Jim:
We understand, you have been learning and this is how in truth we will all find peace, by speaking openly and honestly and listening with an open mind, not by paying someone to play a drum and denegrate anything or anyone.
Anyhow, I came here this morning to relate the events of last night.
We went to see what this woman whose eagle feathers were taken by Fish and wildlife was doing. We had purchased tickets so we could go in. While waiting for some friends to arrive, before we went in the police were called. We were speaking with the local police when the state police arrived. The state police went and spoke to the sponsors of this woman who had given her word NOT to do anything Native when in this area. The sponsors told the State police we had no right to be on the road. This is not what was said last week. The police told them we had tickets to go their “show???.
Leaving some of our friends outside, we went in after everything got started, and stood quietly in the back of the dome, since there were no chairs available, as they were all stacked on the opposite side of the room. Rachel Hozwarth was speaking as we quietly entered trying to avoid disrupting this event since we were there only to observe. Before the six of us could get in and close the door Rachel turned the remainder of the night over to Samantha Elliot. I will not say we were not invited to sit, as at some point during Samantha’s monlogue one of the hosts came across to ask if we would like to have chairs, not wanting to disturb the rest of the audience we declined. Two other women entered considerably later.
Samantha spoke at length appearing to often forget what she wanted to say, filling the gaps with “Um??? and “Ahh??? I am sorry, but I notice these things since I posess a degree in Adult Education. I also noticed she appeared to have problems understanding the difference between the sciences, during her discussion of molecular excitement saying this was biology at one point and chemistry at another before finishing with physics, among other equally distinct errors in her monologue. This woman received a Bachelors degree in Alaska which makes we wonder if the term “College Illiterate??? applies. The PROOF of this comes from the website of Rachel Holzwarth where Samantha Elliot has her autobiography described. So here I must wonder what is a lie and what is just do to nervousness.
Samantha spoke at length often appearing to forget what she was saying, possibly this is my perception due to the distraction caused by the continually repeated “UM??? and “AHH???. She spoke of the Traditional Mayan Fire Ceremony she was performing that night (I thought Mayans were also North American Indians), explaining she learned it nine months ago and this would be her fourth Mayan Fire Ceremony and she would be reading the steps to speak to the spirits during the ceremony. I was shocked since I didn’t think the Mayans had such a short term apprenticeship for their sacred rites, nor did I realize they traditionally wrote down what they were teaching them, but maybe because they allow their apprentices to “teach??? these dangerous ceremonies in such a short time frame this is how it is done. I in all honesty do not believe this is the way of the Mayans and will speak Monday with a Mayan gentleman where I work.
At the close of the discussion we were announced by Rachel and Samantha to the audience. Rachel specifically told the audience the local Native American people were here and there was tension and she would speak with us later. (She only introduced herself and did not take any time to speak to us). One of our members had picked up a song book noticing specific mention of several native ceremonies. Samantha said she saw us looking in the song book and we were welcome to take them. It should also be noted there were several drums, jewelery, CDs and crafts available for sale on the tables with the books.
The 43 women and 12 men in the audience including us (two women and four men) proceeded outside. Most people came and shook our hands and welcomed us, Rachel came and recognizing one of our members as a leader from the meeting last week, came and introduced herself to him. Most of the audience proceeded down to the fire however several had questions so we stayed and spoke at length to them openly and honestly before proceeding down ourselves.
When we arrived Samantha was reading some of the steps from her book. They passed around a bowl of Hersheys kisses to offer the fire. I somehow found this a very odd offering since chocolate as we know it is processed and not of a natural state, so because of my own beliefs I chose not to offer any choclate to the fire. The gathering went on, however I personally left, feeing sickened at all that I had seen.
Returning to the warmth and friendship of companions left standing vigil at the entrance to the property, I was asked if I knew who was swearing saying "Who do they think they are? They don't f---ing belong here". I was also told of a truck which drove by turned around and waited at the top of the hill. A golf cart from the sponsor's land drove through the trees to the property next door, flashed its lights twice and the truck then started up and drove past my friends again. This suspicious behavior seemed strangely out of place.
As the night wore on, we heard our spiritual leader, who came with us singing. I recognized his distinctive voice above the trees, echoing out over the land, this is a voice I know from having been in his sweat lodge, bringing peace to my spirit.
Shortly after this the remainder of our group returned to us gathering at the entrance, we smudged ourselves and left.
