Huna & Midewin
Aboriginal Traditions of Hawaii and North America
The Twain Meet in Davis Inlet
by Christopher J. McLeod, Red Eagle
"Huna", is the traditional shamanic trainings of Hawaii. "Midewin", is a traditional way of teaching Pipe Carriers, and those who have been chosen to become healers by the healers and medicine people in the Aboriginal community in America. Midewin means, "The Way of the Heart".
I have been a Pipe Carrier for about ten years now and although I learn from all traditions and languages, I follow the Midewin Teachings because my foster father/grandfather was a Midewin Medicine Man. I did not know this until several years after his death even though I lived under the same roof. I thought all his visitors from all over the province were there to visit him because he was such a neat guy and a good trapper who had travelled far and wide. The visitors were obviously his "clients" and "patients".
I attended a training session called, The Secret to Creating Your Future® using Time Line Therapytm techniques on the recommendation of one of my teachers who is a succesful finance and real estate business man in the city of Winnipeg. I also had seen T.V. commercials about the program and knew it was a course I should evaluate.
By way of background, I have been a community development specialist for 25 years and have acted to create positive and lasting social and economic change in Inner City neighborhoods and Aboriginal communities including Metis settlements and Indian reserves. Six years ago I had discovered an excellent program which had a track record no other program has matched. However, it still had some flaws including cost, number of staff required, the long hours (12-18 for most of the five days).
I have been looking to improve the program by exploring others. It can get expensive when you attend many programs for evaluation. I had just invested into the Tony Robbins programs and was wanting to explore the rapid healing technologies of John Bradshaw, when I heard about John Tozeland's program. I was getting very selective about what programs to invest in. I decided to attend the Secret of Creating Your Future (TM) when I read about the course offering help in "getting aligned with your life's purpose".
I was amazed at the design of John's training and it's simple and immediate effectiveness in changing the meaning of past events. I feel that John Bradshaw's, program was an adaption from Time Line Therapy. During the clearing of the Time Line, it seemed as though I had been taken to the source of rapid or "accelerated" change/ that I was looking for!
My wife Doris and I, had recently been invited to assist in healing the suicidal depression occurring in Davis Inlet, Labrador. Six Innu children had attempted a group suicide by inhaling solvents. This event received international media attention. We were invited as a result of our work with one of the co-founders of the New Directions/Flying On Your Own Program, of Alkali Lake B.C. We had chosen to work with Mrs. Margaret Gilbert, exclusively because of her 15 years experience and her skills to handle and adapt to any situation in the training room. Doris, and I were so impressed with John's program and John as a person that we asked if he would join our team and experiment with an amalgamation of our program with his in Davis Inlet.
The merging of the two programs in Davis Inlet, was a resounding success. The shocker for Margaret and I was John's, teaching of Huna. The teachings were essentially those we learn in the various teachings in North America including the Midewin tradition which I follow. We had never seen the teachings done so well in a workshop setting including the use of the drum. The spiritual teachings were done with great respect, clarity and effectiveness.
Margaret, and I spoke of the teachings of Huna and joked about my accidental latching onto a White "Pipe Carrier". We were talking about Davis Inlet's request to learn about traditional teachings including the mythology and ceremonies. Margaret, and I were prepared to conduct Pipe Ceremonies, Sweats and to deal with questions as they arose. Little did we know that John's presence was to be of profound significance to the request. Specifically, we brought a Whiteman we accepted as being able to help us and this same Whiteman came with us not knowing he had already accepted our Way by his exploration and acceptance of the Aboriginal teachings of Hawaii, called Huna. This is significant because the teachings of both traditions emphasize "Acceptance". It is for this reason that we are not "missionary". After all, we are really brothers and sisters of a common Creator we call "Father" and/or "Grandfather". Out of this experience, John and I developed a 2 1/2 day program called Discovering the Power Within, healing the past and connecting with powerful inner resources. I write this article in the Spirit of Alkali Lake. My legal name is Christopher J. McLeod, and my Indian name is, Red Eagle.
