Update from the land July 6, 2015:
Amazing, amazing gathering. So many seeds of alliance
planted with the Lakota. We had everyone from members of the treaty council and
regular tribal councils (Pine Ridge and Rosebud) to Grassroots AIM, traditional
grandmothers, and many others coming through and blessing our gathering. Many
of these even brought their children and camped with us. Traditional Lakota
prayer (in Lakota) happened before a number of the dinner circles ( from both
a traditional grandmother and a young granddaughter), workshops on Lakota
opposition to the Keystone Pipeline, creating a strong alliance between Rainbow
and the Lakota nation, and what we can do to help free Leonard Peltier happened
regularly. One of the grandmothers also told creation stories a couple of
different nights after dinner circle—all reports said it was amazing.
After the gathering a number of us are going out to an
elder’s place to help out with his garden and school. After that two whole
busloads of folks (Luv’n Ovens and Shining Light) are going out to help another
Necha with getting his grounds ready for a Sundance (building the arbor, a mud oven,
etc.). We might also help a third elder at Wounded Knee after that. We’re also
trying to coordinate a time when various practitioners from CALM can offer
their services on Pine Ridge as well (the logistics for this are still in the
works).
There are a number of other long-term plans in the works,
all involving strengthening the alliance we’ve now just created and seeing how
we can move forward and do amazing things together.
The gathering was small, but far more reverential and
respectful than any national I’ve ever seen. In fact, it was far more like a
World Gathering than a typical U.S. national. When push comes to shove, even
the Projects and Hobo Alley will pull together with the rest of us (and some of
them even picked up trash with us on Pine Ridge before the gathering). The 4th
was amazing—everyone was SO respectful and the silence was broken at just the
perfect moment.
This gathering wouldn’t have happened without the key
focalizing of the scouts, XXX, XXXX, our young Tocala
brothers (Lakota), XXX (Lakota/Northern Cheyenne), and the help of many
others. XXX from XXXX is making a documentary about how this
gathering came about, complete with interviews, audio of Spring Council, and
videos of key elders, members of AIM, the Treaty Council blessing us, etc. (all
filmed/recorded with permission). Those of you who are Rainbow and chose not to
believe in this Gathering—well, you missed out on an amazing thing. Those of
you who told others to boycott and/or spewed negative energy all over the
net—not only were you completely wrong, you merely served to make this a
smaller, more intimate gathering devoid of folks who do that very same thing.
Those of you who believed with all your hearts this was disrespectful to the Lakota
people—perhaps you should talk to REAL Lakota people out here, instead of
believing the internet claims of XXXX or XXXX and their very
organized and concerted campaign to make this gathering not happen. (And for
those of you who know those of us who were here during spring council, if you
can’t trust news from solid Rainbows here on the land, who can you trust?) And
for those of you believing XXX (XXX) XXX’s claims that this was going
to be another “Wounded Knee,” you were grievously manipulated. Not only did he
have no following, but the opposite happened—welcome was given from many, many
different sections of Lakota society, alliances were built, and both the
Rainbow and the Lakota have much to look forward to.
On top of all that, it was an AMAZING Gathering, full of
love, respect, joy, celebration, and new connections all around. The site was
extraordinarily beautiful, the weather quite mild (except for crazy hail during
seed camp), and beauty abounds
A beautiful report, Karin.
ReplyDeleteThe silence in Utah was much better, but SD was one of the better ones I've seen.
ReplyDeleteIn Utah the silence was held for full minutes past the time of the children's arrival and their complete circling of the peace alter at the center of the circle. The inner circle of participants was acknowledged as folkalizing the Ohm, and was not rushed. The Ohm lasted until the inner circle raised their hands in the air, and even then the outer circle sensed the pulse of the Ohm and politely, and emphatically cooperated in a crescendo.
Picture the childrens parade joining fully in the Ohm for 3 minutes.
SD's circle was really nice though. And the rest of the gathering was very unique and special. It was definitely a 'be there or be square' gathering.
rastapatch