Skaná Spa Offers Ancient Healing Method to Guests

[AlaskaGrl]

http://www.oneida-nation.net/pressroom/detail.cfm?key=3&id=2623

From the Oneida Nation Pressroom

Skaná Spa Offers Ancient Healing Method to Guests
 
October 10, 2006
For centuries, several American Indian Nations and other cultures have used sweat therapy in one form or another. Now the ritual of cleansing and purification experienced at a sweat lodge will be available for guests at the Oneida Nation's Skaná Spa at Turning Stone Resort and Casino.

Milo Yellow Hair, an Oglala Lakota, his wife Moniek, and Tom Kanatakeniate Cook, a Mohawk and resident of Pine Ridge, S.D., assembled a sweat lodge in the woods at Shenendoah Golf Course. The red willow structure is covered with canvas, tarp, and buffalo hide; it stands approximately 44 inches off the ground and is 16 feet in diameter. The sweat lodge will be flanked by two dressing areas styled like tipis.

Yellow Hair, who has been building sweat lodges for years, was very pleased to work on the sweat lodge for the Oneidas, adding that anything he builds to celebrate life is not considered work.
"This is a nice experience," Yellow Hair said. "They (the Oneida) are not strangers to me. They generally feel that this is important in their lives, and they're happy to see us here."

In fact, the Oneidas have had a long relationship with the Oglala Lakota. The Oneida Nation Foundation has donated $5,000 to Oglala Lakota Tribal College for scholarships and also supported the Oglala's agricultural projects and self-help programs. Yellow Hair said building the lodge is one way the Oglalas have for thanking the Oneidas.

Yellow Hair said participants are in for a memorable experience. "You never forget the first ones you were with" in a sweat lodge ceremony, he said. "The sweat lodge helps you get rid of the negative influences. The sweat lodge can be real good for you, or unforgiving, but it still makes a human being out of you. That's what we all are."

Sweat therapy, according to Cook, ranges from a simple sweat bath to a highly-developed ceremony. The sweat lodge at Skaná will welcome guests seeking to better their health and to cleanse their bodies.
"The sweat lodge experience is aligned with our philosophy that we are color blind," Cook said. "We have no restrictions about race or religion."

The nearly three-hour treatment begins with a guide relaying the historical significance of a sweat lodge. Participants give thanks to all the elements, similar to what is said during the traditional Thanksgiving address. The session includes American Indian drumming and songs.

The sweat lodge is available a la carte for those staying at The Lodge or for guests of Skaná Spa. The sweat lodge is contraindicated for guests with hypertension, low blood pressure, dehydration, pregnancy, cancer, or other medical issues as indicated by their physician, and for those under 18 or over 70 years old.

 

[AlaskaGrl]

FACT SHEET
Skaná Spa
The Skaná Spa, scheduled to open in fall 2006, takes its inspiration from the Oneida Nation's welcoming spirit. Skaná (skah-nah), the Oneida word for peace, is representative of the Oneida 's belief in the balance of good health, harmony with nature, and tranquility within. Up to 100 people will be employed at the spa.

Design Features

Mirrors look of The Lodge
Meditative space features replica of the Oneida Stone with explanation of its significance, several American Indian art pieces, and references to the Oneida Nation's culture
Enclosed bridge connects The Lodge to Skaná Spa
Welcome area replicates feel of The Lodge's Great Room and features view of The Tower
Welcome area designed as a representation of an Oneida longhouse and features a suspended flue fireplace
Glass accented by sticks, wood pieces and flowers surrounds the second floor co-ed mineral pool
Sweat Lodge

American Indian Sweat Lodge built by the Oneida Indian Nation with the Oglala and Lakota Sioux tribes of South Dakota
Sweat Lodge is considered representative of mother's womb and is seen as a gift from Mother Earth
Remaining in the sweat lodge and giving thanks to Mother Earth is said to symbolizes rebirth
Sweat lodge built to the height of a man's heart
Buffalo hide drapes the red willow structure to contain steam and heat
Lodge is 12 feet in diameter
Visit begins with American Indian storytelling with guide relating the historical significance of a sweat lodge
Ceremonial time will include American Indian drum beats, chants, prayers in traditional sweat lodge interpretive observation
The sweat lodge will be offered as a package for those staying at the Lodge either as a stand-alone or as part of the experience. The sweat lodge is contraindicated for guests with hypertension, low blood pressure, dehydration, those under 18- or over 70-years-old, pregnancy, cancer, or other medical issues as indicated by their physician.
Facility

