For ten years, Tewa Women United (TWU) has been working on Environmental health in Northern New Mexico. They are members of the Tewa-speaking pueblos. TWU hosts this gathering to bring together people from around the world to explore the interconnection between humans and our mother earth, in search of creating a positive relationship. Over 300 people attend each year from many cultures throughout the USA and Internationally.
Each day began at 6am with prayers around the fire at the center of the sacred circle, followed by a sunrise ceremony. Starting the day honoring the Sun created a profound connection to the source of life and energy for our planet.
We were also encouraged to send up our personal prayers. The gentleman leaning over is picking up tobacco and cedar to throw into the fire, which was tended the entire weekend by a lovely young women. On the last day, I gathered up some ashes to take home, and will use them when I need to build a fire to send prayers.
After the morning ceremony, a group of runners assembled to honor the elders of San Ildefonso Pueblo, whose land is now the location of Los Alamos National Labs, home of the atom bomb. They ran from Los Alamos back to the event site.
Above: everyone welcoming runners back,
Left: the victorious runners.
Several members of my Indian family are pictured, including Myra and her mother Evelyn (the two ladies above in red and white tops next to the blanket), and dear Mariah, second from the left in the front row.
The Santa Clara Pueblo Buffalo Dancers came out after breakfast. This dance honors the days when the Plains Indians traded buffalo for pottery with the Pueblo Indians.
Singer: Bruce Tafoya
Dancers: Eric Tafoya
Katie Gutierrez
They can be contacted at:
505-753-1353.
The well-organized food tent was buzzing all the time, with three delicious meals prepared each day. There's nothing like a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and potatoes served on warm tortillas, under a crystal blue sky.
Plastic dishes were used, so there was lots of dish washing,,,chopping, cooking, serving. It was encouraging to see how people pitched in, with a smile, to make things happen.
By the way, there was no registration fee, and all the meals were free. Donations were accepted, but TWU sponsored the event. What a commitment!
The Arte Sin Fronteras Youth Dance group captivated eveyone with their colorful costumes and happy energy. Members were from Mexico and New Mexico.
Elders from distant places spoke with strength and wisdom. They came from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. There were also visitors from all over the country, and tribal members from North and South America. as well as people from around the world, including Canada, Latin America, South America, Japan and New Zealand.
Here is my roommate, Bev Doxtator from Ontario, Canada...a very wise woman. She is a member of Six Nations, and works with a successful program that teaches traditional ways to native children.
Bennie LeBeau, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Wind River Indian Reservation, Ft Washakie, Wyoming, lead many of the ceremonies.
This was a touching moment when a brave woman told him the importance of saving our seeds because they are being irreversibly altered by genetic modification. Bennie was visibly moved by the gravity of this message.
A view to the west...Black Mesa located on San Ildefonso Pueblo
I was part of the Gathering for Mother Earth last weekend, and had a wonderful experience. The theme was Honoring the Wisdom of Mother Earth & Sky, and the color was BLUE for Peace.
Although there was a sense of urgency for the healing of Mother Earth, the overwhelming message was "Have No Fear"....we can be part of the healing that is happening on an higher level. It is most important that we heal ourselves, remove damaging emotions, and cleanse our spirits. Then when we walk, each step we take will place peace and balance back into the Earth.
