Twister Visit at Thundering Spirit!

This pow wow is our Hometown Family Pow wow and we work all weekend, so I wasn't able to get any pics or video, BUT I was fortunate to get pictures of an Awesome Twister that appeared.  After researching and interviewing I got many accounts of where it started and the path it took before it came across in front of my shop, so I will tell the tale!

The Twister began at the entrance gate, two Jingle Dress Dancers came in and insisted on paying.  Dancers in Regalia are normally allowed in Free, but they were adamant about paying to enter.  It was after they entered that the Twister began by swinging the entrance gate wide open and then slamming it closed.  (as told by Terry Renninger )  The twister then went toward the southwest side of the vendor circle and picked up a trash can as if someone had lifted it, tipped it and threw all the trash in it into a certain vendor's booth then tipped the can back and set it down as it was.  (as told by Utah Farris)  It was later found that this particular vendor may have broken the 'no imports' rule.... Hmmmmm...........

It then spun around a bit around the committee booth and came up the west side of the vendor circle.  It headed for the dance circle through a crowd of dancers and visitors that were crowded around to watch the dance.  It took a few folding chair covers and a lot of other debris and took it way up into the sky.  It stopped right at the West gate of the dance circle and did not enter and headed around to the northwest side.  Tony Ledford relayed an account that a woman's Dance fan had been taken up and they watched it go 8 times higher than the cell tower and took it the entire ride, which they later found it in the woods off to the northeast side of the pow wow and returned it to the person.  I actually got a picture of the beginning of this fans journey!

By this time it was right in front of my view, the children were running in circles within the Vortex with all the debris and laughing.  Then it headed for a screen tent that was set up and as it neared it pulled the tent pegs out and they flew at the children which made them rethink the playing in it (we scolded the child in particular that was a part of our extended family) 

 

At that point Ed Winddancer (in Full Regalia was walking over to his tent which was right next to this one.  Well Let's just say they don't call him Winddancer for nothing   Because the twister went around and in between there and the drum arbor. 

At this point it was at the north side of the circle and heading to the northeast into the demonstration village.  I should have followed and continued to take pictures, but was in such awe of what I witnessed and thankful. 

It passed right by Arvel Bird's tent as well untouched, on it's way to the village.  It really was an Awesome encounter and everyone was touched by it - even if their eyes are still not opened... even if they don't know it... even if they don't want it... take it as you "think" you know it BUT it's Not about YOU...  The TRUTH will set you FREE

And now [men] see not the bright light which [is] in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. ~Job 37:21

Thundering Spirit Family Pow Wow

We are here in Mount Dora, Florida setting up for the Thundering Spirit Family Pow Wow This is Always a GREAT Pow wow with AWESOME entertainment.  Arvel Bird will be here along with Jackie Bird (No Relation LOL)  Oh ya and Ric Bird (also No Relation) and his Bird Chopper Drum.  There will be at least 4 Drums !! Yona and his boys will be drumming and of course our Local boys the Family Drum and some New Kids in town from Tennessee called Southern Echo.  I will do my best to get pics and videos, but with hubby being the Firekeeper here I will be busy in the shop (So stop in and say hello!)  That's Right, this pow wow has a Fire in the center of the Circle that is kept All Weekend Long!!  Please visit the website at the link above for all the details and directions on how to get here.

Trust me you don't want to Miss this one!!  See my you tube page for a video of a Night Intertribal dance from last year!! Lots of Dancers, Lots of entertainment, Lots of Drums, Lots of Artists, Traders, Vendors, Food, Storey tellers, Flutists, Primitive Encampments, Knapping Demonstations, TeePees, and Much Much More!

Time to Set Him FREE...Because it's the RIGHT thing to do!

Feb. 6 Statement by Leonard Peltier

Greetings to everyone,

34 years. It doesn’t even sound like a real number to me. Not when one really thinks about being in a jail cell for that long. All these years and I swear, I still think sometimes I’ll wake up from this nightmare in my own bed, in my own home, with my family in the next room. I would never have imagined such a thing. Surely the only place people are unjustly imprisoned for 34 years is in far away lands, books or fairy tales.

