the raven

1/12/2007

Filed under: Events — hilde @ 6:04 pm

31/8/2008
2:00 pm

Stephanie will share with us some of her experiences of working with Native American traditions.

Liz has already posted a comment but I just wanted to add my piece. Hearing about the different tribes - Lahota (the plains Indians), Navajo, the Anasazi and so on - made me realise how they fitted together philosophically as well as geographically. Like many people I have always had a slightly romantic view of the North American Indian and Stephi’s story was much more real and balanced. For example it was not the Europeans who killed off the Anasazi; they themselves managed to destroy their environment, like the Easter Islanders. Stephi mentioned how the introduction of horses enabled the people to become nomadic, and how the tribes’ spirituality informed their culture - for example how their dances and regalia and even beading all have a spiritual significance. While we consumed tea, luxury toffee, white chocolate biscuits and apple pie, she told us how she had become interested in the culture which now is a central part of her life.
It was a fascinating talk, and I for one am looking forward to the second part which we aim to have early next year. This time we’ll watch the DVD and see Stephi in her regalia. It was a really enjoyable afternoon - even the drive to Crowthorne, in the rain, was lovely (not for poor Hilde, who was driving, but I really enjoyed it). For those of you who didn’t turn up, you missed a treat - bad luck.

Comment by cilla — 1/9/2008 @ 2:31 pm