The following announcement appeared on page one of the Beloit Daily News on Saturday, December 5, 2009.
The Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce has chosen a new president with a long history in Beloit.
Randall Upton has been named the organization's new president by a unanimous vote of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) Executive Committee.
Upton will begin the job on Jan 4, and will be responsible for managing the GBCC's day-to-day operations.
Upton has experience in both the private and public sectors, including running his own consulting company for 15 years. He has been employed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a former commercial consul for the U.S. government in Australia.
Most recently Upton worked in development, raising millions of dollars at both Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's College of Education.
"I am thrilled with this opportunity to help the chamber increase visibility and attract new business to Beloit while also supporting the community's current businesses and the chamber's current programs," Upton said.
As the son of Beloit College's sixth president, Miller Upton, and a resident of the area, he knows the region well and is passionate about improving Beloit's business community.
"This is an exciting time for the GBSS," said Board Chairman Jeff Adams, strategic account manager for Alliant Energy. "Randall brings a wealth of experience that I know will take this organization, community and region far."
Upton said he worked 24 years in Australia, but missed Beloit and returned in September of 2003. He now resides in Delavan, but plans to relocate to Beloit.
Over the years Upton has run a few major businesses including a real estate commercial auction house and a sporting goods import business.
Upton said he hopes to enhance the activities of the chamber and take it in a new direction. His goals will be membership growth, developing close relationship with business members and working in the economic development community to attract additional businesses.
The Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization comprised of a diverse membership of businesses and organizations. The GBCC serves the business community by providing effective benefits and programs to its membership with the coordinated involvement of government, educational and other community organizations.
Upton and his wife, Julie, have three grown sons.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A CHRONICLE OF TIME IN MONTANA
AND ATTENDANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDANCE 2009
(A) Introduction
In life, one is occasionally given the opportunity to do something that is outside of his or her comfort zone. People usually don’t take advantage of these opportunities because of personal circumstances that keep them from choosing to go down a different path for whatever amount of time.
Such was my justification in rejecting, 40 years ago, an invitation from a law school buddy to join him in driving to a music festival that was scheduled to take place in August in New York. I said at the time that I would like to join him, but that work commitments prevented me from doing so. As a result, I did not attend Woodstock. I have always regretted not having been at Woodstock – what a badge of honor to carry. But to be honest, I probably could have taken the time off to attend but at the time the trip seemed to be a little out of my comfort zone.
I was offered the opportunity two years ago to join a fellow Beloit College graduate, Woody Vaspra, class of 1967, at a Native American Indian Sundance that was scheduled for August, 2009 in Montana. The Sundance was being hosted and organized by The World Council of Elders, which Woody had co-founded and created in 1999 together with Catie Johnson.
Woody and I were good friends when we attended Beloit College in the 1960s. We played on both the football and baseball teams and roomed together during football road trips. Woody and I re-connected several years ago when I returned to the US from Australia where I lived for 24 years. I was impressed when I had found out that Woody was working with Elders around the world, in light of my interest in the teachings of Australian Aboriginal Elders that had developed during my time living and working in Australia.
Woody, Catie and I discussed the opportunity to attend the Sundance during the 40th reunion of the Beloit College Class of 1967 that was held at Beloit in the fall of 2007. They stayed at Julie’s and my house during the weekend of activities. I tentatively decided that I would attend the Sundance and be involved in a number of pre-ceremony activities that would be required to prepare the grounds in Montana for the Ceremony. I was determined to go outside of my comfort zone this time, at least on an intellectual level two years prior to the event.
My interest in attending the Sundance was heightened in early 2008 when our youngest son Mitch decided to attend Montana State University in Bozeman. In looking at the University’s forward schedule, it appeared that the Sundance would be held immediately prior to the 2009/10 academic year. I would thus be able to assist Mitch at the beginning of his sophomore year and attend the Sundance immediately following.
My family scoffed at the idea of my attending the Sundance. A topic of conversation that would always bring laughter was the thought of me camping for the relatively long time that would be required – some 10 days. Previous camping adventures had always resulted in disaster for me and it was widely assumed that I could never go camping at a place where I couldn’t take a vacuum cleaner. One of the Christmas presents in 2008 from my family was a whisk broom and dust pan set to clean my tent in case I actually did attend the Sundance. But I figured that with the proper mental attitude, I would be able to survive. (Unfortunately, this proper attitude has been brought on largely by the advancement of age and the so-called wisdom that accompanies the aging process.)
Well, I did attend the Sundance in late August of 2009 in Montana and it proved to be among the most moving experiences of my life. It awakened in me an understanding of spirituality, including my own, and it showed me the incredible simplicity and complexity of our Mother Earth that we in modern society are systematically abusing.
Although I was not a Sundancer, which would have required me to go without food and drink for 4 days and live in a state of spiritual intensity that I could not reach, I did attend as a supporter. I decided that part of my responsibilities as a supporter would be to write a review of the Sundance and to post it on my blog. In this way I could express my support for the World Council of Elders and share my experiences in this sacred Ceremony with the many wonderful and inspirational people who were at the Sundance, as well as with other friends.
The following descriptions are based on my notes and the experiences of other participants as conveyed to me during the time spent prior to, and during, the Ceremony. It does not describe any of the parts of the actual Ceremony, as that is sacred and is not to be written about, particularly by a guest such as myself.
I will, however, deal in this chronicle with the spiritual setting and present comments on what occurred to me and others during the time in Montana. I hope that those who I was fortunate enough to be able to be with during the Sundance, as well as friends at large, will enjoy my descriptions.
(B) The Organization: The World Council of Elders
The Mission
The World Council of Elders (WCOE) is a 501(c)(3) educational organization established in 1999 that is dedicated to integrating authentic indigenous wisdom with today’s knowledge in order to honor, nurture, and restore the balance of life on Earth. WCOE is also committed to preserving native cultures, languages, spirituality, healing practices, and sacred lands that are integral to the work of worldwide healing, peace and sustainable living.
The WCOE was founded by Woody Vaspra, a native Hawaiian, and Catie Johnson. Woody serves the organization as Co-Founder, President and Elder Liaison, while Catie serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director. WCOE is managed by a Board of Directors. It maintains an Advisory Board that is comprised of respected Elders from North America, Sweden, Guatemala and Africa.
Since 2000, WCOE has sponsored dozens of Elders’ gatherings in 11 countries. WCOE’s programs have involved over 100 Elders from dozens of native cultures, and several thousand people have had direct experience of learning from the Elders.
The Vision
WCOE’s vision is of a world in which all people cherish and care for the Earth, one another, and all life. The principal role of WCOE in meeting this vision is to concentrate attention on traditional spiritual Elders who are wisdom-keepers selected by their peoples as guardians of sacred teachings, prophecies, stories, ceremonies and practices of indigenous cultures passed down from generation to generation throughout the ages.
WCOE understands that these Elders share a deep spiritual connection with Mother Earth and her sacredness, and have much to teach us about compassion, understanding and living in balanced harmony with each other and our planet Earth. WCOE hopes that all who occupy the world can learn how to treat Mother Earth with respect and to sustain the land for future generations.
The International Sundance
The Sundance Ceremony is a sacred event that is at the heart of the cultures of the first peoples of the Northern Plains. The Sundance is one of the seven sacred rites of the Native North American peoples that were handed down to them thousands of years ago by the White Buffalo Calf Woman. It has been celebrated every summer for thousands of years to honor the Great Spirit and Mother Earth and to pray for the well-being and protection of the people, community, family, and oneself. It is understood that approximately 150 plus Sundances are held annually in North America.
The International Sundance is different from most other Sundances in that participation is intentionally open to all peoples, of all nationalities. Further, it brings Elders from indigenous cultures around the globe to add their traditional ceremonies and teachings to the time-honored wisdoms of the Sundance. It thus represents a significant shift in the way Sundances are held and the peoples to whom the spirituality is directed. (The vast majority of Sundances are closed temples, meaning that the only participants permitted are members of North American Indian tribes, and often only members of the tribe which is conducting the Sundance, who have been qualified as Sundancers.)
In spite of its open character, the International Sundance is conducted in strict compliance with the traditions of the Lakota, Ojibwe, and Cree peoples. According to Grandfather Frank Settee, Cree/Ojibwa/Lakota Ceremonial Elder, who is the Elder to the WCOE International Sundance, its spiritual founding is based in the following statement which he has made publicly: “The essence of this International Sundance was granted by the Great Spirit thousands of generations ago to our sacred and holy ancestors. It has been enhanced by the guidance and direction of the Great Spirit through many humbling ceremonies to this time and day.”
Grandfather Frank Settee said to me that Woody Vaspra was selected by his Lakota Family to lead this sacred ceremony and fulfill the vision. Woody's work with the Would Council of Elders and with his knowledge of Elders, culture, traditions and ceremonies, was very important in making this selection of Chief of the International Sundance. Woody was passed the Sundance rutuals by his Sundance Chief and Grandfather Frank Settee. Grandfather Frank also stated to me that it is his hope that the Sundance can be taken to the four corners of the world.
A Sundance is comprised of dancing and prayer and is accompanied by traditional drumming and singing that continues inside a circular Arbor. This Arbor is erected around ceremonial grounds, the center of which is the Sundance Tree that is carried in to start the Ceremony. It is in this Arbor that the various colors of a Sandance are displayed in numerous ways. In the case of the International Sundance, the colors are black, yellow, white, and red – representing the four directions on the Earth.
The principal participants of a Sundance are the Sundancers, men and women dressed in ceremonial clothing who fast from food and water for four days while they dance and pray for the peoples of the four directions, themselves, their families and the future of the world. Sundancers are assisted in their efforts by supporters who, although not fasting, participate in the ceremonies through prayer and assistance to the Sundancers and the community that comes together when running a Sundance. Leading the Sundance are the Elders, spiritual advisers who have been granted their positions through previous service and knowledge.
(C) The Venue
The ceremony dates for the International Sundance 2009, were Wednesday, August 26 through Sunday, August 30 with the venue being a 3,000+ acre buffalo ranch located approximately 40 miles south of Billings, Montana. The ranch is situated in the Crow Reservation and not far from the Plenty Coups State Park. (For an excellent recounting of the history of the Crow peoples and the area, I recommend reading Plenty-Coups, Chief of the Crows by Frank B. Linderman. This book, which was originally published in 1930, was reissued in 2002 with additional commentary.) The ranch was recently registered as a non-profit entity with the purpose of creating a conservancy for buffalo which are being brought to the lands to prosper.
The ranch and surrounding lands are located at the juncture point of the Rocky Mountains and the Missouri Plateau, which is the unglaciated area of the Great Plains. The actual site of the Sundance is a flat, grassy “plateau” of land some 4,800 feet above sea level at the base of the north face of Pryor Mountain. Although not a geologist, I believe the best description of the site would be that of an erosional escarpment. One of the outcroppings to the East of the site, which is clearly visible, is believed to be the first land in North America to emerge from the oceans millions of years ago.
