 Greetings Every One! The work we are doing could not continue without you. We are very grateful for your support and help. Every single prayer and donation is appreciated more than you can know. Thank you so very much for your support. Newsletter index: Page 1: Note from Rutury Page 2: Note from Nahwi Page 3: Note from Anaya Page 4: Misc notes A note from Rutury: Que Tuma Aku. Greetings Dear Friends... Tatewari, Grandfather Spirit. We open our hearts to your healing which brings us wisdom and knowledge from all corners of the Universe. Last month in April I had another opportunity to be in ceremony in Guadalupe, Arizona with people from the Yaqui and Seri tribes. They have been doing these ceremonies for centuries, usually before or around Easter weekend. My connection with them dates back many years when my father Hakaula and my sister Jaichima would be guests of honor and I would accompany them. Many years have gone by since that time but these private ceremonies have not changed. They continue to be exclusive and outside people are only included by special invitation, but once these private ceremonies are complete then the public is invited to join. As I mentioned, I have been doing ceremonies with them for over 40 years, yet every time I receive their special invitation it is humbling. These kinds of ceremonies are not like others when we acknowledge great achievements in life or academic accomplishments; they are ceremonies for our Earth and the Elements. We believe our prayers, chants and offerings are like when a mother or grandmother whispers a sacred melody to calm a child and encourage a relaxed state of mind and being. When the Sacred Deer Dance is performed, every step and body movement tells a story of how wounded our world is and everything in it and what the deer goes through is a metaphor for all of us. At the end of the dance the deer looks for a familiar place to rest and fall asleep, awakening again for another cycle of life. The Sacred Deer Dance is performed once a year. In this year’s gathering there were three traditional medicine people who were invited for the first time by the Yaqui tribe. A woman representative from each of the Navajo, Pima, and Tarahumara tribes were invited, and they were three women with very profound perspectives carrying great respect for their families and communities. Being with them was an honor and I felt the essence and depth of their pride and their humbleness. The Tarahumara woman spoke only the ancient language of her people so she brought her granddaughter to interpret for her. We all gathered in a room in an old church made of adobe blocks. The inside floor was covered with wildflowers and herbs, and along the walls were hundreds and hundreds of candles that were lit during the private ceremonies. We sat down on the floor and before our ceremony began each one of us introduced ourselves with a short statement about which tribe we were there to represent. I was not really surprised but more marveled at how these three women never met each other before but their gifts and messages were similar and seemed to be synchronized and in harmony. They began to share their message one after another, and the essence of what they all said was as follows- We thank you for inviting us and with great respect have traveled to join you in this sacred ceremony. We too feel the urgency to protect our Elements as without them we cannot exist. Our grandfathers would tell a story of a time when our world would die if the human tribe would not live in harmony with Nature, giving a ripple effect to everything that is alive. Now it is no longer just a story. We are living the story. Therefore we the human tribe must come together to exceed our potential, not to overpower one another but rather to help and make our positive contributions, setting an example for the future generations. Our prayers and ceremonies are the seeds that are germinating in our Mother Earth. What are your seeds for the future? I came away from this ceremony with a deep sense of gratitude for having been born into the Wixarika culture, where from an infant you are taught to respect our Mother Earth and all the Elements. PamPaDios Looking forward to our next ceremony Love and Blessings Rutury A note from Nahwi: Gratitude I recently read an article talking about cultivating more gratitude in one’s self. And it rubbed me the wrong way. The piece was based on comparing yourself and your life against others. What?! I understand comparisons are often used, but how is that really getting you in touch with your true gratefulness. One can always find others who are richer, poorer, more educated, less educated, and healthier or more infirmed… and on, and on… but how is that turning inside to see and know yourself? I find that true gratitude can be achieved by sitting quietly in meditation, little flashes of good and bad scamper around in my head along with my grocery list and who I need to call later. When I am able to just view them passing without judgement or attachment I open myself to “seeing with different eyes”, as Jaichima and Rutury have both taught many of us. Then it is easier to be grateful for a breeze that touches me, or hearing the song of a hummingbird staking his territory. A smile from a stranger that was in response to the smile I was not aware I was wearing. Slowing down and being present is a way to experience true gratitude that does not use comparisons. What I am experiencing and feeling is my own awakening. Real Gratitude is a sense of well being because you see yourself as a part of the web of life and spirit. Not that you have more stuff than the guy down the road. PamPa’Dios Nahwi A note from Anaya: We want to thank all the people who came to join us for our Earth Day Ceremony weekend work party at Wirikuta Springs. Your generosity of spirit and hard work was truly inspiring! Dead trees were cut down and cut up, stubborn weeds were cleared, the pond by the Pueblo House was uncovered and rediscovered, plants were potted, the chipper was in full force, and there were delicious meals shared in between all the sweeping and trimming and clearing! The land was buzzing with the energy of the young and not so young ones, and everyone’s efforts contributed to what was a very productive and heartfelt gathering. It was also wonderful to be in ceremony together. The land looks and feels refreshed and cared for and we are so grateful for your support. Rutury, Anaya, and Nahwi  What a hard working group! Thank you again!  Here is the pond that is near the Pueblo House! What an amazing change! Upcoming Events: We will announce upcoming events both on our newsletter and our website. https://www.indioshuichol.org/events.html Miscellaneous Notes Any communications from Indios Huichol will be from Rutury, Anaya or Nahwi. If you receive communications from someone else claiming to be Indios Huichol or assisting Indios Huichol please contact us as soon as possible. Communications from Nahwi will be from: [email protected] Notice Regarding E-mail Addresses: Please be aware Indios Huichol Inc. considers your e-mail addresses to be private. Please be assured that we will not sell or share your information. We also want you to understand that all personal emails to Rutury are forwarded to him. Indios Huichol Inc. Facebook Our Facebook page is up and running! Please take a look and let us know if you have any suggestions. Website Please check it out at: http://www.indioshuichol.org/ The store is open for business as well. Please be aware items are shipped to one address and they are going USPS. We’re not charging for shipping at this time. All profits go to support the Wixarika (Huichol) people. Mailing address Indios Huichol Inc.
2315 N Page Springs Rd Cornville, AZ 86325
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