12 Treatment Rooms
One private VIP suite
Five massage rooms
Three facial rooms
One wet treatment room with hand-held table shower and walk-in shower
One spa suite – body treatment/massage combination room with soaking tub and shower
One dual treatment room with shower for one or two people
Luxurious private men's and women's relaxation lounges with juice bar and fireplace
Coed mineral pool and relaxation area
Full-service salon
Spa retail boutique with exclusive spa products and clothing
Spa Features

Mineral pool and relaxation area with individual body massage stations
Relaxation lounges feature fireplaces, inspirational art, interior finishes in Oneida hues for harmony and peace
Specially designed VIP Suite for personal treatment combinations, couples, or friends, including:
Two Purist bath soaking tubs
Oversized shower with multi-jet hydromassage system
Two treatment tables for massage, body treatments, facials
Relaxation areas with steam room, sauna, chaise lounges
Herb garden with sky and treetop views
Reception area and retail boutique
Skaná Spa café serving healthy meals for breakfast and lunch
Signature Treatments

Several treatments have been designed using herbs and plants the Oneidas traditionally used for healing. During the year, treatments will be designed with specific Oneida festivals in mind.
The Oneidas value white pine, rich in vitamin C, for combating cough and colds. White pine is also known as the Great Tree of Peace and is displayed prominently on the Nation's logo. Several treatments use white pine oil.
Among the herbs, flowers, and plants used are sage, sunflower, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, dandelion, chamomile, sage, seaweed, marjoram, cedar, verbena, evening primrose, wild black cherry, pumpkin, sweet grass, witch hazel, plantain, blue lobelia, oat, juniper, cypress, lemon, sage, eucalyptus, algae, mud.
A line of services incorporating cedar and sage have been created for the spa by industry leaders Kerstin Florian and Naturopathica.
Before treatment begins, each guest is welcome to participate in a balancing waters ritual. The Oneidas regard water as an important life force. The balancing waters ritual is designed to be alternately relaxing and stimulating, using hot and cool water temperatures, steam baths, and dry inhalation. The ritual takes approximately 50 minutes.
Treatments/ Services

Variety of massages
Custom facials
Herbal and mineral body treatments, polishes, body wraps
Bath treatments
Group exercise classes and outdoor activities
Personal training
Manicures and pedicures
Hair styling and make-up application
Fitness center

Strength and cardiovascular studio featuring StarTrac equipment
Three treadmills equipped with 15-inch LCD TVs
Two elliptical cross trainers with 15-inch LCD TVs
Upright bicycle with 15-inch LCD TV
Two recumbent bicycles with 15-inch LCD TVs
Leg curl machine
Bicep machine
Leg extension
Lateral pull machine (to work back, bicep and forearm muscles)
Vertical row
Vertical press
Abdominal machine
Exercise Studio
Fully-equipped
Special cushioned floor to reduce impact
Exercise classes including yoga, tai chi, aerobics, Pilates, and the resort's 5,600-foot fitness trail with fit stations located throughout
Personal training
Pool
Indoor pool (22 x 64 feet)
Whirlpool
Lounge area
Group programs and packages

Spa group concierge
Group reservations available
Hours
Skaná Spa is open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission
Skaná Spa, including Skaná Spa Fitness Center , is open to guests age 17 and up.
 

Turning Stone is located off NYS Thruway Exit 33 in Verona, about 30 miles east of Syracuse. This central location offers convenient access to all of Central New York's attractions, including historic Revolutionary War sites, amusement parks, museums, shopping, and a full slate of regional festivals.