Irrespective of how the land is described geologically, suffice it to say that it is among the most beautiful places that I have ever been. The land is pristine, filled with wildlife, especially eagles, and the views are spectacular in two directions, North and East. (In the evening, the lights of Billings can be seen to the North.) The small mountains are to the South and the access land is to the West. In the evening the sky is filled with stars. The vegetation is undisturbed, the air clean and crisp, and the atmosphere dry. A highlight of being on the plateau is to see the buffalo come over the ridge in the pastures to the North, as they did during the time of the Sundance.
In addition to the pristine nature of the land itself, I am led to believe that the plateau sits on acres of underground crystals through which the waters from the Pryor Mountain flow to a spring. It is from this spring that water with restorative powers is drawn. This water was used during the entire time of the International Sundance.
When describing the venue to people, I merely refer to it as The Mountain, as in my experiences on The Mountain.
The ranch is known officially as the Happy Heart Ranch. Tana Blackmore, the proprietor, grew up on the ranch. The name which has been given to her by the Crow Nation is “The Woman Who Cares for the People” [translated]. A Hawaiian name which was given to her at the end of the Sundance Ceremony is “Wahine Mālama Ka ‘Āina ‘Ubane” which translates to “Woman Who Cares for the Land of Spirits.”
The ranch was owned originally owned by Tana’s stepfather, a German immigrant. Her birth-rite father was a Lakota Indian from South Dakota. She grew up on the ranch, left for 25 years, and returned to live there after a vision told her to return to the land and use it as a base with which to restore the buffalo to their natural habitat. Several years ago she turned the ranch into a non-profit organization and nature conservancy. At the time of the Ceremony, more than 200 buffalo were in the herd, including 43 calves that had been born in Spring. In addition to the buffalo are a significant number of horses. Establishing the conservancy was done with the full and active support of Tana’s mother.
Tana operates the ranch together with her manager, Joe Larson. Joe has been with the ranch for over three years and remarked to me several times about the wonderful life he was leading. He is responsible for all the fencing at the ranch, all of the machinery, and generally ensuring that things work.
I learned a number of interesting facts from Joe, including that fencing for buffalo require 6 rows of barbed wire, while cattle require only 4 rows. Although of Norwegian heritage, he is adapting to an understanding of Indian ways and particularly the manner by which buffalo are harvested according to ancient and honorable principles, including prayer. The proceeds of the meat that is sold are used to fund the running of the ranch. Joe was an important part of the entire Sundance preparations and he also participated later in many of the actual ceremonies.
(D) The Journey
Saturday, the 15th of August to Wednesday, the 19th of August
On the morning of Saturday, the 15th of August, Julie and I began our trip by car to Montana. As I indicated earlier, our youngest son Mitch is a student at Montana State University. He is studying ecology, hopes to work in fish and wildlife management, and has decided to become a resident of the State. He intends to work part-time and study part-time until his graduation from MSU. He had driven off the previous day in his car loaded down with all kinds of things for the town house that he would be sharing with other students.
Julie and I embarked the next day, also loaded down with gear that Mitch couldn’t get into the car as well as all of the camping gear that I had purchased for the Sundance. (Family stories abound about the amount of camping gear and equipment that we have given away as a result of our many moves within Australia and between Australia and the US. Hopefully I am now set for the future.)
Julie and I spent Saturday night in the town of Chamberlain, which is located on the Missouri River in South Dakota. The city is just about at the half-way point of the trip. We were able to locate a nice out-of-the-way motel which advertized that “Imaginary Friends are Free.”
We finally arrived in Bozeman late on Sunday afternoon. It is not an easy trip to make, as it is 1,350 miles from our home in Delavan, WI and the driving time takes about 21 hours, including short stops. It is a comfortable journey, however, as the entire trip between our home and Mitch’s townhouse in Bozeman requires only 5 turns. We caught I-90 just out of Janesville and continued straight on this interstate highway through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming and the eastern part of Montana before exiting onto Main Street in Bozeman.
Mitch joined us at our hotel in Bozeman that evening and we got ready for the next four days during which our sons John and Andrew flew in from San Francisco and Vancouver respectively for our first family gathering in two years. We had a wonderful time going on the mountain trails that Mitch so loves and just getting together as a family. Our family bowling competition is a sight to behold. Andrew stayed until Thursday when he flew back to Vancouver, and John stayed through till Saturday when he flew back to San Francisco. Julie flew back to Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon.
Thursday, the 20th of August
I left Bozeman at 11.00 AM on Thursday and drove to the Happy Heart Ranch, encountering beautiful fields and vistas during the 3 hour trip. The land surrounding the ranch’s long and winding entrance was occupied by numerous prairie dogs which came out of their burrows, and then retreated at the slightest hint of a disturbance. I joined a small group of people, the advance team, who had come together early to help prepare for the Sundance. Included in the initial group were Woody, Catie, myself, Ove Swenson from Sweden, Noel Kenny from Canada, and White Feather, originally from Colorado. Woody and Catie had already been there for a number of days.
The overall logistics were admirably handled by Catie. She coordinated an effort where an entire camp had to be prepared and operated on a daily basis. This required, among other activities, portable toilets to be ordered, installed and serviced; a kitchen erected; water tanks and shower stalls put up; grounds mowed to facilitate people camping; and the Arbor repaired and made ready for the Ceremony. All of this planning was executed in such a way as to make the smallest ecological imprint on the land.
In addition, she coordinated registration and made numerous trips into Billings (a 2-hour round trip) to meet participants who were flying in to the airport. All of this was in addition to handling the marketing/ informational work as from the beginning of 2009.
During the initial days we were based out of the top floor (the hay loft) of the barn, eating dinners there as well. The barn is part of the ranch’s living compound which also includes two sheds and living quarters. Catie had the WCOE computer and communication equipment located there and it became command central. We spent the nights sleeping on cots and trying to adjust to the cacophony of snores from most of us. (I will not use this forum to indicate who the worst perpetrators were. That will remain a secret between those who were there!)
Dinner that evening was in the barn. It provided us with a good opportunity to share stories. The highlight of the Thursday evening was listening to Woody relate how he had become involved in the International Sundance, how he became a Sundance Chief, and how he and Catie first met Tana in Boulder in 2001.
As Woody described it, in September 2000 he was gifted a very sacred item from an Elder from Canada in a sacred ceremony. In the early summer of 2001, an Elder named Frank Settee, who had heard about this gifting, travelled to Saskatchewan, Canada to meet Woody and Catie who were attending a Cree Sundance just Northeast of Regina. When Frank met Woody he invited him to participate in his Family Sundance on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota late in the summer of 2001.
After participating in several Sundances, Woody was approached to accept a responsibility to carry out a vision that has been carried by Elder Frank’s Lakota Family for hundreds of years – to create an International Sundance. The vision of the Elders was to share the sacred Sundance Ceremony with peoples of the four directions and to take it to the four corners of the Earth.
Woody related that it took him time to accept the responsibility. His main concern was whether he could fulfill the vision with the integrity, honor and respect such as would be required to take the Sacred Ceremony around the world. He told us that he accepted because the work required of hosting an International Sundance was compatible with the mission of the World Council of Elders.
Besides learning how Woody became involved in the Sundance, I learned an additional two lessons in life that evening. The first is to always grab the warmest sleeping bag when you leave home if you are planning to camp in Montana. Hot days give way to very cold nights, and I certainly shouldn’t have brought the summer bag. Fortunately there were spare blankets.
The second lesson is that when entering a dark shed late in the evening, know before hand where the light switch is. I was given the task of taking the potato salad and pickled beets left over from dinner and putting them in the fridge in the shed. I couldn’t find the light switch so I inched along, thinking I remembered where everything was on the floor – I had been in the shed once during the day. Well, I hit a steel beam on the floor, fell forward, struck the fridge door and fell on the floor! How I kept the bowl of pickled beets from spilling all over me is a mystery. But my shoulder hurt for days.
Friday, the 21st of August and Saturday, the 22nd of August
These days were spent working with Joe Larson and Johnny Winddancer, the Ceremonial Fire keeper, in getting things ready. The effort involved was huge, as the flat, grassy “plateau” of land on which the Ceremony was held is 4.2 miles from the ranch’s buildings. This means that access is gained via by a rutted track that traverses numerous pastures and goes through 5 gates. (I was told that most Sundances are easily accessible, meaning that parking for participants is nearby to the grounds.) Access to the grounds at the Happy Heart Ranch is available only to 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, and cars driven by persons who love adventure.
Additional people joined the advance team on Friday. One was Major Sumner - an Aboriginal Elder from the Ngarrindjeri Nation in the Coorong Region of South Australia on whose lands the International Sundance 2010 will be held. In addition, we were joined by Jennifer “Tashi” Vause, a naturalist and healer from San Diego, CA and Sophia from San Francisco, but originally from Madison, WI. We were to have been joined by Sophia’s brother Mike from Madison, but he took an extra turn in Minnesota and added a number of miles and hours to his journey so he was later in arriving.
It was during this time that we began working with Johnny Winddancer. Johnny was not only the Ceremony’s Keeper of the Sacred Fire, but also the main man for set-up operations prior to the Sundance, for numerous responsibilities during the Sundance, and for take-down activities following the Sundance. He had already been camping at the grounds for several days, keeping a fire going in support of LaLoya Kooy, who had been on a four-day solitary fast on the mountain side since Wednesday, and Malihatkwa, an Elder and Aunt of LaLoya’s, who was providing her with spiritual support.
We all worked together during these days as a tight knit “can do anything” unit that didn’t complete its tasks until 7.00 p.m. Our principal activities at the grounds were hauling water, restoring the Arbor, and mowing.
Our first activity was to haul water to the grounds. This involved carting 6 large water containers and putting them onto stands. We then returned to the ranch, put a large water container on the trailer, filled it with water from the spring that feeds the ranch, and made the trek back up the hill to fill the other tanks. The water, which is gravity fed to the ranch and the organic garden, is among the purest water I have ever tasted.
The majority of time spent involved working on the Arbor at the ceremonial grounds. It had been two years since the Arbor was used for the Sundance in 2007 and weather had taken its toll. The numerous poles of the Arbor had to be straightened and the ground around the poles strengthened. Then, cross beams and poles left from the previous Sundance had to be nailed in place and protective shade covering put on the entire structure. (The work to prepare the Arbor was not concluded until Tuesday, and required many, many hours of effort. Placing the protective covering, which was material taken from surplus army parachutes, required thousands of staples and more than one staple gun.)
In addition to continuing to work on the Arbor, we took to mowing with enthusiasm. The grounds were covered by sage brush, wild roses, and prairie grasses two feet high. We had a mower, an industrial level weed whacker, and a personal weed whacker. Our task was to clear areas on the plateau for the portable toilets, the kitchen, the camping sites for the Sundancers and the supporters, and a number of other sites.
I ended up spending most of my time mowing, finishing up the work that had been started by Johnny. (I have to admit that being 1 month short of my 65th birthday, with an artificial knee and a bad other “wheel”, I should have been a little more cautious about how much mowing I did. With temperatures in the high 80’s, under sunny skies, and working at a relatively high altitude and on tough terrain, I ended up totally exhausted by Tuesday evening. Were it not for our beloved “fresh water” and doses of Ibuprofen I could not have kept going.)