It’s been that long since I woke up when I needed to, worked where I wanted to, loved who I was supposed to love, or did what I was compelled to do. It’s been that long-long enough to see my children have grandchildren. Long enough to have many of my friends and loved ones die in the course of a normal life, while I was here unable to know them in their final days.

So often in my daily life, the thought creeps in-“I don’t deserve this”. It lingers like acid in my mouth. But I have to push those types of thoughts away. I made a commitment long ago, many of us did. Some didn’t live up to their commitments, and some of us didn’t have a choice. Joe Stuntz didn’t have a choice. Neither did Buddy Lamont. I never thought my commitment would mean sacrificing like this, but I was willing to do so nonetheless. And really, if necessary, I’d do it all over again, because it was the right thing to do. We didn’t go to ceremony and say “I’ll fight for the people as long as it doesn’t cost too much”. We prayed, and we gave. Like I say, some of us didn’t have a choice. Our only other option was to run away, and we couldn’t even do that. Back then, we had no where left to run to.

I have cried so many tears over these three plus decades. Like the many families directly affected by this whole series of events, my family’s tears have not been in short supply. Our tears have joined all the tears from over 500 years of oppression. Together our tears come together and form a giant river of suffering and I hope, cleansing. Injustice is never final, I keep telling myself. I pray this is true for all of us.

To those who know I am innocent, thank you for your faith. And I hope you continue working for my release. That is, to work towards truth and justice. To those who think me guilty, I ask you to believe in and work for the rule of law. Even the law says I should be free by now, regardless of guilt. What has happened to me isn’t justice, it isn’t the law, it isn’t fair, it isn’t right. This has been a long battle in an even longer war. But we have to remain vigilant, as we have a righteous cause. After all this time, I can only ask this: Don’t give up. Not ever. Stay in this fight with me. Suffer with me. Grieve with me. Endure with me. Believe with me. Outlast with me. And one day, celebrate freedom with me. Hoka hey!

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier

Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
PO Box 7488
Fargo, ND 58106
Phone: 701/235-2206
Fax: 701/235-5045
E-mail: contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

Difference between North & South

The difference between the North and the South - clearly
explained.... at last

The North has Bloomingdale's; the South has Dollar General .

The North has coffee houses; the South has Waffle Houses .

The North has dating services; the South has family reunions.

The North has switchblade knives; the South has .45's

The North has double last names; the South has double first names.

The North has Indy car races; The South has stock car races .

North has Cream of Wheat; the South has grits.

The North has green salads; the South has collard greens .

The North has lobsters; the South has crawfish .

The North has the rust belt; the South has the Bible Belt .

FOR NORTHERNERS MOVING SOUTH . . .....

In the South : If you run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men
in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along
shortly. Don't try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is
what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store...
Do not buy food at this store.

Remember, 'Y'all' is singular, 'all y'all' is plural, and 'all y'all's'
is plural possessive

Get used to hearing 'You ain't from round here, are ya?'

Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to
use it.


Don't be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They
can't understand you either. The first Southern statement to creep
into a transplanted Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective 'big'ol,'
truck or 'big'ol' boy. Most Northerners begin their Southern-influenced
dialect this way. All of them are in denial about it.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper .

Be advised that 'He needed killin..' is a valid defense here.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, 'Hey, y'all watch this,' you should
stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he'll ever
say.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest
accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery
store. It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just
have to go there.

Do not be surprised to find that 10-year olds own their own shotguns,
they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn
is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

AND REMEMBER: If you do settle in the South and bear children, don't
think we will accept them as Southerners...

After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we ain't gonna call 'em
biscuits.

Send this to four people that ain't related to you, and I reckon your
life will turn into a country music song 'fore you know it. Your kin
would get a kick out of it too!


To use the ultimate southern term of affection -- BLESS YOUR HEART !!

Auburndale Pow Wow for the Buffalo 2010

This year's Auburndale pow wow ran through 2 weekends.  The first of which was the coldest week Florida has seen since the 70's.  It was just plain frigid, we had sleet and snow on Saturday, but we kept the pow wow on.  People did actually come out and visit, they had the drum and dancers inside the Big Top tent the first weekend and only about 8 of us Hardy Vendors stayed open through the cold.  The second weekend was Beautiful and we pow wow'd as Normal.  Ken was working the pow wow, so I managed to get some pictures, but not a lot.  I also got some video of the Hawaiians doing their dances.  You can see the videos on my you tube here: http://www.youtube.com/Spiderwrulf

Guess who won a Powwows.com Shirt!! Hee hee, I got 8th place in the Scavenger Hunt.  Yikes, I know I have gained so much weight since I quit smoking (**Going on 3 years April 13**)  I am really not liking pictures of myself lately, but I thought it only fair since:

Gene doesn't like pictures of himself either and I knew I would post this pic   I think this is a Really Good pic of him, What do y'all think? 

