Hamta HoMandelaHANTA HOCheyenne Universe

"CLEARING THE WAY"


I am an Elder-in-Residence at a correctional facility here in Ontario.  Three times a month I come calling and spend time talking, laughing, sweatlodg-ing, creating sacred objects, singing, dancing, rapping (I am a terrible rapper!) and drumming with some very special young men.
 
This page is dedicated to all of you young and not so young people, who rise up each day, face the challenges before you by entering a state of "Hanta Ho" which means "Clearing the Way. By getting out of your own way, you take another positive step towards the summit of your personal sacred mountain. In other words, you keep moving in the right direction which pleases your Ancestors.  The Ojibwa called it Mene-doh (State of Revitalization).

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.

 

WARRIOR PEACE SHIELDS

The Shield is a reminder that it is your responsibility to bring all the people back together again in a good way. It starts with you. The physical act of making a Warrior Peace Shield helps shed some light on why you are trapped within your own mental, emotional, spiritual and physical confusion. The Shield helps replace old realities with new and more positive ones and most importantly, helps you to find your voice. 

To be a Warrior of Peace
means that it is your  responsibility to be accountable for yourself  and then to others. This can be as simple as a spiritual "slap upside the head" by your Ancestors in a moment of complete clarity, or it can be a life long challenge. Whatever the route, it is the journey and the intent of your journey that matters. It takes Wisdom to see that a change needs to be made, and Courage to make the change(s).

How you express yourself and behave is a direct reflection of your willingness to step forward and stand in your own truth. It is not an easy thing to do when others are urging you to follow them.  Here is where you "man up" and find the strength of your personal leadership to make your own decisions in your own way. Faith trumps fear every time.

The young men who made the gorgeous shields you see below, are very special to Sandy, Kate and I. They still have hills to climb, but they are young, robust, intelligent and beautiful. They are blessings in this world, and we need them.


 
Abraham Steve George Jonathan Justin

Letter to Abraham, Jonathan and Justin,

Gentlemen you are back out in the world to find your way. Your time has been served and now it is time to begin a new chapter of social responsibility and just plain living in a good way. In the words of recently released Rapper, Mystikal, "I'm in control of the decisions I make. I'm in control of the positions I allow myself to be in. I'm in control of the people I have around me.  So it ultimately falls to me. Wise up with the decisions you make."

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

 

MEDICINE BAG  is traditionally a pouch of varying sizes filled with meaningful items for the owner. For example,  stones, herbs, found objects, personal memorabilia, etc. and is intended to bring protection, good luck, and/or for use in healing.

TEACHING FOR THE YOUTH

"Our people have made and used these bags for thousands of years. They can be worn around the neck, or attached to a belt or simply carried. Whatever method you use, it carries special healing spiritual medicine. It should be feasted from time to time and smudged regularly. Your bag must be hand made, no sewing machines need apply! To have your hands on all aspects of its creation gives it your personal power. It can be decorated or plain, it is up to you to decide.

Remember, It is a sacred item and if it is worn around the neck it must hidden under your shirt. To display it on the chest is a sign of arrogance and self-importance. No one should open the bag but you; to do so allows the other person to take your power. You can replace items from time to time. A pinch of the four sacred plants, sage, cedar, sweetgrass and tobacco should be kept in the bag. The foto examples in this box were made by Thunderbird."

 


 
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!).

Lyrics: Jonathon, Justin, Steven, Bailey (Vocal), Thunderbird & Kate
(copyrighted July 19, 2010)

 

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






SWEATLODGE  (Photo left is the Sweatlodge in the Corrections Facility)

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




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