Several prayer ceremonies took place during this period. The first of these, which was conducted by Chief Woody, left a lasting impression on me. Standing at the edge of Bear Mountain, the first of three mountains which form the top part of Pryor Mountain, Chief Woody invoked a singing invitation in his native Hawaiian language to the spirits of the three mountains, asking them to join us during the Sundance. As the prayer service was finishing, we heard a noise above us. We looked up and directly above us saw two Golden Eagles, circling in flight. There is no question that they were responding on behalf of the Spirits of their mountains. They were not there accidentally.
The second prayer ceremony took place prior to our taking down the Sundance Tree from the 2007 Sundance within the Arbor and prior to White Feather removing the prayer ties and flags for ceremonial burning the 2007 Ceremony. The prayers were offered in four languages - English, Hawaiian, Swedish, and Moogy’s aboriginal language. What a feeling, to be a part of such a moment in the pristine mountains of Montana under a cloudless sky with a gentle breeze blowing over us and the land. I could truly feel a close bond with Mother Earth.
Dinner that evening was held once again in the hay loft. Following dinner, we all engaged in a spirited discussion of the meaning of “indigenous”. Our conversations agreed that in a strict sense, the term applies to people of any community when there is a reference to a particular geographic region or location. Under this definition I am indigenous in that I can trace my ancestors back to a region which is on the border of England and Scotland. I do not, however, have any legitimate claim to the lands in this region.
On the other hand, the term “indigenous peoples” means an ethnic group of peoples who inhabit a geographic region with which they have a historical connection. The key factor is the fact that “indigenous peoples” have a historical claim to lands which their peoples occupied for a long period of time prior to the arrival of immigrant groups. As a result of our discussions, it was agreed that Moogy and I were therefore cousins, as we were both indigenous! (I should point out to those who do not know, that although I am an American citizen, I am also an Australian citizen. I secured this privilege some 15 years ago while living in Australia, where I resided for some 24 years.) Moogy, however, is part of an “indigenous peoples” as his ancestors have an ethnic culture and have occupied a definable area of land in Australia for a time as long as recorded history. For the remainder of the Sundance people referred to Moogy and me as cousins.
Sunday, the 23rd of August
In the morning I helped cook breakfast at the barn, clean up the dishes, put up directional signs for future attendees at the Sundance, and then drive to the venue. By this time my car, which had travelled from Wisconsin to Bozeman, and then to the ranch, and which had picked up the most amazing amount of dead grasshoppers on the front bumper and windshield, had become just plain filthy. But hey, that goes with the territory. (Upon my return to Wisconsin it took me all of a day to remove dust, grime and bugs from the car.)
White Feather joined me on the trip and we carted all of my camping gear, her camping gear and ceremonial dresses, and all of the gear of Noel who had left for the grounds earlier.
During the day we all continued to work on the Arbor and the grounds and the beginning work was undertaken on the kitchen.
Late in the afternoon Woody and Catie arrived with dinner. They also brought with them a recent arrival, namely Sugahara Maki, a Japanese Spiritual Navigator who resides in Hawaii. Maki, who was to be a Sundancer, is a free diver who has dived to a depth of 268 feet, a return journey which took him 3 min and 45 seconds to complete. He advised me that he can stay under water without breathing for upwards of 7 minutes and frequently dives in the dead of night to 100 feet to meditate. Maki told me that he is able to do what he does by finding harmony between his spirit, mind, body and emotions. In 2010 he is going to undertake a 17,000 km journey by canoe between Hawaii and Japan to bring awareness to the problem of pollution of the oceans. And I was concerned with my knees!
Dinner was at temporary dining facilities that we set up just outside of the Arbor and near the fire. Because the link between the cook stove and the propane tank had been left behind at the ranch, dinner that night was cooked over the fire. Talk about a meal! It was comprised of organically grown vegetables brought in from California and those grown at the ranch, together with meat from free range chickens. At the end of dinner Woody, Catie and others returned to the ranch, leaving the rest of us to make arrangements with our own camping facilities.
Well, it was on this night that I learned a few lessons about camping. The tents of Johnny, Noel and mine were put in a common area close to the fire pit to permit us to service the fire in the near by fire pit which had to keep burning 24-hours per day. (One of my roles was to assist the fire keepers handle their responsibilities, being sort of like a third string substitute.) We were joined by Moogy with his Australian swag and all was centered in proximity to a shade tent that I had brought.
As can be seen from previous comments, one can surmise that I am not a good camper, being fastidious to the extreme. Dirt in a camper or tent drives me nuts. Everything has to be in order. But things started to go wrong as soon as I erected the tent, a 4-person tent loaned to me by our Delavan neighbors. The cot that I had bought for camping, after numerous deliberations as to the best way to handle camping, and which I used at the barn, did not fit. I wanted to get angry, but the spirits of the previous day wouldn’t permit that.
So, I decided instead that I could sleep on the ground. Unfortunately, because I had planned on sleeping on the cot, I had brought only a few blankets. I carefully laid down a tarp that I had brought with me and erected the tent over it. I carefully placed the edges of the tent over the edges of the tarp so that it wouldn’t attract water in the event of rain. Then, lying down on far too few blankets, I went rapidly to sleep, brought about mainly through exhaustion.
Things went well until 4.00 a.m. when the skies opened up, the winds blew, and torrential rains came down as a huge storm broke out from the West. The winds howled and blew in the left side of my tent. Water came down the side, on to the now exposed tarp, flowing under the tent where it pooled. At 6.00 a.m. I was awakened with all of my blankets soaked, as well as the clothes that I had been sleeping in. The entire floor of the tent was covered in water.
Fortunately, I had parked the car close by and was able to go there and have a few hours of peaceful sleep. The storm had disturbed others, with Johnny admitting that he spent most of the evening in his car which was also parked near by. Moogy survived, the grass around White Feather’s tent absorbed most of the moisture, and Noel’s new compact North Face tent was not too affected.
My reaction to this event showed the impact of the spirituality of the Sundance upon me. Normally I would have railed against the injustice of the downpour. Instead, I decided that the rain was intended to smooth things out for the Sundance – after all it occurred after LaLoya’s fasting, and it caused me to air our my blankets and sleeping bag on the Arbor. Furthermore, I learned a lesson for the future about pitching a tent which I will long remember.
Monday, the 24th of August and Tuesday, the 25th of August
Due to the impact of the storm, work on the Arbor and the grounds didn’t start until 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The day began with breakfast at our campsite comprised of tea, coffee, instant oatmeal and dried fruit. (Fortunately I had brought a one-burner propane stove and it came in handy this morning as the kitchen wasn’t yet fully operational.)
It was during these two days that the majority of attendees at the Sundance arrived with their luggage and tents. In no time at all a tent city began emerging. Many of the attendees parked their cars down at the ranch and were brought up in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Other more adventurous souls made the trek in their own vehicles.
As a consequence of the influx of people, there were many more hands to undertake the final tasks that needed to be done, such as bringing in the poles and canvas covers for the teepees and erecting them; mowing more areas; finishing the work at the Arbor - including a final mow and the removal, by hand, of the beautiful but prickly wild roses; obtaining saplings from the surrounding hills for the sweat lodge and then building it; and collecting sage for use in the smudge pots and in offerings.
In addition, work took place to complete work on the kitchen and to set up a number of nearby screened gazebos with tables and chairs. A number of persons worked extremely hard to set up a large portico, get the camp stoves situated and ready for action, stock the area with provisions, put in ice chests, and generally get the area ready for the days ahead. The kitchen was ready to go by 7.30 p.m. when we had dinner which was served to a now greatly expanded group of diners. The meal that evening was simple but extremely tasty, being comprised of rice, fresh organic vegetables and a selection of herbal teas.
Things really began coming together on Tuesday. Work on the Arbor was completed, and a final mowing and weed whacking undertaken. The sweat lodge was finished and made ready for the use by supporters that evening. (The completion of the sweat lodge was a testament to the hard work of Johnny and his ability to coordinate the efforts of many.) And, the kitchen became fully operational, ready to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Late in the afternoon on Tuesday afternoon the entire group assembled and listened to lessons from Grandfather Frank, Wil Campbell and Chief Woody. I greatly benefitted from my attendance as it was the beginning of an understanding of the spiritual nature of North American Indians and their cultures that was further highlighted by teaching sessions later in the week. Fortunately, the comments were not devoid of political commentary as related to the plight of indigenous peoples throughout the world, and especially those of North American Indians. I particularly enjoyed the term “before contact” which is used to describe life before the arrival of immigrant groups.
It was clear that everyone was getting ready for the Sundance which was to begin on Wednesday, which was Tree Day. Sundancers and their supporters worked at the task of making their prayer ties and prayer flags to be affixed to the Ceremonial Tree beginning on Wednesday. (Prayer ties and prayer flags are a traditional ceremonial custom used as a means of sending prayers to the Creator for family, friends, community and oneself. Guidelines exist on how to make both prayer ties regarding their size, color and the materials from which they are made.) In addition, friendships were renewed and a genuine glow covered the plateau.
In the evening, I was too exhausted to attend dinner. So I stayed in my tent and ate nuts and trail mix and drank copious amounts of water to fight the dehydration that I was experiencing. During this time I re-read the protocols that applied for the Sundance. These protocols are basically rules of behavior that enable the feeling of cleansing and rebirth to occur at the Sundance. (All human activities have rules.) One of these, which is extremely important, is that no drugs or alcohol are allowed onsite. This protocol was completely respected. Others related to the clothing that one was to wear, rules in respect of the entrances to the Arbor, and guidelines as to how supporters were to honor and respect the Sundancers.
During this evening, I also had the time to give serious thought to the meaning of spirituality as opposed to religion. I gave some real serious thought to a number of my dissatisfactions with organized multinational religions that so dominate our world today, such as Christianity and Islam.
Most notably, the prayers that were offered during the Sundance were to the “Creator, Mother Earth, and the spirits of ancestors.” This is in recognition of the nature-based essence of the Native North American spirituality. Such a recognition reflects a peoples’ relationship with the land, with nature, and with things temporal. This can be compared with Western Christianity that makes prayers to “Father, Son and Holy Ghost” and which teaches of sin, punishment and earth as only being a transitory place. Spirituality seems to be concerned with a respect, therefore, of the land as a permanent home and the environment. Western religions, on the other hand, seem to believe that our lives here are transitory and therefore the resources are to be used, even if they are exploited, but not in a sustainable fashion.
Right now, being in such a powerful physical environment, I tend toward spiritualism. Perhaps I will lose this orientation as I return to the modern world. Perhaps I won’t. But I am so pleased that I have been given the opportunity to begin to see the essence of spirituality as a guiding force. I anticipate that I will continue to seek answers and to internally debate the issues for a long time to come.
Wednesday, the 26th of August to Sunday, the 30th of August
Events moved into high gear on Wednesday and remained in a high emotional state through to the conclusion of the Sundance on Sunday afternoon. In early afternoon almost the entire camp went off with Chief Woody to bring in the tree that he had identified the previous day that would be honored as the Ceremony Tree and placed in the middle of the Arbor. The selection of the tree, according to Chief Woody, entails going to the forest to feel which tree is willing to partake in the Ceremony.
