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Ah-ho My Relations,
With this
announcement (Gathering
of Nations)
by our sister and leader Debra White Plume we have begun the long
journey that we vowed to take last summer. Some may not know that a
month long encampment (or longer) was once the traditional way our
people gathered to make decisions that are important to our Nations
and our People. It is felt it takes that long to examine the problems
and make the correct decisions. In fact, Mato Paha was often the
place where the traditional encampments took place. It is our
intention that our circle grow as the "Biker Rally" nears
and that by August 6th we will be mighty in our numbers and powerful
in our beliefs.
On July 4th we
will begin with opening ceremonies and meetings for three to four
days. After that those who choose to camp with us will work to
prepare for the major gathering that begins with the "Sacred
Sites Summit" August 1-4 and the Grand Council meetings on the 5th.
The "Sturgis
Bike Rally" begins on August 6th and it is then that we will
march and stand up for our sacred mountain and our future
generations. If you plan on coming, plan on being self-sufficient
during your stay. The land we will be living on will offer no
amenities and we can only provide basics such as water and food,
stores are five miles or more away and the heat will be intense while
shade limited.
During the month
we are planning activities along with the ceremonies, especially for
the youth. We'll show youth how to do some basic things like putting
up a tipi the right way and to build a proper fire. Star knowledge
will be passed on and old stories told to make sure our children know
why Bear Butte is worth the sacrifices we are calling on them to
make. Societies will sing their songs and pray for courage,
generosity and fortitude. While there will be no entertainment for
youth or kids on Bear Butte there will be at least one youth night at
a property about 15 miles away and hopefully some places to swim
closer. Elders are coming to teach and show all of us their knowledge
of living softly upon our Mother Earth while living a healthy natural
way life.
Some groups and
societies will be having separate or private prayers and ceremonies
apart from the main encampment and everyone will be expected to
respect each other's privacy. Many people may be fasting on the
mountain including people from our encampment and others, so climbing
it will not be encouraged for recreation or sight seeing. For those
of you who come early be prepared to obey camp rules and protocols
about fires, noise (don't bring barking dogs), parking and camping
places. (You may be asked to move your good camp so an Elder can have
shade as an example.)
For those of you
who plan on coming for the "Summit" and "Rally"
in August please coordinate with us as to how many you're bringing
and when you'll get here. We especially need our non-Indian friends
and supporters to come stand with us in August. If the final Council
meeting approves it at the end of the gathering, we have notified the
County that we plan on marching to City Hall and the Courthouse every
day of the biker rally for the next four years. In the message below,
Debra White Plume speaks for all off us who are attempting to remain
red in a sea of white. She speaks for the sacred man who's dream led
us to this effort. She speaks for the unborn generation's right to a
connection with their Grandmothers and Grandfathers places of sacred
worship. She calls to the heart of all who follow the canupa way of
the circle to come stand for their people. The Chiefs have called to
the veterans and warriors and all men and women who love and value
the old ways our forefathers left for us to follow to come together.
As we told you as
we began last year. We are humble people preparing a place for the
"Great Gathering" in August. If you support our just cause
of defending Bear Butte, we need your monetary help right now. Please
do not hesitate any longer to visit our web site and donate what you
can to support the effort. As we prepare the camp and to help the
youth this summer we'll need gas money to get back and forth from the
rez. If you can afford ten gallons it will bring a load of tipi poles
or food to the camp, another ten gallons will get them home. What I'm
trying to say is no donation is too small, we've succeeded in
gathering a lot of food and other things but cash is very short and
we're all spending everything we have out of our own pockets.
Sometimes I guess it's hard to get up the energy to send a few
dollars to help people do the things necessary to defend our ways as
they disappear little by little. It's much easier to rent that movie
or buy that big mac but perhaps, if you review what is at stake or
look at the pictures of destruction on our web site, you'll
reconsider and take the time and effort it takes to donate. [Here],
you will find the words of a woman
who is donating everything; she's speaking for all of us who are
donating everything. That's why I don't mind asking you, my friends
and relations to help out a little too.
Thank you (Weebla-ha)
Carter Camp
(writing from the shadow of our Mountain).
June 30, 2006
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