35th Annual Native American Elders Gathering
July 26-28, 2019
REGISTER HERE
* Children 12 and under are welcome to attend by donation
This Year’s Theme: We Can All Trace Our Roots the Stars
In her Grandmother Insights, Patricia Downing DeAsis shares that there is a prophecy among American Indian Tribes that the day would come when we were to share our spirituality with all people. For 35 years the Sunray Meditation Society been fulfilling that prophecy through the Elders Gathering. The teachings shared at the Elders Gathering are available for all without dogma, exclusion, and teachings are done with love and compassion. Therefore, we can see that we are all important to weave the fabric of peace for all peoples and the planet.
This year, it is time we open the conversation and acknowledge that our dance upon the Mother Earth is an extraordinary exploration that began in outer space. It’s not the ‘woo woo’ drama of alien beings. This year the elders and presenters will speak about the elements through which all forms arise and how they began in outer space. Deep inner peace is understood when we recognize ourselves as multi-universal beings. We have relationships with multiverses. To think that what is done on Mother Earth is just an Earth impact is just an illusion. Whatever occurs resonates through the field and touches everyone in an instant. In an instant we can decide to be loving, compassionate beings. In an instant we can recall the power of our minds to manifest peace.
The Weekend Program
The Sacred Fires in the Arbor & Moon Arbor are lit in the Arbor & Moon Arbor at 7AM on Friday July 26 and are closed on Sunday at 5 PM. Read below for more details on the Fire vigil.
Teachings in the Arbor are from 10AM to 1PM & 3 PM to 5 PM on Friday, July 26 Saturday July 27 & Sunday July 28
The Ywahoo Lineage Healing Celebration led by Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo and singers, dancers, drummers & healers in the Sunray Meditation Society is offered on Saturday, July 27 at 7PM
Presenters
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo, is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Sunray Meditation Society. She is the 27th generation lineage holder of the ancestral Ywahoo lineage in the Tsalagi / Cherokee tradition. She is unique as a teacher, carrying three intact streams of ancient spiritual wisdom. She is the Chief of the Green Mountain Band of the Ani Yun Wi Wa. She has co-authored several books, and Voices of Our Ancestors, Learning Cherokee ways: The Ywahoo Path, and 108 Quotations: A Treasury of Mystical Wisdom.
Grandfather Clifford Mahooty is a member of the Sun Clan within the Zuni Pueblo Nation of New Mexico. He is active in the sacred Zuni Orders of the Kachina and Galaxy Medicine Society, and he is a wisdom keeper of the Zuni History.
Grandfather Mahooty has shared extensively the teachings of the Star people in lectures and retreats, and many of his talks can be found on media channels such as Gaia.com and YouTube.
He is a retired civil environmental engineer, having worked specifically on environmental justice for Native American tribes and with federal EPA enforcement in environmental compliance.
Elder Sir David Lonebear Sanipass is a sagen, a seer and translator of spirit in service to community. He is a storyteller from the Mi’kmaq Nation. He is a mathematician, scientist, traditional storyteller, and master flute maker. He spent the first 26 years of his life being taught by over 600 elders from around the world. David was taught by his elders to translate the ancient copper scrolls which he is translating into teachings for the communities as well as ancient technologies which he is building for community. His lineage and history are more than 20,000 years old. As a scientist, he has sent balloons into space that collect data from the atmosphere. As a spiritual teacher, he has shared his teachings to thousands of people and has stood beside many of our great spiritual leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Rudy Schild, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of FREE: Foundation for Research into Extraterrestrial Encounters. He is an Professor Emeritus research astrophysicist at the Harvard/Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, following an extensive career studying dark matter, black holes, and the fluid machenaical origins of cosmic structure. He has become deeply interested in the formulation of a coherent understanding of the nature of space-time in the Universe. As an editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cosmology, he is seeking to broaden the scope of scientific inquiry to include the nature of consciousness and the Universe. He is a co-author of the book, Beyond UFOs: The Science of Consciousness & Contact with Non-Human Intelligence.
Venerable Lama Konchok Sonam is the Spiritual Director of the Drikung Meditation Center (DMC) in Arlington, MA. Born in Lhasa, Tibet, Lama Sonam is expert in both the theoretical and practical aspects of training the mind through meditation and Vajrayana methods for awakening our Buddha Nature.
Grandfather Michael Bastine is a member of the Algonquin Nation, and he is a healer, elder, and former student of famous Tuscarora medicine man Wallace “Mad Bear” Anderson and Tuscarora healer Ted Williams. He lives in South Wales, New York. He is the co-author of the book, Iroquois and Supernatural: Talking Animals and Medicine People.
Tatjiana Cady, Abenaki women’s Wisdom Keeper
Doug Harris is a Native American tribal historic preservationist and is a member of the Narrangansett Nation. For the past 16 years, he has been tribally-certified to seek and preserve indigenous ceremonial and sacred stone landscapes in his position as the Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Narrangansett Indian Preservation Office. He travels and lectures extensively in the northeast USA in seeking to identify ceremonial stone structures for earmarking as historic ceremonial landmarks.
