Prayer Network: Teachings

I have rediscovered a breathtaking give-away phamplet that was created for the NY Naraya back in 2004 just after the passing of Bear Boy (a close friend of Clyde Hall, supporter of the Dance, and esteemed Ute elder). Reading it reminded me of why I love the Dance so much, and probably the most lucid telling of whence this Dance was reborn back in the early 90's. It reminded me that our journey of life is a continuum. It also reminded me that our journey is the process of putting one foot in front of the next, day by day, connecting us from the past, to the present, and (with forethought) to our future, and to the future of this Dance we call Naraya: Dance For All People. ... 2-15-10.

GO>> REMEMBERING BEAR BOY, REMEMBERING OUR FUTURE

THE CHILDREN of planet earth are subject to many systems that hold sway over their daily lives -- some of them, like government, tribe and family, are localized. Others are broader still, like environment, physical science and, we assert, astrology. Some are ancient and powerful and have been largely forgotten. With the constant and amazing astrology of these last months (and the months ahead) creating a slipstream of change and turmoil, we enter the period Wiccans and people of the old religion call Imbolc... 1-20-10.

GO>> OF WOLVES & GROUNDHOGS

"If there is a future wave of wellness on this planet, of harmony, of peace, of an end to war, of mutual understanding, of equality, of fairness, I don't expect it will come from a government, a military force or a corporation. I no longer even expect it to come from the religions of the world, which together seem to have brought us as much war as they have peace. If there is a future of peace for humankind, if there is to be an understanding of how these invisible, internal things should fit together, I expect it will come from the artists, because that's what we do"... 12-15-09.
GO>> WHY MUSIC MATTERS

"I was asked to write a prayer for World AIDS Day – a prayer for our Naraya Family that would be speakable by those who trudged through the confusion and sadness of death of those whom we loved lost to AIDS and also speakable, yes, prayable, by those who have been spared that walk"... 12-1-09.
GO>> HONORING WORLD AIDS DAY 2009

I prefer communing with “Great Mystery” and engaging with “The Divine.” It’s more like play than performing a task. I don’t mean it’s always fun. Scuffed knees, broken bones and even death can come to those who play! But the possibility of transcending the mundane keeps me in the game.. .. 7-29-09.

GO>> THE WINNING CARD

On March 16, 2009, the NCPC hosted the third in a series of Oral Traditions, preserving the teachings from our Naraya Elders. This edition featured Clyde Hall sharing some of his favorite "Great Basin stories involving Coyote and other sacred beings". .. 3-30-09.
GO>> COYOTE STORIES

My father passed away in august. my biggest fear (other than my family crumbling without this patriarch) within hours of his passing was that my plans for the farm (which i so proudly named, Crescent Moon Farm) would be slowed greatly, if not completely put on hold. to face that was heartbreaking, sickening, shocking. — but i knew it could very well be... 2-7-09.
GO>> THE CALL OF SPIRIT

Some of you may find yourselves waking up in the wee hours of the morning with a prompt to perform healing work on yourself. Do it. Some of you may find that your mind is racing and your body releasing the stories of your life as images, conversations, feelings and thought forms from the past move through like a video. Let them go....
GO>> WARRIORS OF LIGHT

The stories of Jesus and Buddha, of shamans and sages, may initially emphasize their solitary quest, alone in the desert or forest, seeking a holy understanding of our human dilemma. But then the stories go on. Whoever steps beyond individual self and connects with eternity is naturally drawn back to community. This is how we express the heart's realization, by bringing it to maturity with others....
GO>> MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

I first heard about John of God in 2000. In 2004, while watching a 2-hour television documentary about him and the Casa de Dom Inacio, I experienced a healing in my lower back. For 2 years I had been going through a painful experience with sciatica that had left my right lower leg and foot numb. Exercise was out of the question because any physical exertion of that nature would trigger an episode that would take me out of commission from a week to a month at a time. I had gained weight and wasn’t feeling good about myself. This initial mini-healing paved the way for the first of several expeditions to the Casa.
GO>> MY EXPERIENCES WITH JOHN OF GOD

Beloved Brothers and Sisters, It's the 21st century--so a photo e-blessing to all of you— what I learned from our very spiritual cat over the holidays....
GO>> WHAT I LEARNED FROM GATTLAN

To the Shoshone and other Great Basin people, the ya ha was a delicacy to be savored and enjoyed during the late spring to late fall months. The rock chucks gorge and fatten themselves during this time to prepare for their long winter sleep, making them especially tasty to Native people....
GO>> THE FINE ART OF COOKING YA HA

John Lyon Burnside III was born November 2, 1916, in Seattle and died peacefully on September 14, 2008, at home in San Francisco surrounded by the Circle of Loving Companions. He was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.

