I interact with some of the most awesome people from around the world who come to visit this most amazing place.
After two days of Native American Heritage Days watching so many cultures interact in harmony I went out on the Walhalla Plateau Saturday and heard many visitors still talking about this festival.
The young Jimenez Pueblo brothers captured everyone with their native songs. It made no difference whether we could understand the words because their passion came through.
Ramson is a Hopi artist and educator, a teacher to the youth in his culture. He’s recently introduced a new art to his people, glass blowing. This is no more a “new art” than any other yet he uses the earth’s gift of minerals to create representations of marks made on the rocks by his ancestors.
Friday night Ramson spoke about his Hopi culture. The audience was riveted. He said, every culture has its own myth which is the collective truth of the people. If you are comfortable with your myth there is no need to convert others, just let them live their own way.
Debra is a Hopi educator teaching in the Flagstaff school system. She also teaches young girls important lessons to carry on their cultural traditions.
She chaperoned this year’s Miss Hopi and her First attendant to our festival sharing stories and explaining the corn grinding ceremony.
If only more people could live in harmony with the land and themselves. Maybe if we try what I saw on a T-shirt, “Don’t worry, be Hopi”
To see more of what’s happening around the world, or to share your own stories, go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.
Mike and I are in Flagstaff for our days off so I may not get this linked.
17 comments:
Marvelous post for the day, Gaelyn! I have so much admiration and respect for the Indian culture in our country. I would have loved to have been able to attend the Native American Heritage Days! It looks wonderful. Hope you have a great week!
Sylvia
Interesting post, Gaelyn;) you and Mike have a wonderful few days off. (((Hugs))) Jo
It is great that the people keep there cultures alive. It would be so sad to lose all this history. Diane
I like that shirt..I have had some Seneca Nation students in my classroom over the years..Life on the reservation was and is very challenging....
Hi Gaelyn, You get to spend your time in an awesome place and participate in all this sharing of cultures, too. What could be better? (I'll tell Ben.)
"Dont worry, be Hopi"?? Now REALLY Gaelyn!! LOL!! I do like it though. I love the idea of these people keeping their traditions alive. So much has been lost to the world through modernization.
Terrific post. Thanks for sharing the culture.
Sydney - City and Suburbs
It is so important for different cultures to be practised in this time where "westernisation" is threatening smaller cultures. The Afrikaners are also fighting hard for our culture and language not to slowly disappear. Luckily Afrikaans music is riding the crest of the wave and is helping it not to.
Wonderful post - and an important lessons here. We should all live in harmony with nature and each other. What a better place the world would be!
I so ove it when you share native American culture with us. I believe I was an Indian in a past life. I once had an incredible flashback, in fact to a couple of lives spent in an Indian tribe One of either sex.
Being happy with who you are and being attuned to the earth are the two most important things in life.
I enjoy reading your blog and learning about the various locations. I also like the fact that you are enjoying your life in the many surrounding that you find yourself. Thanks for sharing your photos and your stories.
Very interesting and informative. I like what Ramson said-"If you are comfortable with your myth there is no need to convert others, just let them live their own way." How true is that!!
WArlington just had River Days on the Stillaguamish--all native. Loved it. MB
More power to all Native Americans; they certainly got a raw deal.
I love their music, and would buy a 'Don't worry, be Hopi' shirt... :)
"Don't worry; be Hopi" tee shirt...
I got a kick out of that one.
What a delightful couple of days you've had, and so much going on. The Grand Canyon seems the perfect place for a celebration of this kind.
Those two young men shelled out completely ! It was awesome! Can't wait for next year!
I enjoyed the description of the festival. Sounds like a wonderful event with much to see and learn.
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