The Aztec Dancers were there as well, I just love these native Peoples!!  There was some controversy about the Hawaiians and the Aztecs, some said that they are Not Native Americans and shouldn't be at the pow wow.  Well, categorizing them as Americans may be questionable, However they are Indigenous People (Native People) of their land, and therefore I feel they should be welcomed at the pow wows.  And while I am offering my opinion on such things, I might add that Some NDN's think they are the Only NDN's, and refuse to acknowledge any other tribes and ways.  I have no respect for people that think this way, cuz that is Not the NDN way.  That being said, on to sweeter words.

Of course there was much time spent with the Buffalo, which I think is the Best part of this pow wow.  I missed a chance to get a picture of Little Bear nose to nose with a Buffalo through the fence because I was in such awe when it happened! 

And in closing, it turned out to be a wonderful pow wow, as always.  We make of each situation what it is.   On January 15th, 2009 my "twin" crossed over and I never got to re-connect with her.  I have been wrestling with my emotions on this since I learned of it.  This weekend I danced in the circle for her and her family and children that she left behind, she was an EMT and as we honor Veterans of War, so should we remember the warriors at home that protect us; the Firemen, EMT, and Police. 

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility. ~Proverbs 15:33

Auburndale ~ Pow wow for the Buffalo

The pow wow runs 2 weekends this year.  This first weekend was 20 Degrees F!!!  We have been to some Cold pow wows, but this is crazy for Floriduh!!!  But we Survived and Sunday was a Good Pow Wow and Next Weekend should be much warmer, of course a refrigerator is much warmer than what we went through this weekend, just don't think we could fit all those dancers in there.

During the week the Vendors will be opened from 4pm-8pm each evening and on Wednesday there will be a Media Blitz and dinner.  ***Any Dancers that can come for this would be Great.  They will have some drumming, Dancing and Exhibition by the Aztec's and Hawaiians.  The media will take photos and promote the pow wow for the coming weekend.  Then they will feed us!   It all starts around 6pm, so come on down for the Fun. 

In case anyone hasn't been here, we are at a Flea Market which has a Big Circus tent and a herd of Bison in the back.  Inside the circus tent Jim Sawgrass does his East meets West show and as I said there are Hawaiians and Aztecs that each do their dances.  You can see the Buffalo herd and some other animals they have here AND when you have seen the entire powwow, there is a Flea market to wander through!  So Come on down and spend the weekend with us. 

Come out and Pow wow with us!

Thanks and Praise to the Great Spirit for all that he provides us, for we are truly Blessed to be able to continue what we do.  Thanks to all who follow and enjoy this blog through the pow wow travels.  Thanks to Friends and Family for all the prayers that strengthen the circle of life for ALL.  Thanks to the Drummers and Singers which are the heartbeat of the pow wow, and Special Thanks to ALL Dancers and those who Dance for those who cannot. 