This collection of teachings is offered to guide our dance, our circle, and our lives. These are guidelines for our actions within our community, with each other, and with the greater world community. It is hoped that both old and new dancers will review these teachings often, since they are something to grow with as individuals and as a community, both inside and outside the ceremony. We also hope these teachings will serve as a foundation for deeper discussion, and not as the final word on these things....
GO>> A COLLECTION OF TEACHINGS

Every style of Indian singing, and the associated type of dancing, has set perimeters of appropriate tempo— the cadence or pace. The songs are neither sung nor danced too fast, nor too slow. To help attune one’s ear to the respective proper tempos, it’s beneficial to listen to recorded Indian songs at least— or, of course whenever possible, witness or participate in actual dances. In this manner we can develop a sense or “feel” for the appropriate tempo for any given dance type and its associated song(s)....
GO>> AMERICAN INDIAN SINGING, DANCE, AND THE DRUM

I think the way we ASK for prayers is as much an art as it is an act of conscious awareness! We're heard it a million times, and you are going to hear it once again (with embellishments): Be circumspect, aware, discerning (erring on the side of caution) WHAT you ask for (and HOW you ask for it) for indeed spirit is listening, and answering even before you can finish the sentence. Spirit moves in mysterious ways (to us humans at least!). Do we have eyes, ears, and an open heart to discern the answer that is coming our way as response to our prayers?...
GO>> ABOUT PRAYER REQUESTS

Queer Spirit as a community group process has reached over 75 men in a relatively short period of time. The website, advertisements and newspaper articles are begging the question: What is Queer Spirit?...
GO>> SEEKING A STUNNING LIFE THROUGH QUEER SPIRIT

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred . .. let me sow love
Where there is injury . .. pardon
Where there is doubt . .. faith
Where there is despair . .. hope
Where there is darkness . .. light
where there is sadness . .. joy...
GO>> PRAYERS OF PEACE

During the Spirit Feast at Montana Naraya: A Dance For all People 2007 we reflected on the many Elders that are no longer with us on this Earth. We remembered our long-time Naraya Elder and Ute Sun Dance Chief Bear Boy LaRose who supported Clyde even before the Naraya was rebirthed. And while we as dancers are thankful for the Elders who walk with us today, we must never forget that each and every one of them will make that journey to the Other-Side-Camp...
GO>> WHO ARE THE ELDERS-TO-BE?

Just before leaving for the Montana Naraya 2007 I wrote to the Naraya Prayer Request List: I come to the Montana Naraya with the sense of completion of a 4- year journey and much gratitude and celebration for all the seen and unseen forces at work. In addition I come to Montana Naraya with willingness and joy to step into the hands of Great Mystery to journey and receive the rocket fuel I need for "what's next!". I ask for your prayers and support as I step over the threshold of new beginnings, welcoming the council and wisdom of our ancestors...
GO>> MONTANA NARAYA– THE EYE OF CLEAR VISION

Finisia writes: "It was in a longhouse. A great longhouse. There were eagle fans there. There were condor fans there. There were medicine fans of the macaw there. There were sages from all over Turtle Island, North and South. They were standing there, the medicine people of many nations, in a great longhouse..."
GO>> COYOTE'S CAMP ADDRESS

What is? is an ongoing series that hopes to illuminate the people, the medicine, and the inner workings of the Naraya: A Dance For all People. Part Two examines The Tree of Life, the center of our Naraya dance. 9-16-06
GO >> WHAT IS?: THE TREE OF LIFE

Clyde Hall writes: "On my last trip to New York City for the Summer Solstice, 2006, I brought a song for the NY Naraya medicine bundle, Pia-gutchu Wanda. The song— Tatanka Wanjila— comes from a time on the Great Plains when Indians lived the life of "free natural men and women". This is the story of the song and where it came from"... 7-2-06
GO >> TANTANKA WANJILA

