41st Annual Native American
Elders and Youth Gathering

July 25th – 27th, 2025

Peace Village Arbor Program Schedule

All times are EDT, Local time at the Sunray Peace Village, Lincoln, VT

(Schedule Subject to Change)

FRIDAY, JULY 25th, PROGRAM

7:00 am – 8:00 am: Opening Session
Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Opening at the Sacred Central Fires in the Arbor, starting with the Stick Dance (6:45 am) to clear the space

Lighting of the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor – prayers and remarks offered by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, Ani Yun Wiwa, Sunray Spiritual Director; Elders and Sunray Ministers

8:00 am – 10:00 am: Breakfast Break

10:00 am – 10:30 am: Preparing for the Day
Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Carrying in the Flags – Britton Family, Sunray Ministers

Sunray’s Morning Practices in the Arbor – TBA

10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Morning Session
Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo and Reverend Meli open Hybrid/Zoom Elders and Youth Gathering; why the theme; why Youth; why we’re together; welcomes all; welcomes Elder and Youth Presenters for the weekend

Reverend Meli, Review of the Elders and Youth Gathering Program

Grandfather Mike Bastine, Algonquin, Prophecy and these times
Grandmother Hears Crow
Music and Movement Breaks

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch Break

Reverend Meli announces Lunch Activities

Elder Larry McDermott, Algonquin (presentation on Zoom, 1:00-1:45pm)

2: 00 pm – 4:00 pm: Afternoon Session

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Grandmother Tatjana Cady, Abenaki, Elders who have inspired you and what are we leaving for the future generations

Reverend Nando Ausin, Our Light meets The Light

Susan Manewich, Solar Influences, Evolutionary Adaptive Abilities and our Greater Reconnection

Music and Movement Break – friendship dance

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Late Afternoon Session

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Villag

Mestre Boneco, Philosophy, music and movement

Zacciah Blackburn, Embodying our Luminous Being

Sunray Ministers Testing and Closing of the day

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner Break

FRIDAY, JULY 25, FRIDAY EVENING CONCERT

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm: Shining Light Concert

Location: Sunray Peace Village

A Transformative Free Concert featuring:

Unole East, Powwow drumming with Rev. Meli, Cody Britton and friends

The Lipkin Flanagan Group, playing Folk and Bluegrass

Sound Healing with Brian Russo and Calleigh Feldman

Click Here to view the concert flyer

SATURDAY, JULY 26th, PROGRAM

7:00 am – 8:00 am: Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Opening at the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor with Elders & Sunray Ministers

Sunray’s Morning Practices in the Arbor

8:00 am – 10:00 am: Breakfast Break

Reverend Eileen announces breakfast activities

Grandmother Tatjana Cady, “Moon Circle Teachings for Women & Girls, Teachings in the Moon Circle” (on-site only for women and girls, 8-9:30 am)

Dance of Directions

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Morning Session
Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Reverend Meli opens Hybrid/Zoom Elders and Youth Gathering day; reviews the theme; welcomes all; shares highlights from Friday

Reverend Co’Relous Bryant, You Are the Light of the World

Calpulli Tletl Papalotzin, Aztec Dancers

Dr Rudy Schild, The Voyager spacecraft and the close relationship of consciousness to light

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch Break

Reverend Meli announces Lunch Activities

Sky Road Webb, “Chewapammi Wuki – Brighten the Fire” (on Zoom, 12:30-1:10pm)

Reverend Sandy Sheridan and Carolyn DiCarlo, Sunray at the United Nations (on Zoom 1:10-1:45pm)

2:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Afternoon Session

Listen to Audio Presentation in the Arbor
(Viewing areas are available at the Peace Village)

Reverend Amtul Hannan, Light Illuminates Our Heart/Mind for Understanding Relationships with All Our Relations

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Elisi Joani Henry, Working with your luminous body

Grandfather Mike Bastine, Algonquin

Music and Movement Break

Dr. Orest Pelechaty, Planetary Alchemy: Practical Spiritual Ecology

Reverend Meli Kitchens, “Preparing for the Ywahoo Lineage Healing Ceremony and Closing of the day”

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Dinner Break & Preparation for Ywahoo Healing Celebration

Sunlight Belonging Circle, (4:30– 6:00 pm in the special events tent)

SATURDAY, JULY 26th, YWAHOO LINEAGE HEALING CELEBRATION

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm : Ywahoo Lineage Healing Celebration, with Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, Reverend Meli, Sunray Healing Gadugi, Dance, Singing, Music, Caretaking & Firekeeping Gadugis

SUNDAY, JULY 27th, PROGRAM

7:00 am – 8:15 am: Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Opening at the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor with with Elders and Sunray Ministers

Celebration of the Green Corn New Moon Fires

8:15 am – 10:15 am: Breakfast Session

Reverend Eileen announces breakfast activities

Grandmother Tatjana Cady, “Moon Circle Teachings for Women & Girls, Teachings in the Moon Circle” (on-site only for women and girls)

10:15 am – 11:30 am Morning Session
Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

Reverend Meli, sharing Agenda for Day and some Elders and Youth Gathering Highlights
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo
Panel of Elders with Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, Elders Dialogue on the theme, Light is consciousness

Music & Movement Break with Mestre Boneco, Capoeira

11:30 am – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break

Reverend Meli announces Lunch Activities

Abuela Maria Theresa (Grandmother Elena Ixcot), (on Zoom, 12:45-1:15pm)

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm Afternoon Session

Listen to Audio Presentations in the Arbor
(Viewing areas are available at the Peace Village)

Lei’ohu Ryder and Maydeen Iao, Hawaiian, Kukuipuka, Doorway to the light

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

“Sharing from the Heart and Arts of our Youth”

Reverend Meli and Sunray Ministers, “Family of Life Ceremonies: Coming of Age, Honoring those who’ve passed”

Closing of 41^st Elders and Youth Gathering

MONDAY, JULY 28th, P0ST-ELDERS AND YOUTH GATHERING WORKSHOPS ON ZOOM AND AT THE SUNRAY PEACE VILLAGE

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Registration is required for Workshops. Click Here for more details and registration.

Yulia Klimento, Ecosystem Immersion & the Interconnectedness of All Beings (9:00 am – 10:30 am EDT, in the Community Tent and on Zoom)

Grandfather Mike Bastine, Bridging Ancient Teachings and Modern Life in Service to Mother Earth (10:30 am – 12:30 pm EDT, in the Temple and on Zoom)