I was working at the kitchen when the camp went with Chief Woody to fell the Ceremony Tree and bring it back to be placed in the Arbor. Although I regretted not being able to experience the process with the group, I was able to witness a most wonderful image, one that will remain with me my entire life. I sat near the West entrance of the Arbor and watched the camp come up the Eastern hill, with children in the lead, and all persons holding up the tree. I saw it enter the Arbor, be decorated with prayer flags, and then be erected and the hole in which it was placed filled with dirt. Members of the camp then affixed prayer ties. As soon as the Ceremonial Tree was erected, the camp went into Sundance mode. That evening the Sundancers began their use of the sweat lodge and the supporters had dinner.
On Thursday the routine of the Sundance began. The camp was awakened just before dawn on each day, which was about 6.00 a.m. It usually began with a vocal call from Johnny to the Sundancers to awake, but on the last two days we were awakened to the sound of a chain saw being operated by him as he cut through the timber pile to prepare wood for burning during the next 24 hours. And, the wood pile that he was cutting into was about 10 yards from my tent! I told him that I have been awakened in many ways in my life, but never before by the sound of a chain saw.
After an initial period for preparation, lasting generally one-half hour, the Sundancers would then enter the Arbor and conduct a series of seven dances through to the early evening, always to the sound of the drum. One could not but be impressed with the dedication of Robb, Justin and Bruce, Indians from Canada, who had come from so far away to provide the sacred songs and drum.
During the ceremonial dancing, support was given to the dancers by their supporters. These supporters were either family members, close friends or, in White Feather’s case – me. White Feather has a personal interest in the welfare of children, free from physical and emotional abuse, and I did what I could to support her prayers. At all times the smudge pots were kept in action and the sweet smell of the smoke from sage, sweet grass, pine boughs, and cedar chips wafted through the grounds.
At the time that a number of persons were concerned with the Sundance, a number of volunteers were manning the kitchen, refilling the water tanks, going into Billings for supplies, and generally supporting the operation of the camp. The actions of these persons were exemplary.
In keeping with the international orientation of the Sundance, it is interesting to point out that the nationalities of the Sundancers were Haitian, Japanese, North American Indian – both Canadian and American, Swedish, and Canadian and American.
Some of the cultural highlights of the Sundance occurred during this time. On Friday afternoon we were able to witness Moogy’s presentation of the dance culture and history of his peoples in the Arbor, dressed in full dance regalia and paint. Following this presentation he became a major part of the Sundance Ceremony. Later, in the evening, we participated in a Mayan Fire Ceremony conducted by Regina from Guatemala. She was attending the Sundance in recognition that the International Sundance 2012 will be held in her country.
These presentations on Friday made me realize the significance of European actions in the last 500 years on existing civilizations throughout the world, and the huge disruptions that have occurred in the world as a result. One need only note three dates for this to become clear: (a) 1492, and the “Western” discovery of North America; (b) 1524, and the beginning of Spanish colonization efforts and the subjugation of the Mayan peoples; and (c) 1788, and the British claims over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Other ceremonies that occurred during the Sundance, which related to Native American cultures, included piercing ceremonies.
On Sunday the mood of the Sundance gathering changed significantly, as the four day fast was scheduled to be concluded in the early afternoon. In looking at the Sundancers, each of them looked like they were experiencing the last 2 minutes of a close American football game or the last 25 meters of an 800 meter race. All of the supporters gathered in small groups surrounding the Arbor, ready to receive a Sundancer and assist that person in accepting ice, water and fruit. I was honored to be in the small group who received “Tashi” as she was so accepting of our help, and made each and every one of us feel as if we had been with her for her entire journey. She helped me understand that the process of self sacrifice by participating in the Sundance leads to an outcome of spiritual rejuvenation.
The big event at the conclusion of the Sundance was the celebratory community feast of buffalo stew in the company of the Sundancers. Moogy took a group up on a hill and taught everyone how to throw Aboriginal spears and boomerangs. People were sharing their joy at living and at the moving ceremonies that had occurred since Wednesday. To me the actual ceremonies were very moving, but equally so was the unity of spirit in ensuring that things went smoothly throughout the entire time. It was a real testament to the concept of individuals working together to form a cohesive and effective group. And in our case, it was done with the support of the Creator, Mother Earth, and the spirits of ancestors.
At the end of the feast, I drove down the arduous rutted track out of the ranch on my way to Billings to take Moogy to a motel in preparation for his flight the next day back to Australia. I then drove to Bozeman to spend an additional day with our son Mitch, departing for home in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Driving down from The Mountain I remembered the first stanza from the song “In the Year 2525” by Zager and Evans. This stanza goes like this: “In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive…..” My feeling is that in the year 2525, if our species is still round, a Sundance will still be occurring on The Mountain, but I can’t guarantee what will be occurring in other places in the world where mankind has lost connectivity with Mother Earth and a spirituality that comes from an understanding of the earth’s natural resources that we are doing so little to sustain.
Monday, the 31st of August to Tuesday, the 1st of August
Although I was not on The Mountain during this time, the following is presented from descriptions given me by participants who were there on these days.
Monday was a day to say “good bye” to folks who were heading to the airport to fly back to their homes or to start the long drive back. It was also a day for those who remained behind to start the process of breaking down the facilities and cleaning up the grounds.
No one was in a rush to start the work, as the ceremonial atmosphere was still hanging around. Around midday folks reluctantly began the process. About this time clouds began to come in from the West and around late afternoon a line of thunderstorms arrived with pockets of heavy rain and strong winds. Everyone dashed to their tents and teepees to escape the weather as lightening filled the skies and thunder crashed.
As the weather finally passed, the gathering was greeted with wonderful rainbows, especially to the east. One of the rainbows was very special as it represented Catie’s Hawaiian name, which was given to her on Sunday. The Hawaiian name given was “Kahili Kū Kā Ko’o I Ka Lani”. This translates as “The Rainbow that Supports the Heavens, or figuratively the Chief. Given Catie’s role in organizing the Sundance, as well as all of her responsibilities as the Executive Director of the World Council of Elders, the presence of so many rainbows was a confirmation that all went well. Just as the appearance of the Golden Eagles was earlier a re-affirmation of the presence of the Spirits of the land, the rainbows were confirmation that the Spirits enjoyed the Sundance.
Dinner that evening was a great event as all rehashed the events of the last five days. A good night’s sleep was enjoyed by all.
At dawn Tuesday the camp was greeted with more rainbows, especially a double rainbow that was almost directly above the Ceremony site. The South end of the inner rainbow ended at a hill just about 1,000 yards Southwest of the site and everyone still in attendance agreed that it represented the “pot of gold” of the harmony of the Sundance.
(E) The Future
International Sundance 2009 is the third to have been held under the direction of The World Council of Elders. The first was in Montana in August 2007. The second was held on the Big Island of Hawaii during the month of November 2008.
International Sundance 2010 is scheduled to be held in South Australia in November 2010. It will then return to at the Happy Heart Ranch in Montana in August 2011. The event in 2012 will be held in Guatemala. The Sundance is scheduled to then return to Montana in 2013 and thereafter be held at varying venues in Africa, Asia and Europe.
I intend on participating in each of the events as a part of my commitment to becoming a more spiritual person. I know I will never be able to withstand the rigors of being a Sundancer, due simply to age and knees that don’t work very well. But I will do what I can to help the concept of the World Council of Elders and those who have committed themselves to spiritual growth and understanding such that comes from participating in a Sundance.
Our son Mitch has indicated to me that he feels that by August of 2011 he will be spiritually and physically able be a Sundancer. Thus, I intend to attend as his supporter during that year at the Happy Heart Ranch site. Having a member of the family participate in the Ceremony will heighten my knowledge of the ceremony and make for a very personal experience.
I welcome our friends to contact any of us to discuss participating in the activities of the Council and in attending one or more of the forthcoming ceremonies. I hope to see a whole lot of people in Australia in November of 2010.
Finally, I hope there is a ground swell in support of the World Council of Elders so they can assist the peoples of world in realizing that our future is dependent on a return to the respect and love that has existed by indigenous peoples toward Mother Earth and the gifts that she has provided to all of us.
(F) Contact Information for the World Council of Elders
For further information on The World Council of Elders, I recommend making contact with the organization’s website which is www.worldcouncilofelders.org or emailing Catie Johnson on catie.wcoe@gmail.com or Woody Vaspra on wvaspra@gmail.com. The organization’s mailing address is P.O. Box 7915, Boulder, CO USA 80306. The WCOE also makes available to subscribers its eNewsletter, the Drumbeat.
(G) Contact Information for Randall (Randy) Upton
Cell Phone: (262) 348-8218
E-Mail: Randall.Upton@gmail.com
AND ATTENDANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDANCE 2009
(A) Introduction
In life, one is occasionally given the opportunity to do something that is outside of his or her comfort zone. People usually don’t take advantage of these opportunities because of personal circumstances that keep them from choosing to go down a different path for whatever amount of time.
Such was my justification in rejecting, 40 years ago, an invitation from a law school buddy to join him in driving to a music festival that was scheduled to take place in August in New York. I said at the time that I would like to join him, but that work commitments prevented me from doing so. As a result, I did not attend Woodstock. I have always regretted not having been at Woodstock – what a badge of honor to carry. But to be honest, I probably could have taken the time off to attend but at the time the trip seemed to be a little out of my comfort zone.
I was offered the opportunity two years ago to join a fellow Beloit College graduate, Woody Vaspra, class of 1967, at a Native American Indian Sundance that was scheduled for August, 2009 in Montana. The Sundance was being hosted and organized by The World Council of Elders, which Woody had co-founded and created in 1999 together with Catie Johnson.
Woody and I were good friends when we attended Beloit College in the 1960s. We played on both the football and baseball teams and roomed together during football road trips. Woody and I re-connected several years ago when I returned to the US from Australia where I lived for 24 years. I was impressed when I had found out that Woody was working with Elders around the world, in light of my interest in the teachings of Australian Aboriginal Elders that had developed during my time living and working in Australia.
Woody, Catie and I discussed the opportunity to attend the Sundance during the 40th reunion of the Beloit College Class of 1967 that was held at Beloit in the fall of 2007. They stayed at Julie’s and my house during the weekend of activities. I tentatively decided that I would attend the Sundance and be involved in a number of pre-ceremony activities that would be required to prepare the grounds in Montana for the Ceremony. I was determined to go outside of my comfort zone this time, at least on an intellectual level two years prior to the event.
My interest in attending the Sundance was heightened in early 2008 when our youngest son Mitch decided to attend Montana State University in Bozeman. In looking at the University’s forward schedule, it appeared that the Sundance would be held immediately prior to the 2009/10 academic year. I would thus be able to assist Mitch at the beginning of his sophomore year and attend the Sundance immediately following.