What is? is a new series that hopes to illuminate the people, the medicine, and the inner workings of the Naraya. Part One examines The Bohougant, someone who becomes the hollow bone for ceremony. 6-19-06
GO >> WHAT IS?: THE BOHOUGANT

Naraya Dancer Joe birdSong writes a powerful first-person story of his walk with alcoholism and how he has used AA and the Naraya in his path to recovery. Joe writes: "These are my experiences, my perceptions, my results thus far. I will share with you a major part of my walk. Anyone reading this can insert "Other Addictions" in place of "alcohol" or "alcoholism."... 5-1-06
GO >> INNER WORK

There’s good reason why Spirit is often called Great Mystery. As humans, as two-leggeds walking this earth, we quickly learn that our human reasoning is not enough to exist on this planet. It becomes our responsibility to find what works and doesn’t work on this earth, and to find ways to integrate Spirit into our lives. How do we find balance between heaven and earth?... 3-17-06
GO >> FAITH ~ PRAYER ~ ACTION

"The Sacred Tree" is a book created by the Four Winds Project, a native American inter-tribal group, as a handbook of Native American spirituality. The final section, "Code of Ethics", describes what wisdom means between individuals, in family life, and in the wider community. A must-read for all Naraya Dancers! 2-20-06
GO >> CODE OF ETHICS

Native American cosmology and worldviews often confuse those raised in other traditions, especially if their traditions hold erroneous or stereotypical views about Native Americans. For generations, countless statements about Native American concepts have been offered up to the public or put forth in print and declared to be the heart of things Indian. Seldom have such statements approached accuracy simply because no one statement fits all nether regions, nations or individuals. 2-2-06
GO >> POWER, THE FORCE OF LIFE

At an Indian doings, have you ever seen a strange, even silly-looking figure (with a peak at each side of its head, and long, floppy nose) prancing around teasing and poking fun at people-- and maybe hitting them with a feather duster, then shaking their hand? If you have, you’ve seen what the Sioux people call a Heyoka! 10/24/05
GO >> HEYOKA!!!

Jerry Buie, Spirit Keeper for the Utah Naraya, has been around Naraya Ceremonies since 1997 and around Native American Ceremonies since 1996. Throughout his experiences he has had the opportunity to be around many of our native Elders. Jerry reflects on what may be helpful in "learning how to walk with our Native Elders and Teachers in a good way, bridging that understanding." 9/13/05
GO >> HONOR OUR ELDERS / BEING GOOD STUDENTS

Mike Gardner, Bear Boy's nephew, leads a naming ceremony on behalf of Ron Madson in upstate New York one summer's afternoon. Ron Madson tells the story of how he received the name, and the events of the day. 8/31/05
GO >> NAMING CEREMONY FOR RON MADSON

All Naraya Songs have a deeper meaning in the native language. The words may be sparse and simply said, but provide a rich and varied source of information on the belief of my people .... 5/8/05
GO >> THE MEDICINE OF THE NARAYA SONGS

The collective energies of each dance must be contained or "kept" in a bundle or container for usage of each dance during the dance ritual and throughout the year. The prayers and intentful energy of each dancer by placement of each "vision arrow" in the bundle assures and builds the energy of the bundle for future use."... 4/25/05
GO >> ABOUT NARAYA BUNDLES

Says Finisia: "My brother Clyde asked me to write on the subject of the sacred hoops of life. People's hopes are defined by their desires. My desire and most fondest hope is a return to the Red Road; much of it goes untraveled these days. My desire is in the restoration of the people on the land. My longing has me in tears everyday"...
GO >> RETURNING TO THE RED ROAD

Says Jeff Ward: "Fire, in our way, is a living being or beings. Fire in a spiritual sense is an aspect or relative of the sun, sometimes referred to as a “ray of the sun”. Native People pray to the "one who lives beyond the sun", not to the sun itself. The puha (power) of the sun is in Fire. It is thus a very powerful force and must be treated with the utmost respect"...
GO >> ABOUT FIRE

