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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2007
International
Sundance
August 29-September 2, 2007
Montana, USA
August 29-September 2, 2007
Montana, USA
The International
Sundance
will bring together peoples from the four directions in sacred ceremony
to honor the Great Spirit, our Mother Earth, all life and the wisdom of
the Elders. It will be a powerful time of prayer for individual
and community healing, peace, guidance, and to restore balance between
female and male energies. This gathering is unique because for the
first time ever Elders from around the globe will come together to add
their traditional ceremonies and teachings to the time-honored wisdom
and practices of the Traditional Sundance of the first peoples of North
America. In 2007, the first International Sundance will be held
on sacred ground in Montana. Then each year, the International Sundance
will travel to a different location around the world including Hawaii,
Australia, Central America, Africa, Asia & Europe. Each one-of-a-kind
gathering will honor the traditions, ceremonies and wisdom of the host
cultures as well as those of the Traditional Sundance and other international
participants.
The Traditional Sundance is a very sacred ceremony, and central to the culture of the first peoples of the Northern Plains. It has been conducted every summer for thousands of years to honor the Great Spirit and to pray for the well-being and protection of the people. The ceremony takes place outdoors on sacred land. A circular Arbor is constructed around a central Sundance Tree. Sundancers fast from food and water for four days while they pray and dance inside the Arbor around the Sundance Tree. They are accompanied by traditional drumming and singing. Supporters and helpers do not fast; however, they fully participate in the ceremony through prayer and service to the community. As one experiences the spirit of the Sundance, a feeling of cleansing & rebirth often occurs as a result of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges inherent in the Sundance ceremony. Everyone has the opportunity to take the life-changing teachings and unique experiences gained with them to practice and share with others in their lives.
Why Now? We're living at a time unique in all of Earth history. We sense the shift in energies. We observe extremes in polarity all around us, and we experience the accelerated pace of change. The wisdom-keepers of the Earth's indigenous traditions have faithfully carried prophecies for millennia telling of this special time of transition at the close of an era. This is a sacred time of choice. We are setting the energies for a new time. What do we want that to look like? What kind of future are we creating for our children?The Elders know that right now, like at no other time before, we have the opportunity to wake-up, open out hearts and minds, and understand the truth of our interconnectedness with all life. Time is of the essence. We must begin to consciously choose to heal and restore balance to ourselves and our relationships with our fellow humans and our precious Mother Earth. It is imperative that we act now to create a future of peace, harmony and healthy abundance. The International Sundance is a one-of-a-kind experience essential to reawakening humanity at this special time through reconnecting with Mother Earth and the timeless teachings of Elders from many cultures. As we are all related, the power of our collective healing prayers and loving intentions will reach across the globe to all members of our Earth family. Through this experience together, we will find the inspiration, guidance and clarity of will to co-create sustainable solutions to current world challenges, and a joyful future for generations yet to come.
Setting. The International Sundance 2007 is being held in Montana on beautiful, pristine land that is home to abundant wildlife including a growing herd of native buffalo and Mustang Paint horses. Also, there are several natural springs of exceedingly pure water on the grounds. In honor of this sacred place, every effort will be made to minimize the human impact on the land. For example, attendance at the International Sundance is by invitation only. We will pack in and pack out again all supplies and facilities required to conduct the ceremonies and to house and feed the participants. Also, only biodegradable and ecologically responsible materials will be used on site. Not only will participants experience the rare and seldom-shared traditional wisdom teachings provided, but they also will have the opportunity to learn, first-hand, skills necessary for living sustainably and in harmony with the natural environment.
How You Can Help. We're still gathering the necessary resources for the International Sundance including travel expenses for the international Elders and drum groups; ceremonial supplies for the Sundancers; and tools, building supplies and equipment to house and feed the participants. Your financial support for this unique and important ceremony is greatly appreciated. Remember, the International Sundance is all about community support, and every little bit helps! If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, please make out your check to World Council of Elders and send to:
Mailing address: World Council of Elders, PO Box 7915, Boulder, CO 80306
If you have any questions or would like to help out, please contact us at:
Woody Vaspra, International Sundance Chief & World Council of Elders President
woody@worldcouncilofelders.org
Catie Johnson, World Council of Elders Executive Director
catie@worldcouncilofelders.org
Donate Online
To make a single donation of your choice via credit card or e-check, please use this button: You do not need a PayPal account.
