This blog is my humble attempt to protect and preserve the memories of our sacred Sun Dances, which continue to be celebrated each summer, across Canada and the United States.
As it is forbidden to film or photograph these ceremonies, the Sun Dances are not well known in today's world, despite the many good things that come from them; including healing of all kinds, continuing sobriety, and recovery from all sorts of traumas.
I wish to leave a written record of the White Eagle Sun Dances in particular, for those are the ones I am most familiar with, having taken part in them since 2001. Held continuously since 1999, in New Brunswick, Canada, on the Elsipogtog First Nation reserve, these ceremonies are lead by William J. Nevin, a Migmaw (aka MicMac) Sun Dance Chief, and his leader helpers from many other tribes.
During the last decade, participating in the White Eagle Sun Dance ceremonies, has been my greatest honor. I will remain eternally grateful, to all my Sun Dance sisters and brothers, for the opportunity to join them in the Arbor each July. (And to help with the preparation fasts, each May and October.) Our families, friends and supporters must also be remembered and saluted here too. Thanks to them, and their many contributions, these ceremonies continue to spread their blessings within, and well beyond, our individual communities.
These writings are my effort to give something in return for all the received blessings. It is also my intention to honor the dying wish of our Women's Sun Dance Leader, Evangeline Francis, who told me, 'We need more documentation of the Sun Dance,' during our final hospital conversation, before she passed in 2009.
To these ends, I am going to review, rewrite and share in this blog, 10 years worth of documentation, in the form of my personal journal entries and notes, kept during the years we danced together. Hopefully, one day, these blog entries can be published under the same title, Every Day Is Sun Day: Honoring the Wisdom of the Sun Dance. The world needs the 'good news' these ceremonies can provide to those most in need of hope and help.
I am not saying that all the worlds' problems can be solved if everyone becomes a Sun Dancer, but despairing people need to know some of us do care. Some of us are praying for your healing and for Mother Earth's, and we have been willing to go without food or water, for four days, and to make other sacrifices as we dance our prayers, on behalf of others...
In addition to doing what we can for those in need, we Sun Dancers also take a vow to have no enemies. This is another 'wisdom' the world could use... I'll explain more about these things in future entries. In keeping with that vow however, I want to say at the outset, it is not my intention to offend anyone by writing about the Sun Dance. After ten years of dancing myself, I am very aware of the respect and care these ceremonies deserve, in written and spoken communications. So do not fear that this will be some 'tell all' blog.
Neither am I claiming to be an expert on anything, except my own Sun Dance experiences. This blog is simply an account of one woman's spiritual Journey, and an homage to those she met along the way. I hope my readers will help make this a better blog (and eventual book) by asking me questions and contributing clarifying comments.
Perhaps you will also join me, and support the Sun Dance ceremonies, in whatever way you can. That's all for now. More to come.
Omset nogama, a Mi'kmaq expression, which means in English, 'All My Relations'
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