41st Annual Native American
Elders and Youth Gathering

July 25th – 27th, 2025

Online 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: 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 Session

  • Grandmother Tatjana Cady, Abenaki, “Moon Circle Teachings for Women and Girls” (teachings on Zoom Only, for women and girls 8:30-9:45 am)

10:00 am – 10:30 am: Preparing for the Day

  • Carrying in the Flags – Britton Family, Sunray Ministers
  • Sunray’s Morning Practices in the Arbor – TBA

10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Morning Session

  • 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 Session

  • Elder Larry McDermott, Algonquin

2: 00 pm – 4:00 pm: Afternoon session

  • 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

  • Mestre Boneco, Philosophy, music and movement
  • Zacciah Blackburn, Embodying our Luminous Being
  • Sunray Ministers Testing and Closing of the day

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 Session

  • Dance of Directions

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Morning Session

  • 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 Session

  • Sky Road Webb, “Chewapammi Wuki – Brighten the Fire”
  • Reverend Sandy Sheridan and Carolyn DiCarlo, Sunray at the United Nations

2:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Afternoon Session

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

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

Join on the Healing Celebration Zoom Link. Registration is not required for this session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86936032453?pwd=MHd1WGNpdE4zUlBsdmJWSE1RWWJEZz09

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

8:15 am – 10:15 am: Breakfast Break

10:15 am – 11:30 pm Morning Session

  • 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 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch Break

  • Abuela Maria Theresa (Grandmother Elena Ixcot)

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm Afternoon Session

  • Lei’ohu Ryder and Maydeen Iao, Hawaiian, Kukuipuka, Doorway to the light
  • “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 41st Elders and Youth Gathering

MONDAY, JULY 28th, P0ST-ELDERS 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)
  • Sandra Polacheck (Lightheart Woman), Sacred Cooking (11:30 am – 1:00 pm EDT, in the Kitchen, no Zoom)
  • Grandmother Hears Crow, Weaving the Living Tapestry (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT, pre-recorded and Shown in the Temple and on Zoom)