My family scoffed at the idea of my attending the Sundance. A topic of conversation that would always bring laughter was the thought of me camping for the relatively long time that would be required – some 10 days. Previous camping adventures had always resulted in disaster for me and it was widely assumed that I could never go camping at a place where I couldn’t take a vacuum cleaner. One of the Christmas presents in 2008 from my family was a whisk broom and dust pan set to clean my tent in case I actually did attend the Sundance. But I figured that with the proper mental attitude, I would be able to survive. (Unfortunately, this proper attitude has been brought on largely by the advancement of age and the so-called wisdom that accompanies the aging process.)
Well, I did attend the Sundance in late August of 2009 in Montana and it proved to be among the most moving experiences of my life. It awakened in me an understanding of spirituality, including my own, and it showed me the incredible simplicity and complexity of our Mother Earth that we in modern society are systematically abusing.
Although I was not a Sundancer, which would have required me to go without food and drink for 4 days and live in a state of spiritual intensity that I could not reach, I did attend as a supporter. I decided that part of my responsibilities as a supporter would be to write a review of the Sundance and to post it on my blog. In this way I could express my support for the World Council of Elders and share my experiences in this sacred Ceremony with the many wonderful and inspirational people who were at the Sundance, as well as with other friends.
The following descriptions are based on my notes and the experiences of other participants as conveyed to me during the time spent prior to, and during, the Ceremony. It does not describe any of the parts of the actual Ceremony, as that is sacred and is not to be written about, particularly by a guest such as myself.
I will, however, deal in this chronicle with the spiritual setting and present comments on what occurred to me and others during the time in Montana. I hope that those who I was fortunate enough to be able to be with during the Sundance, as well as friends at large, will enjoy my descriptions.
(B) The Organization: The World Council of Elders
The Mission
The World Council of Elders (WCOE) is a 501(c)(3) educational organization established in 1999 that is dedicated to integrating authentic indigenous wisdom with today’s knowledge in order to honor, nurture, and restore the balance of life on Earth. WCOE is also committed to preserving native cultures, languages, spirituality, healing practices, and sacred lands that are integral to the work of worldwide healing, peace and sustainable living.
The WCOE was founded by Woody Vaspra, a native Hawaiian, and Catie Johnson. Woody serves the organization as Co-Founder, President and Elder Liaison, while Catie serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director. WCOE is managed by a Board of Directors. It maintains an Advisory Board that is comprised of respected Elders from North America, Sweden, Guatemala and Africa.
Since 2000, WCOE has sponsored dozens of Elders’ gatherings in 11 countries. WCOE’s programs have involved over 100 Elders from dozens of native cultures, and several thousand people have had direct experience of learning from the Elders.
The Vision
WCOE’s vision is of a world in which all people cherish and care for the Earth, one another, and all life. The principal role of WCOE in meeting this vision is to concentrate attention on traditional spiritual Elders who are wisdom-keepers selected by their peoples as guardians of sacred teachings, prophecies, stories, ceremonies and practices of indigenous cultures passed down from generation to generation throughout the ages.
WCOE understands that these Elders share a deep spiritual connection with Mother Earth and her sacredness, and have much to teach us about compassion, understanding and living in balanced harmony with each other and our planet Earth. WCOE hopes that all who occupy the world can learn how to treat Mother Earth with respect and to sustain the land for future generations.
The International Sundance
The Sundance Ceremony is a sacred event that is at the heart of the cultures of the first peoples of the Northern Plains. The Sundance is one of the seven sacred rites of the Native North American peoples that were handed down to them thousands of years ago by the White Buffalo Calf Woman. It has been celebrated every summer for thousands of years to honor the Great Spirit and Mother Earth and to pray for the well-being and protection of the people, community, family, and oneself. It is understood that approximately 150 plus Sundances are held annually in North America.
The International Sundance is different from most other Sundances in that participation is intentionally open to all peoples, of all nationalities. Further, it brings Elders from indigenous cultures around the globe to add their traditional ceremonies and teachings to the time-honored wisdoms of the Sundance. It thus represents a significant shift in the way Sundances are held and the peoples to whom the spirituality is directed. (The vast majority of Sundances are closed temples, meaning that the only participants permitted are members of North American Indian tribes, and often only members of the tribe which is conducting the Sundance, who have been qualified as Sundancers.)
In spite of its open character, the International Sundance is conducted in strict compliance with the traditions of the Lakota, Ojibwe, and Cree peoples. According to Grandfather Frank Settee, Cree/Ojibwa/Lakota Ceremonial Elder, who is the Elder to the WCOE International Sundance, its spiritual founding is based in the following statement which he has made publicly: “The essence of this International Sundance was granted by the Great Spirit thousands of generations ago to our sacred and holy ancestors. It has been enhanced by the guidance and direction of the Great Spirit through many humbling ceremonies to this time and day.”
Grandfather Frank Settee said to me that Woody Vaspra was selected by his Lakota Family to lead this sacred ceremony and fulfill the vision. Woody's work with the Would Council of Elders and with his knowledge of Elders, culture, traditions and ceremonies, was very important in making this selection of Chief of the International Sundance. Woody was passed the Sundance rutuals by his Sundance Chief and Grandfather Frank Settee. Grandfather Frank also stated to me that it is his hope that the Sundance can be taken to the four corners of the world.
A Sundance is comprised of dancing and prayer and is accompanied by traditional drumming and singing that continues inside a circular Arbor. This Arbor is erected around ceremonial grounds, the center of which is the Sundance Tree that is carried in to start the Ceremony. It is in this Arbor that the various colors of a Sandance are displayed in numerous ways. In the case of the International Sundance, the colors are black, yellow, white, and red – representing the four directions on the Earth.
The principal participants of a Sundance are the Sundancers, men and women dressed in ceremonial clothing who fast from food and water for four days while they dance and pray for the peoples of the four directions, themselves, their families and the future of the world. Sundancers are assisted in their efforts by supporters who, although not fasting, participate in the ceremonies through prayer and assistance to the Sundancers and the community that comes together when running a Sundance. Leading the Sundance are the Elders, spiritual advisers who have been granted their positions through previous service and knowledge.
(C) The Venue
The ceremony dates for the International Sundance 2009, were Wednesday, August 26 through Sunday, August 30 with the venue being a 3,000+ acre buffalo ranch located approximately 40 miles south of Billings, Montana. The ranch is situated in the Crow Reservation and not far from the Plenty Coups State Park. (For an excellent recounting of the history of the Crow peoples and the area, I recommend reading Plenty-Coups, Chief of the Crows by Frank B. Linderman. This book, which was originally published in 1930, was reissued in 2002 with additional commentary.) The ranch was recently registered as a non-profit entity with the purpose of creating a conservancy for buffalo which are being brought to the lands to prosper.
The ranch and surrounding lands are located at the juncture point of the Rocky Mountains and the Missouri Plateau, which is the unglaciated area of the Great Plains. The actual site of the Sundance is a flat, grassy “plateau” of land some 4,800 feet above sea level at the base of the north face of Pryor Mountain. Although not a geologist, I believe the best description of the site would be that of an erosional escarpment. One of the outcroppings to the East of the site, which is clearly visible, is believed to be the first land in North America to emerge from the oceans millions of years ago.
Irrespective of how the land is described geologically, suffice it to say that it is among the most beautiful places that I have ever been. The land is pristine, filled with wildlife, especially eagles, and the views are spectacular in two directions, North and East. (In the evening, the lights of Billings can be seen to the North.) The small mountains are to the South and the access land is to the West. In the evening the sky is filled with stars. The vegetation is undisturbed, the air clean and crisp, and the atmosphere dry. A highlight of being on the plateau is to see the buffalo come over the ridge in the pastures to the North, as they did during the time of the Sundance.
In addition to the pristine nature of the land itself, I am led to believe that the plateau sits on acres of underground crystals through which the waters from the Pryor Mountain flow to a spring. It is from this spring that water with restorative powers is drawn. This water was used during the entire time of the International Sundance.
When describing the venue to people, I merely refer to it as The Mountain, as in my experiences on The Mountain.
The ranch is known officially as the Happy Heart Ranch. Tana Blackmore, the proprietor, grew up on the ranch. The name which has been given to her by the Crow Nation is “The Woman Who Cares for the People” [translated]. A Hawaiian name which was given to her at the end of the Sundance Ceremony is “Wahine Mālama Ka ‘Āina ‘Ubane” which translates to “Woman Who Cares for the Land of Spirits.”
The ranch was owned originally owned by Tana’s stepfather, a German immigrant. Her birth-rite father was a Lakota Indian from South Dakota. She grew up on the ranch, left for 25 years, and returned to live there after a vision told her to return to the land and use it as a base with which to restore the buffalo to their natural habitat. Several years ago she turned the ranch into a non-profit organization and nature conservancy. At the time of the Ceremony, more than 200 buffalo were in the herd, including 43 calves that had been born in Spring. In addition to the buffalo are a significant number of horses. Establishing the conservancy was done with the full and active support of Tana’s mother.
Tana operates the ranch together with her manager, Joe Larson. Joe has been with the ranch for over three years and remarked to me several times about the wonderful life he was leading. He is responsible for all the fencing at the ranch, all of the machinery, and generally ensuring that things work.
I learned a number of interesting facts from Joe, including that fencing for buffalo require 6 rows of barbed wire, while cattle require only 4 rows. Although of Norwegian heritage, he is adapting to an understanding of Indian ways and particularly the manner by which buffalo are harvested according to ancient and honorable principles, including prayer. The proceeds of the meat that is sold are used to fund the running of the ranch. Joe was an important part of the entire Sundance preparations and he also participated later in many of the actual ceremonies.
(D) The Journey
Saturday, the 15th of August to Wednesday, the 19th of August
On the morning of Saturday, the 15th of August, Julie and I began our trip by car to Montana. As I indicated earlier, our youngest son Mitch is a student at Montana State University. He is studying ecology, hopes to work in fish and wildlife management, and has decided to become a resident of the State. He intends to work part-time and study part-time until his graduation from MSU. He had driven off the previous day in his car loaded down with all kinds of things for the town house that he would be sharing with other students.
Julie and I embarked the next day, also loaded down with gear that Mitch couldn’t get into the car as well as all of the camping gear that I had purchased for the Sundance. (Family stories abound about the amount of camping gear and equipment that we have given away as a result of our many moves within Australia and between Australia and the US. Hopefully I am now set for the future.)
Julie and I spent Saturday night in the town of Chamberlain, which is located on the Missouri River in South Dakota. The city is just about at the half-way point of the trip. We were able to locate a nice out-of-the-way motel which advertized that “Imaginary Friends are Free.”
We finally arrived in Bozeman late on Sunday afternoon. It is not an easy trip to make, as it is 1,350 miles from our home in Delavan, WI and the driving time takes about 21 hours, including short stops. It is a comfortable journey, however, as the entire trip between our home and Mitch’s townhouse in Bozeman requires only 5 turns. We caught I-90 just out of Janesville and continued straight on this interstate highway through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming and the eastern part of Montana before exiting onto Main Street in Bozeman.
Mitch joined us at our hotel in Bozeman that evening and we got ready for the next four days during which our sons John and Andrew flew in from San Francisco and Vancouver respectively for our first family gathering in two years. We had a wonderful time going on the mountain trails that Mitch so loves and just getting together as a family. Our family bowling competition is a sight to behold. Andrew stayed until Thursday when he flew back to Vancouver, and John stayed through till Saturday when he flew back to San Francisco. Julie flew back to Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon.