John Carlton-Foss, S.M., Ph.D., is president & chief executive officer of Strategic Energy Systems Incorporated, and a member of Everwalk, Inc. He is a psychologist-engineer who co-founded the Alternative Technology Study Group at MIT, and he was founder and CEO of Human-Technical Systems Inc., which provided expertise in the areas of human factors, energy engineering, architectural engineering, and implementation of computer systems in organizations. He was one of the key figures in the early developments that led to environmental standards, LEED, for creating healthy, productive and life-forcing enhancing buildings and architectural structures.
Bear Fox is a songwriter and singer of the Mohawk nation. On her website she greets visitors in her native language by saying: “Shekon Sewakwekon, Kenkiohkoktha ionkia’ts wakathahionni, Akwesasne nikiteron”, (hello everyone, my name is Kenkiohkoktha, this name means I am standing at the back of a crowd of people, or at the end of a long line. I was named after my Grandmother. I live in Akwesasne.) www.bearfoxmusic.com
At the age of 29, she realized that she had a gift for songwriting. She first began writing songs in Mohawk for the Traditional Women’s singing group called, ‘Kontiwennenhawi’, (Carriers of the Words). In 2001, she began writing songs in English as well, and her first song was entitled, ‘Broken.’ She now shares her music widely in many forms and to many people.
Reverend Meli (aka Mary Kitchens), through her father, is part of the Western Cherokee diaspora that journeyed to California during the dust bowl of the 1930’s. She teaches high school and is the drumkeeper for Unole, a drum group that has been nominated for a Native American Music Award. She is a Sunray minister in the Ywahoo tradition.
Where to Stay
The Sunray Peace Village has campsites and there are also many B & Bs nearby. Click here for more information.
Children’s Programming
Children hold a place of honor. They represent our future and the future of all our relations for the next seven generations. We do our best to create a safe and loving environment where children can grow, learn, and be happy. During the annual Elder’s Gathering a tent is set up on the land specifically for the Children’s program. Family members and parents are to supervise their children’s activities while on the land and know where they are at all times. Some programs offer activities for school- age children during workshop sessions. Check with registration for the availability of children’s programs.
Children are welcome to sit and listen with their relatives in the Arbor. By inviting our children into ceremonies and teachings we give them the opportunity to learn about the ceremonies and ceremonial etiquette over a lifetime through the example set by their relatives and the rest of the community. Therefore, it is important for all to remember that the children are always watching us. Relatives and close family friends are encouraged to speak quietly to their children to help them understand what is being shared or help direct their energy to appropriate activities.
Meals
Meal service is offered by Chef Magali Red Sky and his team at Spirit Bear Catering.
Teachings in the Sacred Arbor
After smudging, walk through the Eastern Gate and take a few steps into the Arbor. All people who enter the Arbor, even if it is your first experience in a Native American Ceremonial space, are asked to acknowledge each Direction before taking your seat. Acknowledging each Direction can look many ways. One may make a small bow or stand with open palms or make a short prayer. Beginning in the East, you walk clockwise around the Arbor stopping and acknowledging Southern, Western, and Northern Gates before finding a a place to sit under the shelter of the cedar boughs. It is good to bring your own chair and dress for both sun and rain.
Sacred Moon Arbor
Women on their Moontime, menstruating, have a place of honor in the Moon Arbor. Their sensitivity to the energies of the earth and sky are enhanced and their sight is more keen; keen enough to see between worlds and converse with the many energy beings that are usually invisible to sight. For this reason, women on their Moontime sit together in the Moon Arbor where they act as Watchful Mamas over the ceremony, sharing their perceptions with the Grandmothers.
In the Moon Arbor, after the Sacred Fire in the Ceremonial Arbor is lit, a Grandmother of the Ywahoo lineage calls upon the Firekeeper of the lineage to build and light the sacred fire. She tends the fire day and night, regardless of weather and the activities around her. She watches over the Watchful Mamas, answers their questions, making sure they are receiving care from the community and listening as they share their perceptions about what is happening in and around the Ceremonial Arbor.
Sacred Fire
The Ceremonial Fire represents the one light which all beings have arisen. Fire Keepers from the Sunray Meditation Society ensure that it is fed properly and stays burning. They sit to the north of the Fire day and night in any weather regardless of the activities of the around them. As they watch over the Fire, they meditate and pray, often receiving visions of what is needed by the people or the land. Please support them in their vigil with your smiles, love, prayer, and respect. Do your best to avoid interrupting their vigil in any way.
Offerings to the Sacred Fires
You may be invited to stand at the entrance to the Fire and make Offerings of cornmeal and sacred herbs. To do this you can take a small handful of cornmeal from the offering bowl, a large handful is not necessary. Silently prepare to make your Offering, asking the cornmeal and herbs to carry your prayers to the Sacred Fire. When you step up to the entrance speak your prayer.
Photography
Written permission of the Trustees and or Elders is for all video recording, tape-recording, and photography