The Gathering Place:
The Sunray Peace Village, is located in Lincoln, Vermont approximately 1 hour south of Burlington and a half an hour north of Middlebury at the foot of Mount Abraham.
The Gathering Schedule:
* Arbor Teachings with Native American Elders
July 25 -27, 2008, Friday-Sunday, 10am-1pm & 3pm-5pm
* Sunrise Gathering, Fri-Sun at 6:30am
* Women’s Moon Teachings, Fri-Sun (after Sunrise Gathering)
* Activities for Elementary School-age Children
(Morning and Afternoon Arbor Sessions Only)
* Healing Ceremony Saturday Evening, July 26, 2008, 7pm-10pm
In 1969, the Elders of the Ywahoo lineage and other Tsalagi Elders granted permission for this Tsalagi (Cherokee) Healing Ceremony to be offered in ways that were appropriate for all people. This ceremony has continued each year to benefit the earth and change the destructive course of the past, to one of healing. This ceremony is open to the public. Donations are accepted, but not required.
Elders & Wisdom Seminars Presenter Bios
BERNARD DEASIS, TLINGET
Bernard DeAsis is a member of the Tlinget tribe of Southeast Alaska. He has worked with medicine people from the US, Canada, and Hawaii presenting workshops on traditional Indian medicine responding to tribal prophesies that it was now time to share the Indian medicine teachings that would help to save mother earth. His education and experience includes intensive and extensive training and practice in Human Relations/Behavior, Organizational Development, and facilitation. Besides operating his own businesses his career included working for US Public Health Service/Indian Health Service. Outside of his government service he continued to provide consultant services to Indian tribes, groups, and communities to assist them in developing and improving their management practices
NANATASIS BLUTO-DELVENTAL, ABENAKI
Turtle Clan Mother/ Abenaki
- Sits as Elder on several Councils in Vermont & Nationally
- Shares Abenaki Turtle Clan Moontime Teachings with women
- Healer who works with herbs, massage therapy, Reiki, & Therapeutic Touch
- Involved with Ceremonies & Counsels peoplE
PATRICIA DOWNING DEASIS, TSALAGI
Grandmother Patricia Downing DeAsis, BS MS, is Tsalagi and a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She has worked with The Medicine for many years, working with medicine people of other tribes in response to tribal prophecies that it was now time to share traditional medicine with all people. Patricia is currently working as a private consultant while working to establish a health and healing center which creates a balanced partnership between traditional Indian medicine, Western allopathic medicine, and the patient. She has shared teachings during the Gathering at the Peace Village since the 90s. She is also a member of the Spiritual Elder’s of Mother Earth council. The Elders on this council are working in support of the prophesy which states the condor of the south will join with the eagle of the north to move us into the next 500 years.
MIKE BASTINE, ALGONQUIN
Mike is from outside Buffalo New York, but his ancestors are Algonquin from Maniwaki, Quebec. As a child, most of his time was spent observing and relating to the natural world. Then meeting up with Mad Bear, Tuscarora Indian traditional teacher, a great blend of worlds began. Mike has been involved with native traditional people for about 20 years. Through the years, many influences have reinforced the teachings of nature he received as a child. He traveled extensively with Mad Bear all over the country meeting with other traditional elders. They even traveled to Daramsala, India to meet with the Dalai Lama. During these meetings and in the years since then, many elders have passed the wisdom of the generations to people like Mike. Mike’s Algonquin birthright flavored with the Iroquois wisdom through Mad Bear, has inspired Mike to speak his knowledge.
Mike has taught and spoken at peace conferences in Toronto & Washington DC, he has spoken at many universities all across the country, traveling also to federal prisons to meet with Native inmates. He has spoken to the Audubon Society and other environmental groups, guides herbal medicine walks, and has offered workshops for diabetics. Mike was at the “Condors and Eagles” Conference where he participated on the prophesy counsel. A friend of his once said, “If the wind could talk, it would be Mike’s voice”.
TATA RICARDO, CENTRAL AMERICAN
Tata Ricardo Maye, following his father and grandfather as Tata, is Priest and Spiritual Guide for the Indigenous people of Central America and the Caribbean.
In addition to the many spiritual responsibilities, they maintain the ancient ceremonial calendar of the Nahuat Pipiles, encompassing eloquent Wisdom Teachings. Both El Salvadoran Elders work with herbs, healing and traditional medicine practices. Tata provides guidance to troubled youth and gang members. One of Tata's dreams is to have a school for education of their community throughout El Salvador in the language, traditions and practices of their ancestors. For the Nahuat Pipiles, who pre-date the arrival of the Mayans, honoring their relationship with the Sacred Fire is central to everything they do. Ancestors speak through the fire. Fire is used to create balance and protection in their lives.
LEI’ OHU RYDER, HAWAIIAN
Lei’Ohu Ryder is an educator, musician, composer, writer, and wisdom keeper of ancestral teachings from the island of Maui. She travels the world, bringing the message of healing and peace, building the rainbow bridge of aloha one heart at a time.
SILVER FOX METTE, CHEROKEE
Silver Fox is of Cherokee descent. He is a traditional healer of the lineage of his maternal Grandmother. His ancestors moved to Florida decades before the trail of tears.
Silver Fox is a Ph.D. Psychotherapist who carries the traditional Cherokee and Chinese body-mind/ soul integration practices. As well, he is a professor emeritus of Long Island University and a career psychotherapist. He has also experienced many of the South and Central American Indigenous peoples’ healing ways.
Silver Fox assists people freeing themselves of the toxins of negative experiences, thus bringing out their emotionally healthy selves. The body/ mind stores all of one’s experiences. Through body oriented spirituality, Sacred approaches, healing occurs.
Silver Fox and wife Danuta Snow Song (Kroskowska) live on a residential Peace Village between Kornatka and a national forest in Poland.
DANUTA SNOW SONG, OGAOENO
Danuta is from Poland. She is a teacher of traditional wisdom of the Seneca Indian Wolf Clan and was taught by Grandmother Twylah Nitsch who initiated and empowered her to carry these teachings.
Equally important is her experience with Sunray Meditation Society. Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo instructed her to teach Sunray meditation and the Dance of the Four directions. Danuta was encouraged by these two teachers to take these teachings to Poland after living in Canada for thirty years.
She is a certified psychotherapist of White Lodge College of Psychotherapy based in England.
ABUELA MARGUERITTA NUNEZ-GARCIA, MEXICO
Abuela Margarita comes from far away to help us remember the teachings of our ancestors. She reminds us of the importance of Mother Earth and Father Sun, which are the basis of humanity, our origin and source of sustenance. “My work is to plant seeds of knowledge so they can grow and give fruits.” “I come to remind you of what is already inside of you. The woman has to take her place as the teacher of humanity and it is through her that change will come.”
Abuela Margarita belongs to the Native Council of Elders of America and has participated in numerous aboriginal gatherings in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the United States, Canada, and Europe. She takes part in the Sundance, Earthdance, Moondance, and other ceremonies, including sweat lodges and vision quests on a regular basis.
DR. DIETA BIEBEL, BAVARIA
Dr. Dieta Biebel is a Grandmother of Bavaria, a gynecologist, psychoanalyst and Supervising Teacher of Sunray. She offers teachings on how experiences from the past and your dreams can help you find the way into your future.
What we learn from our ancestors may block our ways or open new doors.