On the Monday after the Wolf Creek Naraya in 2001, Running Buffalo (aka Jeff Westphal) sat beneath the Tree on the empty dance ground with Utah bundle keeper Bruce Frasier for a lively and informative discussion about the bundles: what they are, and how dancers can relate to them. The heartfelt insight, wisdom and candid advice are remarkably timely for all dancers.
GO >> BUNDLE KEEPER WISDOM

Says Chief Dan: "Now we must look upon each other as brothers and sisters. There is no more time for divisions between people. Today I call upon all of us, from right here at home, Hotevilla, where we too are guilty of gossiping and causing divisions even among our own families; out to the entire world where thievery, war and lying goes on every day. These divisions will not be our salvation. Wars only bring more wars, never peace. Only by joining together in a Spiritual Peace with love in our hearts for one another, love in our hearts for the Great Spirit and Mother Earth, shall we be saved from the terrible Purification Day which is just ahead..."
GO >> MESSAGE TO MANKIND

For the general public, the Mohawk is probably the most immediately recognizable American Indian hairdo for males. This radical style is named for one of the five tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy, undoubtedly because many men of the Mohawk tribe formerly wore it. 4/1/05
GO >> MOHAWK HAIR STYLES

Benson Lanford shares additional thoughts on smudging, traditions, using native decoration, inappropriate use of feathers, and seeking counsel when in doubt... 4/1/05
GO >> NATIVE WAYS

This is a short discussion of three kinds of objects that are used all over the world by earth-based belief communities or tribes. The first one is a "talisman" the other is a "amulet" and the last is a "fetish." I am sure that you have heard of these words and perhaps even used them in some way... 4/1/05
GO >> OBJECTS OF POWER: BUNDLES TALISMANS, & AMULETS

Many people use smudging in different ways, in different "traditions" or by personal vision. However, in the Native American plains tradition it is used in certain ways only and in sequential manner... 4/1/05
GO >> ABOUT SMUDGING



TEACHINGS \| CALENDAR \| HONORINGS \| CREATIVE \| LINKS \| READING LIST \| SUPPORT!