Thursday, the 20th of August
I left Bozeman at 11.00 AM on Thursday and drove to the Happy Heart Ranch, encountering beautiful fields and vistas during the 3 hour trip. The land surrounding the ranch’s long and winding entrance was occupied by numerous prairie dogs which came out of their burrows, and then retreated at the slightest hint of a disturbance. I joined a small group of people, the advance team, who had come together early to help prepare for the Sundance. Included in the initial group were Woody, Catie, myself, Ove Swenson from Sweden, Noel Kenny from Canada, and White Feather, originally from Colorado. Woody and Catie had already been there for a number of days.
The overall logistics were admirably handled by Catie. She coordinated an effort where an entire camp had to be prepared and operated on a daily basis. This required, among other activities, portable toilets to be ordered, installed and serviced; a kitchen erected; water tanks and shower stalls put up; grounds mowed to facilitate people camping; and the Arbor repaired and made ready for the Ceremony. All of this planning was executed in such a way as to make the smallest ecological imprint on the land.
In addition, she coordinated registration and made numerous trips into Billings (a 2-hour round trip) to meet participants who were flying in to the airport. All of this was in addition to handling the marketing/ informational work as from the beginning of 2009.
During the initial days we were based out of the top floor (the hay loft) of the barn, eating dinners there as well. The barn is part of the ranch’s living compound which also includes two sheds and living quarters. Catie had the WCOE computer and communication equipment located there and it became command central. We spent the nights sleeping on cots and trying to adjust to the cacophony of snores from most of us. (I will not use this forum to indicate who the worst perpetrators were. That will remain a secret between those who were there!)
Dinner that evening was in the barn. It provided us with a good opportunity to share stories. The highlight of the Thursday evening was listening to Woody relate how he had become involved in the International Sundance, how he became a Sundance Chief, and how he and Catie first met Tana in Boulder in 2001.
As Woody described it, in September 2000 he was gifted a very sacred item from an Elder from Canada in a sacred ceremony. In the early summer of 2001, an Elder named Frank Settee, who had heard about this gifting, travelled to Saskatchewan, Canada to meet Woody and Catie who were attending a Cree Sundance just Northeast of Regina. When Frank met Woody he invited him to participate in his Family Sundance on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota late in the summer of 2001.
After participating in several Sundances, Woody was approached to accept a responsibility to carry out a vision that has been carried by Elder Frank’s Lakota Family for hundreds of years – to create an International Sundance. The vision of the Elders was to share the sacred Sundance Ceremony with peoples of the four directions and to take it to the four corners of the Earth.
Woody related that it took him time to accept the responsibility. His main concern was whether he could fulfill the vision with the integrity, honor and respect such as would be required to take the Sacred Ceremony around the world. He told us that he accepted because the work required of hosting an International Sundance was compatible with the mission of the World Council of Elders.
Besides learning how Woody became involved in the Sundance, I learned an additional two lessons in life that evening. The first is to always grab the warmest sleeping bag when you leave home if you are planning to camp in Montana. Hot days give way to very cold nights, and I certainly shouldn’t have brought the summer bag. Fortunately there were spare blankets.
The second lesson is that when entering a dark shed late in the evening, know before hand where the light switch is. I was given the task of taking the potato salad and pickled beets left over from dinner and putting them in the fridge in the shed. I couldn’t find the light switch so I inched along, thinking I remembered where everything was on the floor – I had been in the shed once during the day. Well, I hit a steel beam on the floor, fell forward, struck the fridge door and fell on the floor! How I kept the bowl of pickled beets from spilling all over me is a mystery. But my shoulder hurt for days.
Friday, the 21st of August and Saturday, the 22nd of August
These days were spent working with Joe Larson and Johnny Winddancer, the Ceremonial Fire keeper, in getting things ready. The effort involved was huge, as the flat, grassy “plateau” of land on which the Ceremony was held is 4.2 miles from the ranch’s buildings. This means that access is gained via by a rutted track that traverses numerous pastures and goes through 5 gates. (I was told that most Sundances are easily accessible, meaning that parking for participants is nearby to the grounds.) Access to the grounds at the Happy Heart Ranch is available only to 4-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, and cars driven by persons who love adventure.
Additional people joined the advance team on Friday. One was Major Sumner - an Aboriginal Elder from the Ngarrindjeri Nation in the Coorong Region of South Australia on whose lands the International Sundance 2010 will be held. In addition, we were joined by Jennifer “Tashi” Vause, a naturalist and healer from San Diego, CA and Sophia from San Francisco, but originally from Madison, WI. We were to have been joined by Sophia’s brother Mike from Madison, but he took an extra turn in Minnesota and added a number of miles and hours to his journey so he was later in arriving.
It was during this time that we began working with Johnny Winddancer. Johnny was not only the Ceremony’s Keeper of the Sacred Fire, but also the main man for set-up operations prior to the Sundance, for numerous responsibilities during the Sundance, and for take-down activities following the Sundance. He had already been camping at the grounds for several days, keeping a fire going in support of LaLoya Kooy, who had been on a four-day solitary fast on the mountain side since Wednesday, and Malihatkwa, an Elder and Aunt of LaLoya’s, who was providing her with spiritual support.
We all worked together during these days as a tight knit “can do anything” unit that didn’t complete its tasks until 7.00 p.m. Our principal activities at the grounds were hauling water, restoring the Arbor, and mowing.
Our first activity was to haul water to the grounds. This involved carting 6 large water containers and putting them onto stands. We then returned to the ranch, put a large water container on the trailer, filled it with water from the spring that feeds the ranch, and made the trek back up the hill to fill the other tanks. The water, which is gravity fed to the ranch and the organic garden, is among the purest water I have ever tasted.
The majority of time spent involved working on the Arbor at the ceremonial grounds. It had been two years since the Arbor was used for the Sundance in 2007 and weather had taken its toll. The numerous poles of the Arbor had to be straightened and the ground around the poles strengthened. Then, cross beams and poles left from the previous Sundance had to be nailed in place and protective shade covering put on the entire structure. (The work to prepare the Arbor was not concluded until Tuesday, and required many, many hours of effort. Placing the protective covering, which was material taken from surplus army parachutes, required thousands of staples and more than one staple gun.)
In addition to continuing to work on the Arbor, we took to mowing with enthusiasm. The grounds were covered by sage brush, wild roses, and prairie grasses two feet high. We had a mower, an industrial level weed whacker, and a personal weed whacker. Our task was to clear areas on the plateau for the portable toilets, the kitchen, the camping sites for the Sundancers and the supporters, and a number of other sites.
I ended up spending most of my time mowing, finishing up the work that had been started by Johnny. (I have to admit that being 1 month short of my 65th birthday, with an artificial knee and a bad other “wheel”, I should have been a little more cautious about how much mowing I did. With temperatures in the high 80’s, under sunny skies, and working at a relatively high altitude and on tough terrain, I ended up totally exhausted by Tuesday evening. Were it not for our beloved “fresh water” and doses of Ibuprofen I could not have kept going.)
Several prayer ceremonies took place during this period. The first of these, which was conducted by Chief Woody, left a lasting impression on me. Standing at the edge of Bear Mountain, the first of three mountains which form the top part of Pryor Mountain, Chief Woody invoked a singing invitation in his native Hawaiian language to the spirits of the three mountains, asking them to join us during the Sundance. As the prayer service was finishing, we heard a noise above us. We looked up and directly above us saw two Golden Eagles, circling in flight. There is no question that they were responding on behalf of the Spirits of their mountains. They were not there accidentally.
The second prayer ceremony took place prior to our taking down the Sundance Tree from the 2007 Sundance within the Arbor and prior to White Feather removing the prayer ties and flags for ceremonial burning the 2007 Ceremony. The prayers were offered in four languages - English, Hawaiian, Swedish, and Moogy’s aboriginal language. What a feeling, to be a part of such a moment in the pristine mountains of Montana under a cloudless sky with a gentle breeze blowing over us and the land. I could truly feel a close bond with Mother Earth.
Dinner that evening was held once again in the hay loft. Following dinner, we all engaged in a spirited discussion of the meaning of “indigenous”. Our conversations agreed that in a strict sense, the term applies to people of any community when there is a reference to a particular geographic region or location. Under this definition I am indigenous in that I can trace my ancestors back to a region which is on the border of England and Scotland. I do not, however, have any legitimate claim to the lands in this region.
On the other hand, the term “indigenous peoples” means an ethnic group of peoples who inhabit a geographic region with which they have a historical connection. The key factor is the fact that “indigenous peoples” have a historical claim to lands which their peoples occupied for a long period of time prior to the arrival of immigrant groups. As a result of our discussions, it was agreed that Moogy and I were therefore cousins, as we were both indigenous! (I should point out to those who do not know, that although I am an American citizen, I am also an Australian citizen. I secured this privilege some 15 years ago while living in Australia, where I resided for some 24 years.) Moogy, however, is part of an “indigenous peoples” as his ancestors have an ethnic culture and have occupied a definable area of land in Australia for a time as long as recorded history. For the remainder of the Sundance people referred to Moogy and me as cousins.
Sunday, the 23rd of August
In the morning I helped cook breakfast at the barn, clean up the dishes, put up directional signs for future attendees at the Sundance, and then drive to the venue. By this time my car, which had travelled from Wisconsin to Bozeman, and then to the ranch, and which had picked up the most amazing amount of dead grasshoppers on the front bumper and windshield, had become just plain filthy. But hey, that goes with the territory. (Upon my return to Wisconsin it took me all of a day to remove dust, grime and bugs from the car.)
White Feather joined me on the trip and we carted all of my camping gear, her camping gear and ceremonial dresses, and all of the gear of Noel who had left for the grounds earlier.
During the day we all continued to work on the Arbor and the grounds and the beginning work was undertaken on the kitchen.
Late in the afternoon Woody and Catie arrived with dinner. They also brought with them a recent arrival, namely Sugahara Maki, a Japanese Spiritual Navigator who resides in Hawaii. Maki, who was to be a Sundancer, is a free diver who has dived to a depth of 268 feet, a return journey which took him 3 min and 45 seconds to complete. He advised me that he can stay under water without breathing for upwards of 7 minutes and frequently dives in the dead of night to 100 feet to meditate. Maki told me that he is able to do what he does by finding harmony between his spirit, mind, body and emotions. In 2010 he is going to undertake a 17,000 km journey by canoe between Hawaii and Japan to bring awareness to the problem of pollution of the oceans. And I was concerned with my knees!
Dinner was at temporary dining facilities that we set up just outside of the Arbor and near the fire. Because the link between the cook stove and the propane tank had been left behind at the ranch, dinner that night was cooked over the fire. Talk about a meal! It was comprised of organically grown vegetables brought in from California and those grown at the ranch, together with meat from free range chickens. At the end of dinner Woody, Catie and others returned to the ranch, leaving the rest of us to make arrangements with our own camping facilities.
