninety Seconds." The words are powerful and ones to take with you as you climb your sacred mountains. If you feel your feet slipping, grab the medicine bag you made, hold on and count to 90 You know what you have to do, you know how to walk in the world in a manner that pleases your Ancestors. You know this......Just do it.....oh yes, and have some good fun on the way. Go in peace, my precious young brothers, remember, your people need you. Wilwilaaysk, All My Relations Elder, Shannon Thunderbird
|
|
TEACHING FOR THE YOUTH "Our people have made and used these bags for
thousands of years. They can be worn around the
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Steven | George | Abraham |
|
THE FIRST NINETY
SECONDS The Rap Song you are hear came out from a number of discussions we've been having on how to control bubbling negative emotions within the first ninety seconds of something happening. Studies show that how you react in those first 90 seconds is how a situation can escalate or de-escalate. For example, if your immediate response is one of blinding rage, at the end of the 90 seconds, your adrenalin starts to fade and you fight hard to retain the initial anger. Ask yourself, "will a negative reaction to this situation harm me in the short and long-term?" If the answer is yes, say, "If I can make the next 90 seconds, I have a chance to change my energy and avoid possible catastrophic results for me." This conversation struck a chord with my young brothers and they were very thoughtful in their responses. I suggested they write a rap song about it, and they laughed when I said I was the world's worst rapper, so they have been trying to teach me. We've called our animated rapper, "Sixty Cents" (due to inflation!).
The First Ninety Seconds is the
challenge To get past rage to find my balance If I can wait for this time to pass Then I have a chance to make peace
last I can respect the time for writing
this rhyme And realize the line that I walk is
fine I push through the struggles like a
breeze through wind chimes Seein' the world through calm and
clear eyes Thunder don't have to be anger and
rage It can clear my mind and set the stage To honour myself for restraint of
action As I go through the first Ninety
Seconds by relaxin' Livin' through the first ninety
seconds of rage Even though we are shut down, locked
in a cage We still can make a change, and turn a
new page and abstain from pain and honour our
names
|
|
Once a month my young brothers and I enter the lodge for a time of quiet, reflection and teachings. It is a serene time for all of us as "my boys" put into practice Hanta Ho while in the lodge. When we are finished, we re-hydrate with strawberries, biscuits and power drinks. The kitchen prepares a ceremonial meal for the whole facility on the "high" ceremonies, that is, the Summer and Winter Solstices. June 21st was very special and the kitchen did a fabulous job, with corn, yams, stuffed chicken and other yummy stuff. A sweat lodge was originally created for men, so that they could experience the peace of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental cleansing and purification that women naturally experienced on their moon time. Much later the sweat lodge ceremony was extended to women as long as women sweated by themselves, as did the men; Modern sweat lodges now allow for 'mixed' sweats. In one form or another, the sweat lodge pervaded cultures from the Alaska south to the land of the Mayans. The purpose, in most cases, went beyond getting the body clean. It provided a cure for illness, revitalization for aching muscles, a connection to the Ancestors and a sense of both cultural and spiritual identity. A chance, in other words, to reconnect to both the seen and unseen worlds.
Sweating rids the body of wastes and gives the body
an almost magical and very thorough cleaning. In this modern sedentary
age of pollution, artificial environments, synthetic clothing and lack
of regular exercise, a sweat lodge opens clogged skin pores and
stimulates the healthy flow of a body's own natural sweat. A Navajo who
fought in World War II once said that he had came back for a sweat "to
rid himself of evil accumulated during war." |
|
K'OOL GYET (ALL ONE PEOPLE) LODGE Chaplain Andy who Kate, Sandy and I absolutely adore gave us a room to convert into a Longhouse! After speaking with my young brothers, we decided that the room should be for everyone. On our last visit, we started decorating it, and although it is a work in progress, the following photos show a start to a room that even with the few things we put up, started to feel like a magical, healing place. On top of everything else, the room is just steps away from the Sweatlodge site. Very, very Cool.
I am now on the hunt for representative art from the Black, Yellow and
White races. Stay tuned for more photos.
|
 |
 |
 |
| Elder, Kate (my Sister) & some beautiful posters that Andy contributed - Great Spirit Pray, Seven Grandfather Teachings. | Big Drum - made as a gift by an Elder | Warrior Shields & words from influential people from all races |