	Updated 2-15-10 by BabaSink I have rediscovered a breathtaking give-away phamplet that was created for the NY Naraya back in 2004 just after the passing of Bear Boy (a close friend of Clyde Hall, supporter of the Dance, and esteemed Ute elder). Reading it reminded me of why I love the Dance so much, and probably the most lucid telling of whence this Dance was reborn back in the early 90's. It reminded me that our journey of life is a continuum. It also reminded me that our journey is the process of putting one foot in front of the next, day by day, connecting us from the past, to the present, and (with forethought) to our future, and to the future of this Dance we call Naraya: Dance For All People. ... 2-15-10. GO>> REMEMBERING BEAR BOY, REMEMBERING OUR FUTURE by Judith Gale THE CHILDREN of planet earth are subject to many systems that hold sway over their daily lives -- some of them, like government, tribe and family, are localized. Others are broader still, like environment, physical science and, we assert, astrology. Some are ancient and powerful and have been largely forgotten. With the constant and amazing astrology of these last months (and the months ahead) creating a slipstream of change and turmoil, we enter the period Wiccans and people of the old religion call Imbolc... 1-20-10. GO>> OF WOLVES & GROUNDHOGS by Karl Paulnack "If there is a future wave of wellness on this planet, of harmony, of peace, of an end to war, of mutual understanding, of equality, of fairness, I don't expect it will come from a government, a military force or a corporation. I no longer even expect it to come from the religions of the world, which together seem to have brought us as much war as they have peace. If there is a future of peace for humankind, if there is to be an understanding of how these invisible, internal things should fit together, I expect it will come from the artists, because that's what we do"... 12-15-09. GO>> WHY MUSIC MATTERS by Franklin Courson "I was asked to write a prayer for World AIDS Day – a prayer for our Naraya Family that would be speakable by those who trudged through the confusion and sadness of death of those whom we loved lost to AIDS and also speakable, yes, prayable, by those who have been spared that walk"... 12-1-09. GO>> HONORING WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 by Kori Lane I prefer communing with “Great Mystery” and engaging with “The Divine.” It’s more like play than performing a task. I don’t mean it’s always fun. Scuffed knees, broken bones and even death can come to those who play! But the possibility of transcending the mundane keeps me in the game.. .. 7-29-09. GO>> THE WINNING CARD by Clyde Hall On March 16, 2009, the NCPC hosted the third in a series of Oral Traditions, preserving the teachings from our Naraya Elders. This edition featured Clyde Hall sharing some of his favorite "Great Basin stories involving Coyote and other sacred beings". .. 3-30-09. GO>> COYOTE STORIES BY Trella Dubeta My father passed away in august. my biggest fear (other than my family crumbling without this patriarch) within hours of his passing was that my plans for the farm (which i so proudly named, Crescent Moon Farm) would be slowed greatly, if not completely put on hold. to face that was heartbreaking, sickening, shocking. — but i knew it could very well be... 2-7-09. GO>> THE CALL OF SPIRIT BY Barbara Woolley Some of you may find yourselves waking up in the wee hours of the morning with a prompt to perform healing work on yourself. Do it. Some of you may find that your mind is racing and your body releasing the stories of your life as images, conversations, feelings and thought forms from the past move through like a video. Let them go.... GO>> WARRIORS OF LIGHT BY Jack Kornfield The stories of Jesus and Buddha, of shamans and sages, may initially emphasize their solitary quest, alone in the desert or forest, seeking a holy understanding of our human dilemma. But then the stories go on. Whoever steps beyond individual self and connects with eternity is naturally drawn back to community. This is how we express the heart's realization, by bringing it to maturity with others.... GO>> MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS BY Barb Woolley I first heard about John of God in 2000. In 2004, while watching a 2-hour television documentary about him and the Casa de Dom Inacio, I experienced a healing in my lower back. For 2 years I had been going through a painful experience with sciatica that had left my right lower leg and foot numb. Exercise was out of the question because any physical exertion of that nature would trigger an episode that would take me out of commission from a week to a month at a time. I had gained weight and wasn’t feeling good about myself. This initial mini-healing paved the way for the first of several expeditions to the Casa. GO>> MY EXPERIENCES WITH JOHN OF GOD BY Karl Flying Horse Beloved Brothers and Sisters, It's the 21st century--so a photo e-blessing to all of you— what I learned from our very spiritual cat over the holidays.... GO>> WHAT I LEARNED FROM GATTLAN BY Clyde Hall To the Shoshone and other Great Basin people, the ya ha was a delicacy to be savored and enjoyed during the late spring to late fall months. The rock chucks gorge and fatten themselves during this time to prepare for their long winter sleep, making them especially tasty to Native people.... GO>> THE FINE ART OF COOKING YA HA by Robert "Cove" Croonquist John Lyon Burnside III was born November 2, 1916, in Seattle and died peacefully on September 14, 2008, at home