EDITORS NOTE
For more information, contact Mark Emery, director of media relations, Jerry Reed, senior media specialist, or Dan Hartman, media specialist, at (315) 829-8370. Visit the Oneida Nation news site on the World Wide Web at www.oneidanews.net for media advisories, other news and background information.

[Moma_porcupine]

http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/living/1189412863273670.xml&coll=2

"Spa adds sweat lodge, complete with music, meditation, to guest menu
Monday, September 10, 2007
GLENN COIN"

"The Oneidas have borrowed the sweat lodge tradition as the newest attraction in their 21,000-square-foot Skana Spa at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, in Verona, N.Y. For $300 apiece, guests can undergo a three-hour modified version of the Western American Indian purification rite of steam, song and meditation.

The man who conducts the ceremonies at Turning Stone, Kakwiranoron Cook, is a descendant of the Ogalala and Mohawk tribes."

"Cook and Fougnier agree that some American Indians object to the commercialization of cultural practices such as sweat lodges. But Cook said they regard it as a way to make people aware of Indian culture and see no problem offering it to paying non-Indians."

http://www.oneidanation.net/pressroom/detail.cfm?key=3&id=3288

Turning Stone's three-hour sweat lodge experience features interpretative storytelling, drumming, chants and prayers led by  Native American guide, Kakwiranoron (pronounced Gagwila-nolon) Cook. Cook grew up in a family where sweat lodge ceremonies were part of day-to-day life with his mother's people, the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) in the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. His father is a Mohawk Indian from Central New York.

http://www.newhouse.com/sweat-lodge-steam,-song-and-meditation-6.html

"Kakwiranoron Cook, an Oglala Lakota, sits in the American Indian sweat lodge of the Skana Spa at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. Cook's Mohawk Indian father, Thomas Cook, built the sweat lodge, and Kakwiranoron will oversee interpretation of the sweat lodge experience. (Photo by Heather Bragman)"

There is an interesting interconnection between Kakwiranoron Cook , his father Tom Cook and a couple articles I came across a few days ago researching something else .

The article in the link below , is Arvol Looking Horse trying to clarify the decisions that were made in March 2003 to protect ceremonies from further abuse .

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1057586779

Indian Country Today published the article above, the same day as an article written by Tom Kanatakeniate Cook , who seemed very "concerned" about the decisions made in March 2003 to protect Lakota ceremonies . The author of this article appears to be the same Tom Cook who is the father of the aforementioned ceremony seller Kakwiranoron Cook .

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1057586552

In the article above , the author Tom Cook is introduced as Mohawk from Akwesasne and his wife as Lakota from Pine Ridge . 

Tom begins this article by sounding like he has some concerns about these decisions being bad for Lakota people. He points out the decentralized structure of Lakota societies, and he uses this to diminish the authority of the leaders who supported limiting non native participation in traditional Ceremonies 

The article's title implies it is a statement from Elders about the Protection of Ceremonies descision . However reading through this, I see no living Elders mentioned . Instead, Tom quotes a few sentences spoken by Lakota Elders a hundred years ago , and he suggests these words dismiss the concerns of Elders living today . Tom even tries to justify selling ceremonies , pointing out gifts were mentioned as part of ceremonial participation over 100 years ago .

When I read this a few days ago , before seeing what his son was up to , I couldn't help but wonder ...  ?
What was a Mohawk man was doing telling the Lakota how to protect their culture ? Or more to the point , how not to protect it ? This seems especially peculiar as I have heard the Mohawk are very careful about protecting their own ceremonies from both non Mohawks and commercialization. As far as I know Mohawk ceremonies are not generally open to outsiders at all .

for example ;
http://www.capitalrep.org/pdfs/IroquoisSGP1.pdf.

"Most Haudenosaunee ceremonies, held on the reservations in special buildings called the Longhouse, are not open to the public. Followers of the traditional religious rituals wish to remain private, conducting their special ceremonies only with others sharing their beliefs and language."

http://www.naho.ca/publications/codeofBehaviour.pdf.

