Chris's comment resonated for me. Our family has had some wonderful
weekends centered around an indigenous pow wow. Usually it's a full
weekend - sleep over two nights - and there are lots of things going on
-- food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, children's games, always the
circle in the center, drumming much of the time, dances of many sorts,
great ceremonial dress, some or all dances open to all (some for
skilled dancers only), story telling, flute playing, sometimes sweat
lodges, sometimes workshops on healing/spiritual topics or on making
things, and nothing requires attendance! Many people sit around their
campsites, sleep, talk at picnic tables, swim in the river where that's
an option, take care of kids -- oh yes, all ages are welcome and are
there, with a lot of honor for elders (much appreciated by this
grandmother) and for veterans (something I was on the fence about - but
my husband was in the Navy for 4 years in the Vietnam era, and it means
so much to him to dance in the veterans' honoring dance, and I get to
join him.... so I've warmed to it). Many people camp out in tents and
trailers, so we live together for the weekend, and the cost is minimal.
There's plenty of room for offering what you want to offer, if not in a
more formal way, then via your own campsite and conversations there or
as you walk around. (I'm sure if you hang a flag at your campsite about
your topic, you'll attract some interest!) The place-basedness of it,
and all the preparation that goes into it on the part of the tribe or
tribes or individuals that organize it (they usually include one free
feast, and often a give-away), seem core to the sense of deep
satisfaction people get from going to these weekends. I think it's very
close to Open Space!
Diane Brandon
Eliot, Maine
On Apr 5, 2006, at 10:22 AM, Chris Weaver wrote:
on a related large other topic, i am deeply interested in the overlap
between ost and ceremony in indigenous traditions. festival life,
which
culminates on a specific piece of land for a specific period of time,
has
some fascinating resonance with ceremonial space/time. a topic to
explore
another time.
*
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