A New Year's Blessing

This was an e-mail passed on to me by an Elder, it says a Lot - Please take the time to read it.  Much Love and Many Prayers ~wrulf   Osiyo to my loved ones, family and friends:   I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year to come! May Our Creator provide you with all the good thing in life while bringing happiness, love and peace. May he bring forth the new fire of life, with good health and a happy yet guarded spirit. May your tables be filled with plenty of food to share for all of those who come to visit. May your homes be filled with laughter and wonderful memories of years gone past while making new ones in the New Year to come. May your dreams and wishes be fulfilled allowing you prosperity while sharing with those in need. May Our Creator hold you and your family's close to his heart with his mighty hands while bringing a balance into your life while providing for all of your needs.   We say good bye to this old year that has brought us alot of pain, sickness, loss, and sorrows, good times and bad. So many times our Creator has blessed us with so much that we tend to forget to give thanks for all the Many, Many Blessings that he does provide us each and every day.   Many of us has seen the birth of new family member and some of us has seen the sadness in our hearts for those who has crossed over into the Spirit World. For they are truly missed and will be forever in our hearts. Their smiles, love, hugs and mere presents will be missed each and every day. We have had celebrations of lives both new and old. We have celebrated friendships and the love that comes with life. Our homes has been filled with joy as well as sadness. We have traveled far while taking those steps in this circle of life that we all must travel with happiness and sadness. Some of us have climb great mountains of challenges and obstacles while others have enjoyed the view from the top of the mountain. Maybe this New Year we can all be on top of the mountain to enjoy the view together while giving thanks to our Creator for helping us through these obstacles in life.   As we are taking our first steps into this New Year of life. I bring these thoughts. Many times people come to us for guidance or direction wanting to be apart of what we hold so Sacred. (Our Heritage). They see something that most of us have. It is this great and wonderful connection that we have with Our Creator, Mother Earth, and all living things while trying our best to live in balance. People see the love, peace, faith, and belief that we have with Our Creator, The Great Spirit. They see that we walk with him as he guides us down that Red Road of Life, providing for our needs. Who wouldn't want to be apart of that? We should embrace everyone who wants to be like this for our Creator did Create us all equally. If a persons heart is right and they seek balance then we should open our arms and allow them to be apart of this blessing. It was the way of many of our ancestors. One of our goals in life should be to walk the Good Red Road with our family's, friends, and loved ones while Our Creator brings balance into our lives. Isn't that our dream as we travel this Sacred Journey in life? We should all want to teach all of those who are willing to listen and make this a better world for each of us to live in. We should want to help those who are in need and suffering. For one kind word or jester could change that persons life for ever. We are all students of life. A good teacher is always a student forever learning. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do at times but open your heart and forgive those who has made waves in your river.   If we hold one arrow in our hands it will bend and break. If we hold five arrows in our hands they too will bend and break. If we hold fifty arrows in our hands they will not bend or break. There is strength in numbers. We can change the things around us for the best. If we start speaking and teaching to all who will listen and show them the right ways, then it will be like the rivers that flow. It may start out like a small trickle of water but over time the trickle becomes a stream the stream become a creek, the creek becomes a river and the river flows so powerfully changing the land scape forever on its way to the sea. The generations to come will need to be that river for the winds of change is among us each and every day. We too need to become that river. We know that all Tribal Nations adopted people into their tribes, if their hearts were right and they saw the world as we did by placing Our Creator first while protecting Mother Earth and all living things. We are all connected in one way or another. For we believe in the Creator the one true God.   Teach those who will listen with an open heart, and a good heart. Teach those little ones we called our children, grand children, nieces and nephews. For one day they will be our leaders and we the Elders. And when the winds of change has come upon us and they are the leaders then they will know what is true and important to us all.   The Bible tells us raise a child in the way he shall go and when he is older he shall not depart. Are we all not children at one time in our lives? Many of us are still children at heart. We are all learning new life lessons each day, learn to share these lessons with those who are lost and need help. Has someone not taught you to have an open heart and mind, while looking out for the safety of others?   There are so many people who do with out and are suffering in today’s world. Let us change this world by reaching out and helping those in need. Let us teach by example for most of us learn better this way. Be a leader and a giver not a taker. Giving of yourself does not hurt if it is given in the right manner. Remember that one kind word or jester could start a chain reaction or save a persons life. Kindness does make the pain go away even if it is for a short period of time. Be mindful of others and give of yourself. Have compassion for those who are in need and suffering.   May the New Fires of this New Year burn bright with in your heart and family. Being like the Council Fires of our ancestors burning bright for all to see. May the Drums be heard through out the world for all to hear for it is the Heartbeat of Mother Earth and her people. Let us all send up smoke for this New Year so that Great Spirit our one true Creator may hear our prayers and provide for our needs. May we always be mindful and place our Creator first. May this New Year be the best for you and your family. Remember those who have given so that we may receive. Our heritage is not one of just paint and feathers but of the heart. Go in a good way and with a good heart until we speak again may our Creator bless and keep you and your family' while keeping you close to his heart.   Happy New Year Bud Dark Cloud Grimes