The Traditional Sundance is a very sacred ceremony, and central to the culture of the first peoples of the Northern Plains. It has been conducted every summer for thousands of years to honor the Great Spirit and to pray for the well-being and protection of the people. The ceremony takes place outdoors on sacred land. A circular Arbor is constructed around a central Sundance Tree. Sundancers fast from food and water for four days while they pray and dance inside the Arbor around the Sundance Tree. They are accompanied by traditional drumming and singing. Supporters and helpers do not fast; however, they fully participate in the ceremony through prayer and service to the community. As one experiences the spirit of the Sundance, a feeling of cleansing & rebirth often occurs as a result of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges inherent in the Sundance ceremony. Everyone has the opportunity to take the life-changing teachings and unique experiences gained with them to practice and share with others in their lives.
Why Now? We're living at a time unique in all of Earth history. We sense the shift in energies. We observe extremes in polarity all around us, and we experience the accelerated pace of change. The wisdom-keepers of the Earth's indigenous traditions have faithfully carried prophecies for millennia telling of this special time of transition at the close of an era. This is a sacred time of choice. We are setting the energies for a new time. What do we want that to look like? What kind of future are we creating for our children?The Elders know that right now, like at no other time before, we have the opportunity to wake-up, open out hearts and minds, and understand the truth of our interconnectedness with all life. Time is of the essence. We must begin to consciously choose to heal and restore balance to ourselves and our relationships with our fellow humans and our precious Mother Earth. It is imperative that we act now to create a future of peace, harmony and healthy abundance. The International Sundance is a one-of-a-kind experience essential to reawakening humanity at this special time through reconnecting with Mother Earth and the timeless teachings of Elders from many cultures. As we are all related, the power of our collective healing prayers and loving intentions will reach across the globe to all members of our Earth family. Through this experience together, we will find the inspiration, guidance and clarity of will to co-create sustainable solutions to current world challenges, and a joyful future for generations yet to come.
Setting. The International Sundance 2007 is being held in Montana on beautiful, pristine land that is home to abundant wildlife including a growing herd of native buffalo and Mustang Paint horses. Also, there are several natural springs of exceedingly pure water on the grounds. In honor of this sacred place, every effort will be made to minimize the human impact on the land. For example, attendance at the International Sundance is by invitation only. We will pack in and pack out again all supplies and facilities required to conduct the ceremonies and to house and feed the participants. Also, only biodegradable and ecologically responsible materials will be used on site. Not only will participants experience the rare and seldom-shared traditional wisdom teachings provided, but they also will have the opportunity to learn, first-hand, skills necessary for living sustainably and in harmony with the natural environment.
How You Can Help. We're still gathering the necessary resources for the International Sundance including travel expenses for the international Elders and drum groups; ceremonial supplies for the Sundancers; and tools, building supplies and equipment to house and feed the participants. Your financial support for this unique and important ceremony is greatly appreciated. Remember, the International Sundance is all about community support, and every little bit helps! If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution, please make out your check to World Council of Elders and send to:
Mailing address: World Council of Elders, PO Box 7915, Boulder, CO 80306
If you have any questions or would like to help out, please contact us at:
Woody Vaspra, International Sundance Chief & World Council of Elders President
woody@worldcouncilofelders.org
Catie Johnson, World Council of Elders Executive Director
catie@worldcouncilofelders.org
Donate Online
To make a single donation of your choice via credit card or e-check, please use this button: You do not need a PayPal account.
Thank
you for your support !
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Earthdance September 14-16, 2007
Laytonville, California, USA
http://www.earthdance.org/sf/ “"Give Peace a Dance"
”Earthdance is a 3-day camp out celebration for world peace and unity. Now in its 11th year, Earthdance is celebrated simultaneously in 350 locations in 60 countries. The Earthdance hub venue in Laytonville is once again honored to host the gathering of Elders who will share wisdom, sacred ceremony, and discuss the important issues facing humanity and our precious planet. This is the second year that World Council of Elders has been invited to bring traditional indigenous Elders to this world-wide event for peace.
RECENT
PAST EVENTS 2007
March 29- April 1, 2007 at BMoCO in Boulder, Colorado
Guest Speakers: Woody Vaspra, WCOE Elder Liaison & Frank Settee, Lakota Elder shared teachings at performances of ...
My Life is My Sun Dance
Theatre13
presents the world premiere of "My Life is My Sun Dance"
written by Leonard Peltier with Harvey Arden
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA), Theatre13, and Warrior Artists Productions are proud to present the world premiere of the staged adaptation of "Prison Writings: My Life is My Sun Dance" written by imprisoned human rights activist Leonard Peltier with Harvey Arden. Convicted of murder in 1976, Peltier has been incarcerated for thirty-one years. Many believe that he was unjustly convicted and unfairly imprisoned. In 1999 he published "Prison Writings" a collection of essays, poetry and reflections on more than thirty years of activism from behind prison walls. Peltier's play is a deeply moving account of one man's struggle to survive prison life while working for healing, forgiveness and fair treatment within an inherently flawed justice system. This production is directed by Cathie Quigley-Soderman and features Doug Foote as Peltier.