Circles

Pow-Wow’s, Sweat Lodge’s, Gatherings, Ceremonies, Elders, Medicine Man and Woman, Chief, Warrior, Clan, Brave, and Circles of all kinds. These make up the world of a Native American both First Nation and Métis. Our lives are governed by the code for sacred living, honoring all that is created. We have lived and now live knowing who we are what our relationship is to the Creator and Mother Earth. We live with a series of circles, where we teach, play, learn and age.

Powwow is when different tribes or clans come together to celebrate an event. Maybe a good hunt and to share the bounty from Mother Earth. Maybe it is a time when many tribes come together, usually once a year, to make marriage contracts and weddings with a give-a-way for the new couple to gain in the wealth of the families. It is also time when a tribe does ceremony because of a season ritual. Maybe it is harvest time, planting time, hunting time. Maybe it is a ceremony for the rite of passage from a boy to a man or a girl to a woman.

Sweat Lodge is for the healing of the body, mind and spirit of an individual. There is a Sacred Way to make these healings work. Songs to sing, herbs to use and a pipe to smoke for prayers to travel on to reach The Creator.

Women’s and Men’s circles are gatherings in the interest of bonding, sharing, and creating ritual. The origins of these circles are ancient, but they are as modern and important as when they were first created. There are no hard and fast rules to form a circle. Some circles invent their own agendas, goals, and ceremonies. Some circles are open to new members at all times, while others are by invitation

In a typical circle, the members sit in a circle. Generally, for the sake of cohesiveness, an Elder or Chief leads the circle. . One circle leader may choose to teach a rite using song to release negative energy, while another leader may feel inspired to lead a silent meditation. On the other hand, a circle may choose to focus over the long term and gather around a particular intention, such as working to determine a way for healing Mother Earth.

At their best, circles perfectly illustrate the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The work that can be accomplished, within the loving embrace of our brothers and sisters, is far more powerful than what we could achieve on our own. If you are not already part of a circle, you may want to start or join one. It need not be just your blood family. Friends holding concerns about some idea or other can meet and through prayer and meditation make a difference in the community or neighborhood. Follow your intuition as to those with whom you would like to work, reach out to them, and set a date to begin. After that, stay focused on what you are concerned or thankful for.

Our church community is an example of such a circle. When we gather here to glorify The Creator, we act in consert to make our lives more Christ-like. Here we are able to listen to the Elders of the past sharing their sage advice on how to live with each other as well as what to do when we come to a crisis. Here we learn to love one another.

When we share our wealth with the greater circle by the tithe of our bounty, we become part of a circle that helps provide the funding for the many circles our votes have elected to support. Other circles help provide us with a grounding in the Church Community.


Sharing our time and support can be shown by participating in the Friendship Gathering after Mass in the Fellowship Hall.

Shareing our time by volunteering for any one of the many circles (committees ) needed to be manned to help lead the way in our greater Circle called St. Luke’s/San Lucas and to Vancouver.

When I was a small child, I lived in a village governed by a circle of Elders who held the wisdom of my People. I was expected to participate in village life with both my time and my funds. At six years of age, I sold newspapers on the corner of Main Street and Bond Ave, giving a share of what I earned as a gift to the greater circle. I taught by living example to the younger children the values taught me by my Elders.

When the time came to share a story, I knew to share a story from my young life. Other children shared their day’s adventure as well.

By the time I moved away, I had been taught the value of Family. Not only the Birth Family, but also this included close family from all walks of my life. I knew the necessity of giving my time, my funds and to share my life with others. I was taught that, because I have little, I am blessed. My best is to share my Knowledge with those younger than me. As an Elder, I must share my life experiences or there will be no one to tell the history and teach the Medicine Way and tell the stories to the next generation. Then they will be lost and not know their Way to the land across the other side.

Being generous with what we have, is nothing more than being rich with what abounds from Mother Earth. Returning the blessings we receive freely shows our love for our Church, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our Family as well as ourselves.
If we are able, after Mass, instead of leaving, try something new and join your church family in a shared circle of love and fellowship. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a cup of hot drink and some small treat.

It is pledge time, when you can see your opportunity to share what you have, as the old woman in the parable of the two coppers. You will be blessed 10 fold for your gifts. Share of your learning by joining in a circle of friend who have a like interest, or maybe experience a new interesting talent by learning from someone who is sharing his or her talents.

To become a part of your church family is to become part of a circle for health, wealth, companionship and spiritual growth.

May the Great Spirit be with you as you travel this life and may Mother Earth heap gifts upon you beyond measure; I pray this day in His Name. Amen!

Native American Heritage Day

- On Tue, 10/21/08, Pat Talley wrote:

> From: Pat Talley
> Subject: Fw: [SAIGE] Native American Heritage Day Act of 2008
> To: Undisclosed-Recipient@yahoo.com
> Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 9:37 PM
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joseph Bohanon"
> Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:43 AM
> Subject: Fw: [SAIGE] Native American Heritage Day Act of
> 2008
>
>
> > Does this mean that federal employees will actually
> have a day off in
> > recognition of the Indigenous Peoples? Great!!!
> >
> >
--- On Sun, 10/19/08, Nanette Waller <> wrote:

Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 1:40 PM
On Oct. 10, 2008 H.J. Res. 62 became Public Law
No: 110-370

Native American Heritage Day Act of 2008 (Enrolled
as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on
Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and eight
Joint Resolution To honor the achievements and contributions of
Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Native American Heritage Day Act of 2008'.



SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that--

(1) Native Americans are the descendants of the aboriginal, indigenous,
native people who were the original inhabitants of the United States;

(2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve in the United States Armed Forces
and have served with valor in all of the Nation's military actions
from the Revolutionary War through the present day,
and in most of those actions, more Native Americans per capita
served in the Armed Forces than any other group of Americans;

(3) Native Americans have made distinct and
significant contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in
many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art,
and Native Americans have distinguished themselves as inventors,
entrepreneurs spiritual leaders, and scholars;

(4) Native Americans should be recognized for their contributions to the
United States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars;

(5) nationwide recognition of the contributions
that Native Americans
have made to the fabric of American society will afford an
opportunity for all Americans to demonstrate their respect and
admiration of Native
Americans for their important contributions to the
political, cultural, and economic life of the United States;

(6) nationwide recognition of the contributions
that Native Americans have made to the Nation will encourage
self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages;

(7) designation of the Friday following
Thanksgiving of each year as
Native American Heritage Day will underscore the
government-to-government relationship between the United States and
Native American governments; and

(8) designation of Native American Heritage Day
will encourage public
elementary and secondary schools in the United States to enhance
understanding of Native Americans by providing curricula
and classroom instruction focusing on the achievements and
contributions of Native Americans to the Nation.

SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.
Congress--
(1) designates Friday, November 28, 2008, as `Native American Heritage Day';
and
(2) encourages the people of the United States, as well as Federal,
State, and local governments, and interested groups and organizations to
observe Native American Heritage Day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities, including activities relating to--

(A) the historical status of Native American
> tribal governments as well as the present day status of Native Americans;
(B) the cultures, traditions, and languages of
Native Americans; and
(C) the rich Native American cultural legacy thatall Americans enjoy today.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
See http://thomas. loc.gov for further information.

Lori Windle
OSM Western Region
Denver, CO