Autumn greetings, friends and relatives.
It’s a beautiful day on Turtle Island. We’ve been out harvesting the blessings of the earth, remembering the importance of our close relationship with our Oldest Grandmother, the earth. She has always taken care of us, her grandchildren, providing food, clothing, shelter and the fulfillment that comes from that close and comforting relationship with Her and our Creator.
We are honored to work with the Indigenous Studies Program at Portland State University that is bring Gourd Dance Portland to our community this weekend. This event is at the Native American Youth and Family Center on Saturday, 8 October at 10 AM. Dr. Cornel Pewewardy has extended an invitation to the entire community to attend. More info, including the address is at this link: http://www.pdx.edu/nativecenter/event/first-annual-gourd-dance-portland?delta=0
We at WISDOM are preparing for our upcoming Northwest Indian Storytelling Festival on October 13-16. We formed the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association in 2005 and this will be our sixth annual festival. We regard stories as medicine for our people and are extending invitations to our entire community – everyone of all cultures, ages, and backgrounds! – to come down and enjoy this weekend with us. This year, the NISA Storytelling Festival is at Portland State University’s Native American Student and Community Center from Thursday evening, October 13 through the afternoon of Sunday, October 16. There’s more info about the times and location at this website.
We are also holding the Emerging Tribal Storytellers Workshop on Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16. We want the elders and master storytellers in our tribal communities to participate and share their wealth of stories with their younger tellers. Those attending this workshop will be guided to learn and tell their own personal story, their tribal history and traditional stories from their own heritage. Stories help us solidify our identity as Native peoples and help us live a happier and more fulfilling life. Please register and join us! There’s information and the registration form at this website.
Then, finally, on October 20 from 6:30 to 8:30, WISDOM is holding our First Annual Harvest Celebration by making and sharing elderberry syrup with our guests. VISTA volunteer Kaitlyn Rich has picked and prepared the elderberry syrup and is looking forward to greeting all our guests. Everyone is welcome to join us. We are also holding a discussion featuring Native community members telling about the importance of harvest celebrations and ceremonies to Native peoples and the importance of giving thanks for these traditions and bounties. With more than 560 tribes in America, these traditions are diverse, but we will share what we can from our own perspectives. This event is at Kelly Butte House, 3203 SE 109th Avenue (between SE Division and Powell Blvd just East of I-205). More info at this website.
Thank you for being a friend of WISDOM and we look forward to seeing you at one of these upcoming events.