My beloved wife is sharing her Buddhist prayers, in the ancient Pali language, with great gratitude for our water that sustains all Life, and with great appreciation and thanksgiving, for having the privilege of living on the unsurrendered and unceded land of the Semiahmoo First Nation, Salish Nation, during today's Ceremony of the Sacred Prayers of 22 Women of Mother Earth, World Water Day, March 22, 2022.
The Ceremonial Cup she is holding, with water and Dakota sage, was carved by our Squamish Brother, Keith Nahanee Sr.
Brother Keith also carved and hand-painted the Sacred Ceremonial Box where Tȟašúŋke Witkó's Pipe rests, almost 40 years ago.
Tȟašúŋke Witkó's Sacred Pipe was returned on December 29, 1980, after the completion of the 7th Ceremony of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, Nagi Gluhapi, Keeping a Soul Ceremony, for our brother Leon Gaze. Unfortunately, he was shanked and murdered on December 29, 1979, at the Washington State Penitentiary, by our Chicano brothers, over a pool game. The detailed story has been filmed and will be shared later in 2022.
I have been Walking the Red Road with Beloved Sister Gloria and her beloved husband, Keith Sr., since we first met in 1978. Sister Gloria and Brother Keith, with the spiritual guidance of Uncles, Walker and Vince Stoggin, Joe Washington, and other Salish in the late 1960s and early 1970s, were at the spiritual heart and foundation of the revitalization of Coast Salish Smoke House Dancing.
With their spiritual support and the spiritual guidance of Uncle Walker, Brother Robert Nahanee and I stood up together for a Four Night Shaker Ceremony and joined them as Shakers.
Sister Gloria and brothers, Kieth and Robert, have humbly, lovingly, compassionately, with great dedication, have tirelessly served the People since I had the Honor and Privilege to meet them 44 years ago and before.
In 1978, we held the Northwest Spiritual Unity Gathering with brothers Lee Brown, Harold Belmont, and others in Olympia, Washington. We had four Inipis, one at each of the Four Directions, fed by a Center Fire. With all four Sweats filled with songs and prayers, at the sametime was very spiritually intense. At that time there were no Sweat Lodges in Coast Salish Territory, except at United Indian's Daybreak Star.
Without hesitation, Uncle Walker, Sister Gloria, and Brother Keith joined the Sweat Lodge Ceremonies I was conducting during our Four Day Spiritual Unity Gathering.
The Inipi-To Renew a New Breath of Life, the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, or to the South called a Temascal Ceremony, was passed on to me by Uncle Leonard Crow Dog Sr., at Crowdog's Paradise, after completing my first Haŋblečeya, Crying for a Vision, at Bear Butte, in June of 1978.
After attending the Sweat Lodge Ceremonies, Uncle Walker gave his full blessings and support to the Inipi. Uncle Walker said, "We need to use this Ceremony when we are not Winter Dancing."
Today there are many Inipis throughout Coast Salish Territory.
More details and other dimensions will be shared that will be included in the Vision of the Ages release on December 22, 2022.
A good Šuŋgmánuŋ, Horse Thief, A Leader of Warriors Who Takes the Enemies Best Horses, never reveals anything, as my beloved Ate, and other close Elders always taught me, until the Enemies Horses are safely home.
The Horses are safely home, whether we go to the Other Side Camp in the morning or not!
We are One Human Family, and the Hurt of One is the Hurt of All, and the Healing, Honor, and Restoration of One is the Healing, Honor, and Restoration of All!
Šuŋgmánuŋ He Me Yedo!
