GREEN CORN CEREMONY
July 20 ~ 23, 2006  

This page is dedicated in honor of
Caocoochee and Talking Eagle


The Green Corn Ceremony is one of the most important rituals of each year. We are celebrating the ripening of the corn.

Preparations vary but generally involve a period of fasting followed by a feast in the town square, houses are cleaned out and every fire is extinguished. Then there is the solemn kindling of the new fire, from which all home fires are relit.

Finally there is a dance around the sacred flame. Past transgressions are forgiven: the community is reaffirmed and made pure.
 

THE LODGES
EAST LODGE represents FIRE
        Medicine Person ~ Tamara "Neamathla" Murray
        Fire Keeper ~ Carrie "Tiger Lily" Soliday
        Smudger ~ Chris "Little Owl" Thomas
        Lodge Elder ~ Grandmother Talking Eagle		 WEST LODGE represents AIR
      Medicine Person ~ Hui-Ling "Landing Owl" Singer
       Fire Keeper ~ Kelly "Cheyenne" Gerber
       Smudger ~ Tom "Spirit Drum" Simger
       Lodge Elder ~ Grandmother Many Stars
NORTH LODGE represents EARTH
      Medicine Person ~ Johanna "Light Bearer" Learish
       Fire Keeper ~ Jabbar "Sun Rain" El
       Smudger ~ Tom "Buffalo Thunder"Boggs
       Lodge Elder ~ Grandmother Still Waters		 SOUTH LODGE represents WATER
      Medicine Person ~ Sara "Wise Owl" Vacin
       Fire Keeper ~ John "Big Little Bear" Soliday
       Smudger ~ Crystal "Hialeah" Thomas
       Lodge Elder ~ Grandmother Many Wolves
Decorating the Lodges

EAST ~ YELLOW
NORTH ~ RED
WEST ~ BLUE
SOUTH ~ GREEN
     

THE DANCES


THE CIRCLE DANCE
This dance is done to honor Great Spirit, the Wheel of Life, and our place in the Circle Of Life. We are taught that we are a part of a great circle. We are taught that with all we do, we should strive to bring balance and harmony. As we move through life we encounter many teachers. Some arrive uninvited. Some are invited by action, thoughts, and positions that we have in life.

As we stand in the sacred circle, look to your left and right. The people there have assumed positions which are natural for them to assume. They bring energy to your physical and spiritual sides. As you stand in the sacred circle which compliments your own, as your energy does to their energy. As we dance we will step one step to our left in harmony with the heartbeat rhythm kept by the drum. This we do in harmony with the turning of the earth and with the turning of the Wheel of Life. As we do, we must remember, all things change. That is the way of creation, as we change our position so does the position of everything around us change accordingly.


THE BUFFALO DANCE
The Buffalo Dance is done to honor the Buffalo. It honors the Buffalo's wisdom, courage, strength, and its place in the circle of life. In the lives of our ancestors the Buffalo was one of the animals that were essential to survival. All parts were used with gratitude, respect, and honor. In the same spirit, our young people will dance the Buffalo dance so that they may learn to honor the Buffalo, our ancestor's way of life, and their own place in the circle of life.

THE SUN DANCE
This dance honors the Sun. It does so by honoring our place in the Circle of Life. The women dance in honor of life, and the joy of living. The ribbons are as our lives, fluttering upon the winds of creation. Without the Sun, life upon our Earth Mother would be impossible. As the Earth is female, so in the Sun Male. It is therefore fitting that the females among us honor the giver of life with dance. The matrons carry a wooden knife, known as the atassi to symbolize their commitment to defend their families. This dance has become known as the Ribbon Dance because of the ribbons carried and twirled by the women dancing. The true name is the Sun Dance.

THE FEATHER DANCE
This dance honors the bird tribes, and through them, all our animal relations. It honors those that give of the beauty of their beings, that our lives may be brightened. It honors those who spread the seeds that make our Mother Earth green and beautiful. With this dance we honor those who give their lives that we may live, and with this dance we honor the hunt, and our place in the circle of life as hunters and caretakers.


BIRDS CALLED IN

East ~ Chris "Little Owl" Thomas
West ~ Hui-Ling "Landing Owl" Singer
North ~ Terry "Smoking Owl" Learish
South ~ Sara "Wise Owl" Vacin
Bullroarer ~ Kent "Ghost Cat" Sponseller
 

THE GREEN CORN DANCE
This dance is intended to promote harmony with the dancers, with the community, with the environment, and with the world. This dance is a gift of Spirit. It's movements are intended to bring balance and peace to the dancers and drummers as they move in harmony with the Wheel of Life. This dance is danced by everyone. Only white clothing is worn.  Rattles and bells may be worn as well.

DRUMMERS
Grandmother Still Waters
Tom "Spirit Drum" Singer
Terrie "Wind In The Grasses Dancing" McClay
Carina Boggs

THE STOMP DANCE
 
The STOMP DANCE following the  GREEN CORN DANCE
The GRANDMOTHERS
ENTRANCE 
Grandmothers
Light Bearer &
Still Waters\
OUR GRANDMOTHERS

Earth Mother
Shining Wolf
Light Bearer
Still Waters
Talking Eagle
 
The BABY NAMING CEREMONY
Little Dragonfly
 





The LONGHOUSE
DEDICATION
ASI CEREMONY and SCRATCHING
THE GIVING TREE
PAINTING THE OLD TIPI
FUN In The SUN
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
     


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