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| Eastside of Battery Point Light House during winter in Crescent City, CA |
North American Indigenous people also anticipate the approach of a new cycle of life. However, they know perfectly well we are still living knee-deep in winter. Instead of jumping on their new ideas that continued to spring up in their minds and dreams, (and I believe all pre-mentioned events were reminders to contain a focus of gratitude and mindfulness for right actions within changes) they would hold long communal gatherings with their leaders and Elders to obtain mentoring wisdom at this interval of life's anticipatory cycle.
My ancestral Tamalko and Southern Pomo communities would have moved up onto the redwood forests and hills away from the ocean during winter. They held bi-regional lifestyles, living at the ocean in the summer and mountainous regions in the winter. There were more protections for the people in the forests as well as access to freshwater and medicines during the harsher time of the year. The time to spend with loved ones was actually long-awaited. I was told by Elders that there was not enough time in the days during warmer weather to spend "quality time" because everyone was too busy dealing with the process of living. Winter was when the family came together and the stories and legends come forth from those that knew and remembered the histories to share. If you had a relative that was able to tell the stories your family was highly regarded and had many visitors, (who additionally brought gifts when they visited). Thus the time for gathering and sharing was a good time and a good way of being during the winter season.
My Indigenous cousins within the Six Nations community in Canada, hold a 10-day long observance of this time in ceremonies. I was invited one year as Diane Longboat's guest, who was one of the ceremonial facilitators. Unfortunately, there was an ice storm as well as Diane's husband became very ill and I was not able to attend while I was there. The six nations reserve lands are north of Toronto and I was at the time living in Bailieboro, southeast of Toronto, a long distance in an ice storm to travel. However, I was well aware of what took place as I was mentored by Knowledge keeper Aqusaahsneh Mohawk, Skahendowaneh Swamp, Elder Jake Swamp's son.
The first portion of the ceremonies was a series of honoring ceremonies. Families reconnected with runners, greeters and there is much protocol. All traditional protocol is to instill the great depth of respect for everyone and everything.
It is a powerful experience to be in the presence of such knowledge keepers who can instill the traditions to everyone with great love and longing. Many times I remember my father who was a storyteller, inform me of the histories from his South Pacific heritage. They were magical times just to be in his presence and his recollection of personally witnessed events of history as well as those who he knew that shared their stories with him.
Unfortunately today with the separations we have from our families and communities there are few that can share or even have the stories left within them.
I was asked to share some of such stories through the Yreka Preservation society in Yreka California when I was living in Weed. I mentioned to them that I could not repeat stories or refer to them until it was approaching winter. They were respectful enough to wait until later that year so that I might make a presentation through the Siskiyou Library in Yreka to share from the ancestors.
So this is the time that we can share through our spoken words. Not written down on the page as it is would not be living history, as it is not being delivered by the voice of the ancestors, and thus the myth-story is not effective nor is it respected. Delivery must be given through the breath of ones' own lifeforce.
Then once heard and felt through the presence of the culture bearer and knowledge keeper, it would be remembered and/or held an impact on who is receiving it.
I suppose it is like lighting a candle and being near that warmth and the actual flickering light and the essence of its being and magic.
Such phenomena are what we seek during this midwinter season. We wish to find that magical light that leads us towards truly living once again.
Why is this needed light from way-showers so important?
I have always had the privilege of being associated with those who have been older than myself. I had five great aunts who were sisters I respected who reflected much authority and wisdom in my life. Also, great-great aunties and uncles still lived that I was able to visit and listen to and learn from. Unfortunately, my paternal grandparents died when my father was 8 years old and my mother was removed from her parents when she was also 8 years old. I never got to know my grandparents. Fortunately, with both of my parents, there were relatives within communities that offered support and wisdom along the way. I am not saying they were with them on a daily basis. In fact, for many years both my parents had to forge their own pathways on their own.
However, both had help. My father intrinsically knew how much he was loved by both his parents since his beginnings. His older sister died young before his birth so he was extremely protected and greatly loved and pampered until his parents' deaths. Even though my father's youthful beginnings after my grandparents' death was difficult, he always held their love dear.
My mother did not have her parents' attention as I am sure she had hoped. There were four other children after her, and as the eldest of her siblings, she had many responsibilities living through the Great Depression. Despite the early separation from her parents, she was taken in and raised by a relative (great aunt) who gave her the foundation she was looking for in her life.
Both of my parents instilled the value of honoring and seeking the wisdom of our Elder relatives and knowledge keepers.
My great-auntie (surrogate grandmother) who raised my mother also had a rest home business and license and I would help her with meals and also spent time with the Elders living there. Listening to histories told to me by a first-hand observer brought me to a world much different than what I knew and also instilled within me wonder, honor and respect for the survivors of history past. As I had continued on my inquisitive pathway in life I also studied and apprenticed with Elders from other indigenous communities even when I was taking graduate curriculum during my Master's program as well as my Ph.D. experiences. I was fortunate to be mentored by the Elders I most needed.
My most favorite people and best of friends no longer live in this world today. Therefore, the light that was shown to me I hold within myself and I try to bring to others (who have the interest and desire to spend more than just a moment in my life), the essential wisdom my beloved Elders have gifted to me. I believe these gifts are gifts from "angels" as they contain vast benefits that we do not understand or decipher until the moment the wisdom is needed.
Facts and anecdotes are not the wisdom we need today, we can pull up anything on our phones and pads. The warmth and light from another lifeforce that is there with our participation are the power and illumination we so desperately need today.
Today I am back in my homeland state of CA living on the familiar coast. Though not on my traditional coastlines of north-central California it is in northern California. Ironically there are two lighthouses in Del Norte County, the Battery Point Lighthouse and the St. George Reef Lighthouse. In addition, there are 3 other lighthouses going south in Humboldt County. Just north of us in Brookings Oregon is the Pelican Bay lighthouse and the Coquille Light House near Bandon. The Brookings port up to Bandon as well as the Crescent City and Eureka Port are all working fishing ports.
The lighthouse is a beacon of light during the night or in dense fog when a mariner is traveling towards land or reef or rocks near land. It indicates that there are concerns to pay attention to. Lighthouses in the past were used for aerial navigation support as well. Today there are many electronic navigational tools that have replaced the lighthouse. However, our coastal communities work very hard to keep our lighthouses amongst us. They are powerful metaphors of safety, guardians, way-showers, and familiarity. I find the same when we seek the guidance of our Elders and those who have walked ahead of us and know very well what we are going through and what we are up against on our Earth walks. I pray I've added a little more insights as to why this Indigenous person has continued to look for the familiar light of way-showers along my travels in life. I know it resonates with many others.
And, I must remind us that we are still deep up to our knees in winter. We still need guidance and we still need to continue walking this passage during a time that reflects there is still work to be done.
In our autumnal seasonal podcast "Our Ancient Lands", I offer a conversation with esteemed Santee Sioux/Absarookee Elder Scott Frazier from Montana. Scott candidly gives us some of his Elder reflections on the culture and our Spiritual concerns. My dear sweet Dine sister from Arizona, and advocate for Indigenous wellness, Barbara Burnside, also illustrates within a two-part conversation her candid and very open journey of healing. I have plans to eventually invite both to come and spend some time with us at our Fire talks here in California when the weather is kinder towards their travels.
In the next blog, I plan on sharing the work that LUTEA has been doing with more detail as it seems such a mystery for most folks. All that is shared by our podcast guests touch on the many concerns and issues that we at LUTEA wish to contribute wellness towards.
In our monthly indigenous prayer circle, we continue to hold the light with prayers for all concerned. May we all find the light that we need during this winter season to spring.
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