Well, it was on this night that I learned a few lessons about camping. The tents of Johnny, Noel and mine were put in a common area close to the fire pit to permit us to service the fire in the near by fire pit which had to keep burning 24-hours per day. (One of my roles was to assist the fire keepers handle their responsibilities, being sort of like a third string substitute.) We were joined by Moogy with his Australian swag and all was centered in proximity to a shade tent that I had brought.
As can be seen from previous comments, one can surmise that I am not a good camper, being fastidious to the extreme. Dirt in a camper or tent drives me nuts. Everything has to be in order. But things started to go wrong as soon as I erected the tent, a 4-person tent loaned to me by our Delavan neighbors. The cot that I had bought for camping, after numerous deliberations as to the best way to handle camping, and which I used at the barn, did not fit. I wanted to get angry, but the spirits of the previous day wouldn’t permit that.
So, I decided instead that I could sleep on the ground. Unfortunately, because I had planned on sleeping on the cot, I had brought only a few blankets. I carefully laid down a tarp that I had brought with me and erected the tent over it. I carefully placed the edges of the tent over the edges of the tarp so that it wouldn’t attract water in the event of rain. Then, lying down on far too few blankets, I went rapidly to sleep, brought about mainly through exhaustion.
Things went well until 4.00 a.m. when the skies opened up, the winds blew, and torrential rains came down as a huge storm broke out from the West. The winds howled and blew in the left side of my tent. Water came down the side, on to the now exposed tarp, flowing under the tent where it pooled. At 6.00 a.m. I was awakened with all of my blankets soaked, as well as the clothes that I had been sleeping in. The entire floor of the tent was covered in water.
Fortunately, I had parked the car close by and was able to go there and have a few hours of peaceful sleep. The storm had disturbed others, with Johnny admitting that he spent most of the evening in his car which was also parked near by. Moogy survived, the grass around White Feather’s tent absorbed most of the moisture, and Noel’s new compact North Face tent was not too affected.
My reaction to this event showed the impact of the spirituality of the Sundance upon me. Normally I would have railed against the injustice of the downpour. Instead, I decided that the rain was intended to smooth things out for the Sundance – after all it occurred after LaLoya’s fasting, and it caused me to air our my blankets and sleeping bag on the Arbor. Furthermore, I learned a lesson for the future about pitching a tent which I will long remember.
Monday, the 24th of August and Tuesday, the 25th of August
Due to the impact of the storm, work on the Arbor and the grounds didn’t start until 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The day began with breakfast at our campsite comprised of tea, coffee, instant oatmeal and dried fruit. (Fortunately I had brought a one-burner propane stove and it came in handy this morning as the kitchen wasn’t yet fully operational.)
It was during these two days that the majority of attendees at the Sundance arrived with their luggage and tents. In no time at all a tent city began emerging. Many of the attendees parked their cars down at the ranch and were brought up in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Other more adventurous souls made the trek in their own vehicles.
As a consequence of the influx of people, there were many more hands to undertake the final tasks that needed to be done, such as bringing in the poles and canvas covers for the teepees and erecting them; mowing more areas; finishing the work at the Arbor - including a final mow and the removal, by hand, of the beautiful but prickly wild roses; obtaining saplings from the surrounding hills for the sweat lodge and then building it; and collecting sage for use in the smudge pots and in offerings.
In addition, work took place to complete work on the kitchen and to set up a number of nearby screened gazebos with tables and chairs. A number of persons worked extremely hard to set up a large portico, get the camp stoves situated and ready for action, stock the area with provisions, put in ice chests, and generally get the area ready for the days ahead. The kitchen was ready to go by 7.30 p.m. when we had dinner which was served to a now greatly expanded group of diners. The meal that evening was simple but extremely tasty, being comprised of rice, fresh organic vegetables and a selection of herbal teas.
Things really began coming together on Tuesday. Work on the Arbor was completed, and a final mowing and weed whacking undertaken. The sweat lodge was finished and made ready for the use by supporters that evening. (The completion of the sweat lodge was a testament to the hard work of Johnny and his ability to coordinate the efforts of many.) And, the kitchen became fully operational, ready to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Late in the afternoon on Tuesday afternoon the entire group assembled and listened to lessons from Grandfather Frank, Wil Campbell and Chief Woody. I greatly benefitted from my attendance as it was the beginning of an understanding of the spiritual nature of North American Indians and their cultures that was further highlighted by teaching sessions later in the week. Fortunately, the comments were not devoid of political commentary as related to the plight of indigenous peoples throughout the world, and especially those of North American Indians. I particularly enjoyed the term “before contact” which is used to describe life before the arrival of immigrant groups.
It was clear that everyone was getting ready for the Sundance which was to begin on Wednesday, which was Tree Day. Sundancers and their supporters worked at the task of making their prayer ties and prayer flags to be affixed to the Ceremonial Tree beginning on Wednesday. (Prayer ties and prayer flags are a traditional ceremonial custom used as a means of sending prayers to the Creator for family, friends, community and oneself. Guidelines exist on how to make both prayer ties regarding their size, color and the materials from which they are made.) In addition, friendships were renewed and a genuine glow covered the plateau.
In the evening, I was too exhausted to attend dinner. So I stayed in my tent and ate nuts and trail mix and drank copious amounts of water to fight the dehydration that I was experiencing. During this time I re-read the protocols that applied for the Sundance. These protocols are basically rules of behavior that enable the feeling of cleansing and rebirth to occur at the Sundance. (All human activities have rules.) One of these, which is extremely important, is that no drugs or alcohol are allowed onsite. This protocol was completely respected. Others related to the clothing that one was to wear, rules in respect of the entrances to the Arbor, and guidelines as to how supporters were to honor and respect the Sundancers.
During this evening, I also had the time to give serious thought to the meaning of spirituality as opposed to religion. I gave some real serious thought to a number of my dissatisfactions with organized multinational religions that so dominate our world today, such as Christianity and Islam.
Most notably, the prayers that were offered during the Sundance were to the “Creator, Mother Earth, and the spirits of ancestors.” This is in recognition of the nature-based essence of the Native North American spirituality. Such a recognition reflects a peoples’ relationship with the land, with nature, and with things temporal. This can be compared with Western Christianity that makes prayers to “Father, Son and Holy Ghost” and which teaches of sin, punishment and earth as only being a transitory place. Spirituality seems to be concerned with a respect, therefore, of the land as a permanent home and the environment. Western religions, on the other hand, seem to believe that our lives here are transitory and therefore the resources are to be used, even if they are exploited, but not in a sustainable fashion.
Right now, being in such a powerful physical environment, I tend toward spiritualism. Perhaps I will lose this orientation as I return to the modern world. Perhaps I won’t. But I am so pleased that I have been given the opportunity to begin to see the essence of spirituality as a guiding force. I anticipate that I will continue to seek answers and to internally debate the issues for a long time to come.
Wednesday, the 26th of August to Sunday, the 30th of August
Events moved into high gear on Wednesday and remained in a high emotional state through to the conclusion of the Sundance on Sunday afternoon. In early afternoon almost the entire camp went off with Chief Woody to bring in the tree that he had identified the previous day that would be honored as the Ceremony Tree and placed in the middle of the Arbor. The selection of the tree, according to Chief Woody, entails going to the forest to feel which tree is willing to partake in the Ceremony.
I was working at the kitchen when the camp went with Chief Woody to fell the Ceremony Tree and bring it back to be placed in the Arbor. Although I regretted not being able to experience the process with the group, I was able to witness a most wonderful image, one that will remain with me my entire life. I sat near the West entrance of the Arbor and watched the camp come up the Eastern hill, with children in the lead, and all persons holding up the tree. I saw it enter the Arbor, be decorated with prayer flags, and then be erected and the hole in which it was placed filled with dirt. Members of the camp then affixed prayer ties. As soon as the Ceremonial Tree was erected, the camp went into Sundance mode. That evening the Sundancers began their use of the sweat lodge and the supporters had dinner.
On Thursday the routine of the Sundance began. The camp was awakened just before dawn on each day, which was about 6.00 a.m. It usually began with a vocal call from Johnny to the Sundancers to awake, but on the last two days we were awakened to the sound of a chain saw being operated by him as he cut through the timber pile to prepare wood for burning during the next 24 hours. And, the wood pile that he was cutting into was about 10 yards from my tent! I told him that I have been awakened in many ways in my life, but never before by the sound of a chain saw.
After an initial period for preparation, lasting generally one-half hour, the Sundancers would then enter the Arbor and conduct a series of seven dances through to the early evening, always to the sound of the drum. One could not but be impressed with the dedication of Robb, Justin and Bruce, Indians from Canada, who had come from so far away to provide the sacred songs and drum.
During the ceremonial dancing, support was given to the dancers by their supporters. These supporters were either family members, close friends or, in White Feather’s case – me. White Feather has a personal interest in the welfare of children, free from physical and emotional abuse, and I did what I could to support her prayers. At all times the smudge pots were kept in action and the sweet smell of the smoke from sage, sweet grass, pine boughs, and cedar chips wafted through the grounds.
At the time that a number of persons were concerned with the Sundance, a number of volunteers were manning the kitchen, refilling the water tanks, going into Billings for supplies, and generally supporting the operation of the camp. The actions of these persons were exemplary.
In keeping with the international orientation of the Sundance, it is interesting to point out that the nationalities of the Sundancers were Haitian, Japanese, North American Indian – both Canadian and American, Swedish, and Canadian and American.
Some of the cultural highlights of the Sundance occurred during this time. On Friday afternoon we were able to witness Moogy’s presentation of the dance culture and history of his peoples in the Arbor, dressed in full dance regalia and paint. Following this presentation he became a major part of the Sundance Ceremony. Later, in the evening, we participated in a Mayan Fire Ceremony conducted by Regina from Guatemala. She was attending the Sundance in recognition that the International Sundance 2012 will be held in her country.
These presentations on Friday made me realize the significance of European actions in the last 500 years on existing civilizations throughout the world, and the huge disruptions that have occurred in the world as a result. One need only note three dates for this to become clear: (a) 1492, and the “Western” discovery of North America; (b) 1524, and the beginning of Spanish colonization efforts and the subjugation of the Mayan peoples; and (c) 1788, and the British claims over the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Other ceremonies that occurred during the Sundance, which related to Native American cultures, included piercing ceremonies.
On Sunday the mood of the Sundance gathering changed significantly, as the four day fast was scheduled to be concluded in the early afternoon. In looking at the Sundancers, each of them looked like they were experiencing the last 2 minutes of a close American football game or the last 25 meters of an 800 meter race. All of the supporters gathered in small groups surrounding the Arbor, ready to receive a Sundancer and assist that person in accepting ice, water and fruit. I was honored to be in the small group who received “Tashi” as she was so accepting of our help, and made each and every one of us feel as if we had been with her for her entire journey. She helped me understand that the process of self sacrifice by participating in the Sundance leads to an outcome of spiritual rejuvenation.