in San Francisco surrounded by the Circle of Loving Companions. He was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer. GO>> REMEMBERING JOHN BURNSIDE This collection of teachings is offered to guide our dance, our circle, and our lives. These are guidelines for our actions within our community, with each other, and with the greater world community. It is hoped that both old and new dancers will review these teachings often, since they are something to grow with as individuals and as a community, both inside and outside the ceremony. We also hope these teachings will serve as a foundation for deeper discussion, and not as the final word on these things.... GO>> A COLLECTION OF TEACHINGS Every style of Indian singing, and the associated type of dancing, has set perimeters of appropriate tempo— the cadence or pace. The songs are neither sung nor danced too fast, nor too slow. To help attune one’s ear to the respective proper tempos, it’s beneficial to listen to recorded Indian songs at least— or, of course whenever possible, witness or participate in actual dances. In this manner we can develop a sense or “feel” for the appropriate tempo for any given dance type and its associated song(s).... GO>> AMERICAN INDIAN SINGING, DANCE, AND THE DRUM I think the way we ASK for prayers is as much an art as it is an act of conscious awareness! We're heard it a million times, and you are going to hear it once again (with embellishments): Be circumspect, aware, discerning (erring on the side of caution) WHAT you ask for (and HOW you ask for it) for indeed spirit is listening, and answering even before you can finish the sentence. Spirit moves in mysterious ways (to us humans at least!). Do we have eyes, ears, and an open heart to discern the answer that is coming our way as response to our prayers?... GO>> ABOUT PRAYER REQUESTS by Jerry Buie Queer Spirit as a community group process has reached over 75 men in a relatively short period of time. The website, advertisements and newspaper articles are begging the question: What is Queer Spirit?... GO>> SEEKING A STUNNING LIFE THROUGH QUEER SPIRIT Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred . .. let me sow love Where there is injury . .. pardon Where there is doubt . .. faith Where there is despair . .. hope Where there is darkness . .. light where there is sadness . .. joy... GO>> PRAYERS OF PEACE by BabaSink During the Spirit Feast at Montana Naraya: A Dance For all People 2007 we reflected on the many Elders that are no longer with us on this Earth. We remembered our long-time Naraya Elder and Ute Sun Dance Chief Bear Boy LaRose who supported Clyde even before the Naraya was rebirthed. And while we as dancers are thankful for the Elders who walk with us today, we must never forget that each and every one of them will make that journey to the Other-Side-Camp... GO>> WHO ARE THE ELDERS-TO-BE? by BabaSink Just before leaving for the Montana Naraya 2007 I wrote to the Naraya Prayer Request List: I come to the Montana Naraya with the sense of completion of a 4- year journey and much gratitude and celebration for all the seen and unseen forces at work. In addition I come to Montana Naraya with willingness and joy to step into the hands of Great Mystery to journey and receive the rocket fuel I need for "what's next!". I ask for your prayers and support as I step over the threshold of new beginnings, welcoming the council and wisdom of our ancestors... GO>> MONTANA NARAYA– THE EYE OF CLEAR VISION by Finisia Medrano Finisia writes: "It was in a longhouse. A great longhouse. There were eagle fans there. There were condor fans there. There were medicine fans of the macaw there. There were sages from all over Turtle Island, North and South. They were standing there, the medicine people of many nations, in a great longhouse..." GO>> COYOTE'S CAMP ADDRESS What is? is an ongoing series that hopes to illuminate the people, the medicine, and the inner workings of the Naraya: A Dance For all People. Part Two examines The Tree of Life, the center of our Naraya dance. 9-16-06 GO >> WHAT IS?: THE TREE OF LIFE by Clyde Hall Clyde Hall writes: "On my last trip to New York City for the Summer Solstice, 2006, I brought a song for the NY Naraya medicine bundle, Pia-gutchu Wanda. The song— Tatanka Wanjila— comes from a time on the Great Plains when Indians lived the life of "free natural men and women". This is the story of the song and where it came from"... 7-2-06 GO >> TANTANKA WANJILA What is? is a new series that hopes to illuminate the people, the medicine, and the inner workings of the Naraya. Part One examines The Bohougant, someone who becomes the hollow bone for ceremony. 6-19-06 GO >> WHAT IS?: THE BOHOUGANT by Joe birdSong Naraya Dancer Joe birdSong writes a powerful first-person story of his walk with alcoholism and how he has used AA and the Naraya in his path to recovery. Joe writes: "These are my experiences, my perceptions, my results thus far. I will share with you a major part of my walk. Anyone reading this can insert "Other Addictions" in place of "alcohol" or "alcoholism."... 5-1-06 GO >> INNER WORK There’s good reason why Spirit is often called Great Mystery. As humans, as two-leggeds walking this earth, we quickly learn that our human reasoning is not enough to exist on this planet. It becomes our responsibility to find what works and doesn’t work on this earth, and to find ways to integrate Spirit into our lives. How do we find balance between heaven and earth?... 