"The Traditional Lakota Camp-Project "
There
are many Native Americans of today who has lost much of their culture and
of their traditions by growing up in the cities, away from their culture and
traditional relatives and who wants to learn more about their "way of
life, thinking/thought, phiosophy, the way of the Red Road, starknowledge
and past-present- future."
There are few left of the "old ways" as so many Elders who now
are getting very old, and who are looking for individuals in the younger
generation
to pass on their wisdom to, - to the ones able and willing to receive this
knowledge and handle it with respect.
In connection with the vision of a place to get together for this understanding
and to be of "one mind" with their Lakota philosophies and cultural/spiritual
heritage, a project was initiated in -91" to establish a "Traditional
Camp" for the people who seeks this way of life of peace and harmony
- and spiritual guidance by the Elders! The foundation of this was named
by
the Trad. Keeper of "The Pipe" (Canunpa), which is over 19 generations
old - given to the Lakotas by The Sacred "White Buffalo Calf Woman."
The
project also included sending representatives on a journey up and down the
west coast of America - from Vancouver, British Columbia all the way down
to La Mesa, San Diego - California.
In connection with this, they were invited to speak at 61 schools, colleges,
universities, museums, Earth Day-meetings, environmental gatherings,
Peace
& Prayer Gatherings, private sweats & pipe ceremonies, Indigenous
Nations Gatherings and various indian reservations in California, Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia and Canada, for informing and to spread awareness
to the people about the Spiritual & Cultural Camp, that the Keeper of the
sacred Pipe named;
"Back to Traditional Camp!
The foundation of this camp was being based on the teachings of The Sacred
Pipe, away from the cities and towns to teach and pass on wisdom, traditions,
philosophy, language, herbs, roots & medicine, handcrafts, spirituality,
just a few to name…. to give an alternative to this way of living.
Even only for seasonal months - a place of peace and retreat for the people,
and also a place to hold sacred rites to share the spiritual and cultural
richness and knowledge!
The four colors of the Medicinewheel represents the four races of the world: Black, White, Yellow, Red to become "all natural human beings," - learn how to better respect our mother The Earth (Unci Maka) - Grand-mother Earth!
It has been done a lot of work to help and support the Lakotas and Indigenous Nations of America (Turtle Island) in informing about this project. They also did a job to help informing the people that could´t make it to the gatherings and also to contribute to the Native Am. students in schools, colleges and universities. They were glad to give their services for the teachings of the youth; "for which they hold our future in the palm of their hands." That´s why they feel it is very important that we pass on the wisdom and values of the Indigenous Nations!
"We
believe in being united as one people, not separated and put in a different
category lower than others because of the color of skin or how rich you are.
As a people we dream of a time living off of the land in peace and harmony
with all of nature, we believe that we were put here on this earth to protect
and take care of this earth we have.
If people keep destroying the air, water, earth - what are the youth of tomorrow
left with? We have to teach the next generation to respect all living things
that are here, to protect and take care of their mother so the people may
live……
Sacred Spiritual gatherings take place for the Lakotas, Cheyenne, Arapaho
- Nations that go there to perform ceremonies that coincide with the stars
-
a place to seek your vision. We believe that the "Paha Sapa" is
the Heart of America & Canada ( Turtle Island)."
Background for this camp project:
It all started in the spring of -91." An older Spiritual advisor (medicine man) with representatives were invited to the West coast of the USA, from Vancouver, British Columbia down California, as mentioned - a 61 city tour. The basis of this tour was to raise funds and awareness to the people, that the Lakota people are alive and continue their culture, speaking about the establishment of a traditional Lakota Camp!
The main goal of the project is to raise donations
(funds) to help support the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) people of the Indian Reservations.
This project was established the summer of 1991 in the beautiful hills.
This camp is a camp of Peace, based on the 7 sacred rites of the Lakota -
brought to them by the "White Buffalo Calf Woman" 19 generations
ago! The name of the camp "Wicala Kota Oti" or "back to traditional
camp" were received from the very well known and highly respected Spiritual
Advisor and Leader for the Lakota people, the Keeper of the original Sacred
Pipe (that is over 19 generations old).
One of the (7) sacred rites of the Lakotas is the Pipe ceremony.
"
When we pray with the Pipe we pray for the:
· (4) Four directions, four races of man,
four colors.
· (1) Mother Earth (Unci Maka - Grandmother Earth)
· (1) Water of Life, the fourlegged, the winged ones and all life
· (1) Sacred Spirit - Creator (Wakan Tanka).
The number 7 is sacred to the Lakota. We will not go
into the ceremony any further because it is a sacred ceremony, just the basics.
"The
Lakota´s see the future generation drifting into the modern way, European
way. That´s why they have "Back to Traditional Camp" to bring
the children from both the city and the reservation together to pass on the
teachings of traditional and cultural ways.
The effort of the people is to re-establish their traditional culture and
spiritual heritage and to share their struggle to save the Lakota way of
life
- which is being threathened by the pleasures of assimilation into a society
that does not respect all that they have been taught of traditional values,
namely balance and harmony within nature."
"Assimilation into mainstream society would be in conflict with
many of our traditional beliefs that they were raised with. Essentially -
our youth find themselves in a materially-oriented society that does not respect
the Earth our "Mother" but for our ancestors and for us;
"Every living thing on her surface
is a sacred being."
We were taught that it is our job to take care of all
of the elements of the Earth - they are not ours to be used as we please.
All must be done within a balance and harmony with respect!
As a support of this philosophy called The Red Road - there was initiated
a
Spiritual Traditional Encampment.
"May The Great Spirit bless you all with happiness and good thoughts." To all my relations -