39th Annual Native American
Elders and Youth Gathering

July 28th – 30th, 2023

Online Program Schedule

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

(Schedule Subject to Change)

FRIDAY, JULY 28th, 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 to clear the space
  • Lighting of the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor – prayers and remarks offered by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, Cherokee, Sunray Spiritual Director; Grandfather Mike Bastine, Algonquin; Tehoronio Joey David, Mohawk; Nana Wilma, Mayan; and Tatjana Cady, Abenaki.

8:00 am – 9:30 am: Breakfast Session

  • Tatjana Cady, Abenaki, Moon Circle Teachings for Women and Girls (teachings on Zoom Only, for women and girls)

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Preparing for the Day

  • Carrying in the Flags with Britton Family
  • Sunray’s Morning Practices in the Arbor with Madeleine Piat-Landolt, Sunray Dance Mistress

10:00 am – 11:45 am: 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.
  • Review of the Elders and Youth Gathering Program with Reverend Meli
  • Grandfather Mike Bastine, Algonquin Elder, “The importance of teachings from the ancestors for the future, for the times we are experiencing.”
  • Rev. Chonyi Richard Allen & Lucie LeBlanc, “One with the Great Mystery – Experiential subtle sound immersion”.
    We gather around the sacred fire & call upon breath/awareness, and subtle binaural frequencies of the Peruvian Whistling Vessels.

11:45 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Session

  • Movement activity – to be announced
  • Sandra Sheridan & Carolyn DiCarlo, “Sunray Meditation Society NGO at the United Nations”

1: 00 pm – 2:50 pm: Afternoon session

  • Tashi Sky Burke-Tomaeno, “Heart Beats of Mother Earth Calling All to Listen”
  • Tehoronio Joey David, Mohawk, “The wheel of Life & Tree of Peace: awakening freedom, liberation & rebirth”
  • Nana Wilma, Mayan Spiritual Guide, “WIsdom Teachings & Sacred Sound from the Mayan People”
  • Reverend Meli Kitchens, “Music Break”

2: 50 pm – 6:00 pm: Late Afternoon session

  • Lei’ohu Ryder & Maydeen Iao, Hawaiian, “Power of Our Thoughts & Words”
  • Chief Lee Plenty Wolf, Lakota Spiritual Leader, “Seven Lakota Life Values: guides to walking the spiritual path (The Red Road)”
  • Rajnii Eddins and daughter, “Spoken Word”
  • Reverend Meli Kitchens, “Celebration, music, poetry, sacred dance”
  • Closing of the day with Reverend Meli

SATURDAY, JULY 29th, PROGRAM

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

  • Opening at the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor with Grandfather Mike Bastine, Nana Wilma and Sunray Minister
  • Sunray’s Morning Practices in the Arbor

8:00 am – 10:00 am: Breakfast Session

  • Sunray’s meditation morning practices, Preparing for the Day
  • Tai Chi Practices

10:00 am – 12:15 pm Morning Session

  • Rev. Meli opens Hybrid/Zoom Elders Gathering day; reviews the theme; welcomes all; shares highlights from Friday
  • Dr. Rudy Schild, “Sounds of Space;  Waves of Time”
  • Gayle Young & Reinhard Reitzenstein, “Music & Sharing”
  • Elder Larry McDermott, Algonquin, “What Are We Being Called to Do & Be in These Times?”
  • Jonel Beauvais, “Music”

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Session

  • Tai Chi & Stretching

1: 00 pm – 4:00 pm: Afternoon session

  • Brian Russo, “Sound of the Heart Crystal Bowl Concert”
  • Reverend Meli Kitchens, “Music is Medicine”
  • Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Yankton Dakota & Chickasaw, “Peacebuilding & realizing the reunion of the Condor, Quetzal & Eagle”
  • Bear Fox, “Music”
  • Chief Lee Plenty Wolf, “Healing Through Prayer & Celebration”
  • Reverend Meli Kitchens, “Preparing for the Ywahoo Lineage Healing Ceremony and Closing of the day”

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Dinner Break & Preparation for Ywahoo Healing Celebration

SATURDAY, JULY 29, YWAHOO LINEAGE HEALING CELEBRATION

Live from the Arbor at Sunray Peace Village

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm : Ywahoo Lineage Healing Celebration, with Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, Reverend Meli, Sunray Healing Gadugi, Dance, Singing & Fire 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 30th, PROGRAM

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

  • Opening at the Sacred Central Fires in Arbor with Tehoronio Joey David and Sunray Ministers

8:00 am – 10:00 am: Breakfast Session

  • Films – to be announced

10:00 am – 10:15 pm Preparing for the Day

  • Reverend Meli, Sharing Agenda for Day and Some Elders and Youth Gathering Highlights

10:15 am – 12:00 pm Morning Session

  • Reverend Amtul, “Peaceful Warriors of the Rainbow”
    The Heart of the Earth sends out a call for people of all races and all spiritual practices to rise as peaceful warriors of the rainbow to save the Earth and All Our Relations.
  • Grandmother Hears Crow, “Family of Life Ceremonies: Creating Positive Vibrational Waves Through Time”
  • Sky Road Webb, “Preserving Language and Culture through Native Prayer Song”

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Session

  • Abuela Maria Theresa, Mayan, “Topic TBA” (12:00pm)

1:00 pm – 5:00 Afternoon Session

  • Aztec Dancers
  • Brian Russo, “Healing Harmonics Crystal Bowl Concert”
  • Reverend Meli invites Elders to speak and opens mic for audience to share thoughts, “Sharing of Messages to/for Our Multigenerational Communities”
  • Reverend Meli and Sunray Ministers, “Family of Life Ceremonies: Minister testing, Coming of Age, Honoring those who’ve passed”
  • Closing of 39th Elders and Youth Gathering with Reverend Meli and Elders

MONDAY, JULY 31st, P0ST-ELDERS GATHERING WORKSHOPS ON ZOOM AND AT THE SUNRAY PEACE VILLAGE

9:00 am – 4:30 pm

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

  • Dr. Orest Pelechaty: An Introduction to the Biodynamic Spiritual Science of Earth Healing, 9:00-11:00am EDT at the Sunray Peace Village and On Zoom
  • Jose Rodriguez and Yulia Klimento: Seeding the Future ~ a Sound Healing Experience, 11:30am-1:00pm EDT at the Sunray Peace Village and On Zoom
  • Grandfather Mike Bastine: Continuing to Learn from the Changes on Mother Earth for Best Actions Going Forward, 1:15pm-2:15pm EDT at the Sunray Peace Village and On Zoom
  • Grandmother Hears Crow: Welcoming the Other, 2:30-4:30pm EDT Online and Onsite at the Sunray Peace via Zoom