September 1, 2005

Now Si Am, Kia Ora, Aloha, Allin p'unchay, Greetings Everyone!

I want to tell you about a very special event that will happen September 9 – 10: The Grandmothers Gathering.  A number of very special women from around the world will gather in Bellingham on the Lummi Reservation.  Some of you already know about this gathering; some of you participated in the first gathering in 2003.  The original vision came from Dell Wihongi, a Maori chieftess, who envisioned grandmothers coming together and in so doing, bringing the world together.  The first gathering was healing for the grandmothers as well as other participants.

This second gathering was initiated by Pauline Hillaire, a Lummi elder who was one of the grandmothers who spoke two years ago.  Her tribe, like many, is losing its young people – at the rate of nine young people per year.  She had a dream, in which she saw grandmothers facing one direction, in anguish, and the young facing another.  This gathering is her response, to bring together the grandmothers and the young people to acknowledge each other and to heal.

The grandmothers have been invited and said "Yes!"  They are: Dell Wihongi, along with Kelly Toa-Martin and Lou Herwini-Capewell from Aotearoa (New Zealand); Angeline Locey from Kauai, Hawaii; Dona Bernardina Catari Alvarez from Peru (along with Mirtha Irco Vilcapaza as assistant and translator and Yoced Callañaupa Quillahuman, a 16 year old artist from Chinchero); Royal Alley-Barnes, African-American- Islamic, Seattle, Washington; Vi Hilbert, from the Upper Skagit Tribe; and Pauline Hillaire from the Lummi Tribe.

The intent of this Gathering is healing for the First Nation people from this area, especially the Lummi, and particularly the young people.  However, anyone who would like to attend will be welcome.  Although there is no charge for attending, donations will be accepted.  I can tell you it will be a healing and learning experience.

Those from Aotearoa and Peru plan to stay for 90 days and to teach and do healing work as much as they can while they are here.  Some of you may already have heard a bit about the teaching and healing Dona Bernardina will do through Wiracocha Institute. 

All of this requires time and money: the time of volunteers; and money, for plane tickets, food, the site, and many other details.  If you can help, here are some possibilities!

PRAYERS: Pray for the ease and success of the project: Angeline's health; visas for the Peruvian contingent; easy passage for all who are traveling here; money and in kind contributions sufficient for all needs for the project; and above all, for the intent of bringing together grandmothers and young people to be fully and abundantly realized.  We are asking for miracles!

MONEY: Dell said, if everyone who is touched by this project gives a dollar or two, it will be easy to pay for everything needed.  In accord with her perspective, an account has been set up. Anyone can walk into any Washington Mutual branch, hand a dollar or five to the teller and tell them it is for the Grandmother Gathering. The owner of the account is Lummi Nation Service Organization on behalf of the Grandmother Gathering. You should be able to just say Grandmother Gathering and get it into the account without any trouble.  LNSO is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

GETTING OUT THE MESSAGE:  If you know of a group who would like to hear from one of the grandmothers during their stay, please let me know and I will make sure the information gets to the appropriate people.  Kelly and Lou are teachers/trainers of those work with youth in healing addictions such as drugs and alcohol.  They will go wherever they can (and particularly want to work with Native people) and ask only for food, overnight accommodations when needed and transportation.  Dona Bernardina will be available for despacho and ceremony, healing and teaching. 

Thank you for your time and attention.

Hi que cho, Pai Marire, Mahalo, Uh kuti-kama, Until we meet again

Jackie

A note on the languages of greeting and farewell: in order they are xwelemi chosen (language of the Lummi), Maori, Hawaiian, Quechua, English.