"The Haudenosaunee Code of Behaviour for Traditional Medicine Healers"

"As traditional healers, we commit ourselves to using our medicines wisely and respectfully and prohibiting ourselves from selling our medicines or knowledge for commercial purposes or personal gain."

Seems kind of strange .... To put it mildly ...

More comments can be found through the link below ;

http://forum.americanindiantribe.com/viewtopic.php?t=7632

[frederica]

The comments are probably close to the answer. Ray Halbritter CEO for life has the Onieda Incorporated. It's run like a commerical business. The summer past George who is Exec of the Turning Stone was in Choctaw at the Fair. He was a guest of Phillip Martin and he was introdukcing him around. The Band is in the process of also building a WaterPark and addition Motel aside the 2 Casinos. So I guess he was checking that out too.

[earthw7]

Now this is why I have problem ith the Oglala, I know Milo it is a shame

[WINative]

It doesn't look like the Oneida Turning Stone Casino still offers the sweat lodge but I found these articles last on the subject.


Oneida Indian Nation wrong to exploit sweat lodge
9/21/10
Nick Swan (Hehaka Ite Wakan)
Rome

To The Editor:

One of the many questionable activities by Turning Stone is their desecration of the Native American sweat lodge ceremony. They are selling it by misrepresenting the Oglala and Lakota Sioux tribes of South Dakota as partners. These tribes have NEVER joined with the Oneidas of Turning Stone to sell their (Lakota) ceremony. Yet they make this outright false claim on their Turning Stone/Skana Spa/Sweat Lodge page.

It is an insult to the Lakota people who endure third-world conditions, while the wealthy Oneidas exploit the culture of the Lakota. Why does Turning Stone need such a sweat lodge anyway? Why doesn't Turning Stone market and sell one of their own sacred Iroquois ceremonies? It's because the Iroquois would never tolerate such a transgression.

So Turning Stone uses the Lakota sweat lodge, which is equally an offensive transgression to those whom cherish that way of life. Thus, Ray Halbritter has ill-aligned his unscrupulous actions directly to James Arthur Ray, who notoriously oversaw a pay-to-pray sweat lodge in which three people died last year. Obviously this group of exploiters is really only interested in one tribe, the almighty tribe of Benjamins.

Actions speak for themselves, and for these characters to play dumb is their final act of contempt to us all. Lastly, the Oneida leadership insults the integrity of their own people, of whom the vast majority does not condone such exploitive behavior.



No tribal ceremony at sweat lodge
By Chuck Fougnier, Wolf Clan Representative
9/26/10

To The Editor:

Nick Swan's Sept. 23 letter attacking the Oneida Nation and its sweat lodge at Turning Stone was the ravings of a disgruntled employee.

His concerns are not fact-based at all. As Indian guide for the sweat lodge, Mr. Swan directed the guest experience for the past 16 months. From when he was first hired he knew that our sweat lodge was not ceremonial like those he knew from home, but a resort experience that guests paid to take in.

For facilitating this guest experience, he received regular paychecks and benefits from the Oneida Nation, as well as accepting generous tips from guests pleased with their time in the sweat lodge.

I was one of the Oneida leaders who went to South Dakota to learn about sweat lodges and talk to the Oglala and Lakota people about building one at Turning Stone, not as an avenue to be part of a ceremony but as another high-end resort amenity.

We then employed Milo Yellow Hair, a Lakota Indian skilled in this ancient practice to construct an authentic sweat lodge at our resort. Knowing that tribal ceremonies conducted in sweat lodges are sacred and private, as are our Oneida ceremonies, we went to great lengths to give our guests the experience of being in a sweat lodge and nothing more.

[mamàndà-gashkitòwin]

On their current wesbite I found this http://store.turningstone.com/skanagiftcard.aspx "An American Indian sweat lodge offers guests an opportunity to experience what has been used for centuries to cleanse the body and purge the spirit of impurities."
http://www.discoverspas.com/New_York/nyturningstone.shtml "Guests can experience a Sweat Lodge Ceremony in an authentic sweat lodge with a traditional fire pit, featuring storytelling, drumming, chants and prayers that have been used for centuries as a way of spiritually cleansing body and soul."