The big event at the conclusion of the Sundance was the celebratory community feast of buffalo stew in the company of the Sundancers. Moogy took a group up on a hill and taught everyone how to throw Aboriginal spears and boomerangs. People were sharing their joy at living and at the moving ceremonies that had occurred since Wednesday. To me the actual ceremonies were very moving, but equally so was the unity of spirit in ensuring that things went smoothly throughout the entire time. It was a real testament to the concept of individuals working together to form a cohesive and effective group. And in our case, it was done with the support of the Creator, Mother Earth, and the spirits of ancestors.
At the end of the feast, I drove down the arduous rutted track out of the ranch on my way to Billings to take Moogy to a motel in preparation for his flight the next day back to Australia. I then drove to Bozeman to spend an additional day with our son Mitch, departing for home in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Driving down from The Mountain I remembered the first stanza from the song “In the Year 2525” by Zager and Evans. This stanza goes like this: “In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive…..” My feeling is that in the year 2525, if our species is still round, a Sundance will still be occurring on The Mountain, but I can’t guarantee what will be occurring in other places in the world where mankind has lost connectivity with Mother Earth and a spirituality that comes from an understanding of the earth’s natural resources that we are doing so little to sustain.
Monday, the 31st of August to Tuesday, the 1st of August
Although I was not on The Mountain during this time, the following is presented from descriptions given me by participants who were there on these days.
Monday was a day to say “good bye” to folks who were heading to the airport to fly back to their homes or to start the long drive back. It was also a day for those who remained behind to start the process of breaking down the facilities and cleaning up the grounds.
No one was in a rush to start the work, as the ceremonial atmosphere was still hanging around. Around midday folks reluctantly began the process. About this time clouds began to come in from the West and around late afternoon a line of thunderstorms arrived with pockets of heavy rain and strong winds. Everyone dashed to their tents and teepees to escape the weather as lightening filled the skies and thunder crashed.
As the weather finally passed, the gathering was greeted with wonderful rainbows, especially to the east. One of the rainbows was very special as it represented Catie’s Hawaiian name, which was given to her on Sunday. The Hawaiian name given was “Kahili Kū Kā Ko’o I Ka Lani”. This translates as “The Rainbow that Supports the Heavens, or figuratively the Chief. Given Catie’s role in organizing the Sundance, as well as all of her responsibilities as the Executive Director of the World Council of Elders, the presence of so many rainbows was a confirmation that all went well. Just as the appearance of the Golden Eagles was earlier a re-affirmation of the presence of the Spirits of the land, the rainbows were confirmation that the Spirits enjoyed the Sundance.
Dinner that evening was a great event as all rehashed the events of the last five days. A good night’s sleep was enjoyed by all.
At dawn Tuesday the camp was greeted with more rainbows, especially a double rainbow that was almost directly above the Ceremony site. The South end of the inner rainbow ended at a hill just about 1,000 yards Southwest of the site and everyone still in attendance agreed that it represented the “pot of gold” of the harmony of the Sundance.
(E) The Future
International Sundance 2009 is the third to have been held under the direction of The World Council of Elders. The first was in Montana in August 2007. The second was held on the Big Island of Hawaii during the month of November 2008.
International Sundance 2010 is scheduled to be held in South Australia in November 2010. It will then return to at the Happy Heart Ranch in Montana in August 2011. The event in 2012 will be held in Guatemala. The Sundance is scheduled to then return to Montana in 2013 and thereafter be held at varying venues in Africa, Asia and Europe.
I intend on participating in each of the events as a part of my commitment to becoming a more spiritual person. I know I will never be able to withstand the rigors of being a Sundancer, due simply to age and knees that don’t work very well. But I will do what I can to help the concept of the World Council of Elders and those who have committed themselves to spiritual growth and understanding such that comes from participating in a Sundance.
Our son Mitch has indicated to me that he feels that by August of 2011 he will be spiritually and physically able be a Sundancer. Thus, I intend to attend as his supporter during that year at the Happy Heart Ranch site. Having a member of the family participate in the Ceremony will heighten my knowledge of the ceremony and make for a very personal experience.
I welcome our friends to contact any of us to discuss participating in the activities of the Council and in attending one or more of the forthcoming ceremonies. I hope to see a whole lot of people in Australia in November of 2010.
Finally, I hope there is a ground swell in support of the World Council of Elders so they can assist the peoples of world in realizing that our future is dependent on a return to the respect and love that has existed by indigenous peoples toward Mother Earth and the gifts that she has provided to all of us.
(F) Contact Information for the World Council of Elders
For further information on The World Council of Elders, I recommend making contact with the organization’s website which is www.worldcouncilofelders.org or emailing Catie Johnson on catie.wcoe@gmail.com or Woody Vaspra on wvaspra@gmail.com. The organization’s mailing address is P.O. Box 7915, Boulder, CO USA 80306. The WCOE also makes available to subscribers its eNewsletter, the Drumbeat.
(G) Contact Information for Randall (Randy) Upton
Cell Phone: (262) 348-8218
E-Mail: Randall.Upton@gmail.com
Sunday, August 9, 2009
"10+" ReFirement and an International Sundance
It has been a long time since I wrote my first post. I am, in fact, intending to expand on ideas which I will cover in my Blog from what I originally intended. I have decided to expand the topics to include those involved in what I refer to as "10+". This phrase refers to the planning and undertakings that I will follow as I live (hopefully) the years between 2009 and 2019, being my ages of 65 and 75. What could be more oriented toward ultimate sustainability, which I raised in the context of economic progress in my original post, than this topic.
A number of years ago I learned of the phrase "Refirement" which describes a process by which those who are looking at retirement as a classic lifestyle choice will instead seek to discover passions or interests that can re-fire an interest in living and methods of living. I point out that the term "ReFirement" is copyrighted by The ReFirement Group. I first heard of the concept from Erica Whittlinger, who is the Managing Director of the Group, during our discussions on a variety of topics at the Beloit College Cluster Reunion for the classes of '68, '69 and '70 in October of 2004. Those who are interested in this topic should access The ReFirement Group Website to learn more about the concept and ways in which people can participate in strategy sessions to find direction.
In essence, and quoting from copyrighted materials, ReFirement is a "...new and positive vision of basing your life and work choices on your core values, your passions, a commitment to lifelong learning, an intentional commitment to all generations, and a willingness to use your legacy as a starting point for deciding how you want to live today."
These thoughts have taken on new significance for me because of the fact that 6 weeks ago - at the age of 64 - I lost my job at UW-Whitewater that I thought I would stay at for the next 7 or so years. The administration reorganized the development functions at the University, eliminated three positions - including mine as the Director of Advancement at the College of Education - and advised me that I was part of the first wave of reductions required to balance the anticipated $5.6 million two-year deficit.
So, what does this mean for me? Well, it means that I am chartering a new course of personal action for the next 10 years. Hopefully my life experiences to date will have prepared me for the changes that will be required. And part of this action will be to participate in the International Sundance 2009 in Montana that is being run by the World Council of Elders, a not-for-profit organization of which Woody Vaspra, Beloit College Class of '67 and my roommate on football trips way back then, is the President and Elder Liaison. The Sundance is very much about sustainability, respecting Mother Earth and finding a person's place in the world. How appropriate for me this August. It certainly does not represent a well worn path to take.
I decided several years ago, when Woody was back at Beloit College celebrating the 40th Reunion of the class of 1967, that I would enjoy participating in a Sundance. The first International Sundance was held in Montana in August of 2007. The second was held in Hawaii in the autumn of 2008. My interest in participating in this year's International Sundance 2009 - the 3rd - has been heightened by the fact that our youngest son Mitch is enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman, he intends on becoming a permanent resident of Montana which means I see Montana in my future, and the fact that I see my participation in the International Sundance as a part of the planning for the my next 10 years.
Future International Sundances are scheduled to be held in South Australia in 2010, Montana in 2011 and Guatemala in 2012.
I will be adding a post to my blog in the future that will describe what was involved in camping for 12 nights on a 3,000 buffalo ranch on the Crow Reservation south of Billings, Montana at the end of August. I will keep a daily log and, following my return to Wisconsin, describe the event in detail, and share it with friends and colleagues.
R.
A number of years ago I learned of the phrase "Refirement" which describes a process by which those who are looking at retirement as a classic lifestyle choice will instead seek to discover passions or interests that can re-fire an interest in living and methods of living. I point out that the term "ReFirement" is copyrighted by The ReFirement Group. I first heard of the concept from Erica Whittlinger, who is the Managing Director of the Group, during our discussions on a variety of topics at the Beloit College Cluster Reunion for the classes of '68, '69 and '70 in October of 2004. Those who are interested in this topic should access The ReFirement Group Website to learn more about the concept and ways in which people can participate in strategy sessions to find direction.
In essence, and quoting from copyrighted materials, ReFirement is a "...new and positive vision of basing your life and work choices on your core values, your passions, a commitment to lifelong learning, an intentional commitment to all generations, and a willingness to use your legacy as a starting point for deciding how you want to live today."
These thoughts have taken on new significance for me because of the fact that 6 weeks ago - at the age of 64 - I lost my job at UW-Whitewater that I thought I would stay at for the next 7 or so years. The administration reorganized the development functions at the University, eliminated three positions - including mine as the Director of Advancement at the College of Education - and advised me that I was part of the first wave of reductions required to balance the anticipated $5.6 million two-year deficit.
So, what does this mean for me? Well, it means that I am chartering a new course of personal action for the next 10 years. Hopefully my life experiences to date will have prepared me for the changes that will be required. And part of this action will be to participate in the International Sundance 2009 in Montana that is being run by the World Council of Elders, a not-for-profit organization of which Woody Vaspra, Beloit College Class of '67 and my roommate on football trips way back then, is the President and Elder Liaison. The Sundance is very much about sustainability, respecting Mother Earth and finding a person's place in the world. How appropriate for me this August. It certainly does not represent a well worn path to take.
I decided several years ago, when Woody was back at Beloit College celebrating the 40th Reunion of the class of 1967, that I would enjoy participating in a Sundance. The first International Sundance was held in Montana in August of 2007. The second was held in Hawaii in the autumn of 2008. My interest in participating in this year's International Sundance 2009 - the 3rd - has been heightened by the fact that our youngest son Mitch is enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman, he intends on becoming a permanent resident of Montana which means I see Montana in my future, and the fact that I see my participation in the International Sundance as a part of the planning for the my next 10 years.
Future International Sundances are scheduled to be held in South Australia in 2010, Montana in 2011 and Guatemala in 2012.
I will be adding a post to my blog in the future that will describe what was involved in camping for 12 nights on a 3,000 buffalo ranch on the Crow Reservation south of Billings, Montana at the end of August. I will keep a daily log and, following my return to Wisconsin, describe the event in detail, and share it with friends and colleagues.
R.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Capitalism
Capitalism, with its foundations in individual rights and liberties, freedom of choice, and the rule of law, stands alone as the only feasible way to rationally organize a modern economy. But classic capitalism has a central failing - its demand for sustained growth instead of for sustainability. The role for capitalism in the future should be to continue to facilitate the development of reasonable profits while reducing consumption and focusing on issues such as protecting the environment, re-establishing mankind's relationship with Mother Earth, healing the pain of the less fortunate among us, developing personal relationships and expanding the cerebral aspect of life in general and education in particular.
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