3-17-06 GO >> FAITH ~ PRAYER ~ ACTION "The Sacred Tree" is a book created by the Four Winds Project, a native American inter-tribal group, as a handbook of Native American spirituality. The final section, "Code of Ethics", describes what wisdom means between individuals, in family life, and in the wider community. A must-read for all Naraya Dancers! 2-20-06 GO >> CODE OF ETHICS Native American cosmology and worldviews often confuse those raised in other traditions, especially if their traditions hold erroneous or stereotypical views about Native Americans. For generations, countless statements about Native American concepts have been offered up to the public or put forth in print and declared to be the heart of things Indian. Seldom have such statements approached accuracy simply because no one statement fits all nether regions, nations or individuals. 2-2-06 GO >> POWER, THE FORCE OF LIFE by Benson Lanford At an Indian doings, have you ever seen a strange, even silly-looking figure (with a peak at each side of its head, and long, floppy nose) prancing around teasing and poking fun at people-- and maybe hitting them with a feather duster, then shaking their hand? If you have, you’ve seen what the Sioux people call a Heyoka! 10/24/05 GO >> HEYOKA!!! by Jerry Buie Jerry Buie, Spirit Keeper for the Utah Naraya, has been around Naraya Ceremonies since 1997 and around Native American Ceremonies since 1996. Throughout his experiences he has had the opportunity to be around many of our native Elders. Jerry reflects on what may be helpful in "learning how to walk with our Native Elders and Teachers in a good way, bridging that understanding." 9/13/05 GO >> HONOR OUR ELDERS / BEING GOOD STUDENTS by Ron Madson Mike Gardner, Bear Boy's nephew, leads a naming ceremony on behalf of Ron Madson in upstate New York one summer's afternoon. Ron Madson tells the story of how he received the name, and the events of the day. 8/31/05 GO >> NAMING CEREMONY FOR RON MADSON by pk/Thunder Born Hootsie All Naraya Songs have a deeper meaning in the native language. The words may be sparse and simply said, but provide a rich and varied source of information on the belief of my people .... 5/8/05 GO >> THE MEDICINE OF THE NARAYA SONGS The collective energies of each dance must be contained or "kept" in a bundle or container for usage of each dance during the dance ritual and throughout the year. The prayers and intentful energy of each dancer by placement of each "vision arrow" in the bundle assures and builds the energy of the bundle for future use."... 4/25/05 GO >> ABOUT NARAYA BUNDLES By Finisia Medrano Says Finisia: "My brother Clyde asked me to write on the subject of the sacred hoops of life. People's hopes are defined by their desires. My desire and most fondest hope is a return to the Red Road; much of it goes untraveled these days. My desire is in the restoration of the people on the land. My longing has me in tears everyday"... GO >> RETURNING TO THE RED ROAD By Jeff Ward Says Jeff Ward: "Fire, in our way, is a living being or beings. Fire in a spiritual sense is an aspect or relative of the sun, sometimes referred to as a “ray of the sun”. Native People pray to the "one who lives beyond the sun", not to the sun itself. The puha (power) of the sun is in Fire. It is thus a very powerful force and must be treated with the utmost respect"... GO >> ABOUT FIRE With Running Buffalo & Bruce Frazier On the Monday after the Wolf Creek Naraya in 2001, Running Buffalo (aka Jeff Westphal) sat beneath the Tree on the empty dance ground with Utah bundle keeper Bruce Frasier for a lively and informative discussion about the bundles: what they are, and how dancers can relate to them. The heartfelt insight, wisdom and candid advice are remarkably timely for all dancers. GO >> BUNDLE KEEPER WISDOM By Hopi Chief Dan Evehema Says Chief Dan: "Now we must look upon each other as brothers and sisters. There is no more time for divisions between people. Today I call upon all of us, from right here at home, Hotevilla, where we too are guilty of gossiping and causing divisions even among our own families; out to the entire world where thievery, war and lying goes on every day. These divisions will not be our salvation. Wars only bring more wars, never peace. Only by joining together in a Spiritual Peace with love in our hearts for one another, love in our hearts for the Great Spirit and Mother Earth, shall we be saved from the terrible Purification Day which is just ahead..." GO >> MESSAGE TO MANKIND By Benson Lanford (Sha Sha) For the general public, the Mohawk is probably the most immediately recognizable American Indian hairdo for males. This radical style is named for one of the five tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy, undoubtedly because many men of the Mohawk tribe formerly wore it. 4/1/05 GO >> MOHAWK HAIR STYLES By Benson Lanford (Sha Sha) Benson Lanford shares additional thoughts on smudging, traditions, using native decoration, inappropriate use of feathers, and seeking counsel when in doubt... 4/1/05 GO >> NATIVE WAYS By Clyde Hall This is a short discussion of three kinds of objects that are used all over the world by earth-based belief communities or tribes. The first one is a "talisman" the other is a "amulet" and the last is a "fetish." I am sure that you have heard of these words and perhaps even used them in some way... 4/1/05 GO >> OBJECTS OF POWER: BUNDLES TALISMANS, & AMULETS By Clyde Hall Many people use smudging in different ways, in different "traditions" or by personal vision. However, in the Native American plains tradition it is used in certain ways only and in sequential manner... 4/1/05 GO >> ABOUT SMUDGING