Hollis Littlecreek
First let me share a little about Hollis Littlecreek as folks have been asking about his background.
Hollis Curtis Littlecreek was born on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota on November 12, 1924, as the only child of Benjamin Littlecreek (”full”) and Elizabeth Mason (”1/4″). Records show he died April 30, 1999 in Redby, Minnesota. He was registered as 1/2 Chippewa on the US government roles from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. (note- Anishinabeg is the name of his tribe, with Chippewa being a band name given by the immigrants). Hollis had 5 children with his wife Joan (Schielk) Littlecreek. They eventually divorced.
John said, “Hollis would share he was from the last generation to be raised completely within the native tradition. He is of the Marten Clan, and this is a clan he belonged to spiritually. There is no Marten clan on the Red Lake Reservation as some have misunderstood.”
John understood that when Hollis was five, he was thought to have died of an illness. His aunt was quietly sitting with him for almost an hour after she thought he had passed away, when he ‘woke up’ saying that he had a vision in which he was instructed to share the pipe with people of all races. He was taken to the circle of elders to share his vision. They instructed an uncle to make a pipe for him which was kept for him until he was older. Hollis lived his life as a member of the tribe in all ways until he was 52. Then he left the reservation to fulfill his mission”.
John shared, “Hollis never became an Elder of his tribe because of his early departure so he does not hold the title of Elder…Hollis would say he was a simple man, honoring his vision”.
Having shared this, we continue….as we prepare to pour lodge, I’ve been thinking about ceremony and what we have been taught. One very particular principle that John would say Hollis Littlecreek was very clear about was, “Ceremonies have been created to serve the people.” And John Many Voices Armbruster continued to share this universal principle.
This simple idea is sometimes forgotten in our passion of belief. In the fervor of dedication, folks often rush to the idea that the ceremonies, the organizations, the structure of our faith, which we call religion or the ways, are more important than the people who look to them for solace, comfort, and guidance.
John would say, “When the ceremony and the people who implement them become more important than the people the ceremonies are designed to serve, then success is unattainable.” This is a very basic premise. Its simplicity is its strength and it is what we support as Earthkeepers.
The Important Questions
Because of the pervasive and powerful influence ceremony has on humanity, it becomes essential to consider the ceremonies one participates in. Remember, identification in ceremony has the power to cripple as well as to heal.
Identification can be used to uplift falsely. This is done by creating the illusion of superiority of a set of beliefs, practices and even a way of life. This sense of superiority is highly motivating and gives many people the security and continuity that the state of the world seems to sweep away in our everyday lives. This superiority also may serve to galvanize a group into a more cohesive force. However, all of this is a false sense of community and security.
Identification in this form creates a tremendous weakness of the soul. The weakness is created when we define the connection to our Creator by using some quality of our relationship with others as a standard…more wealthy, poorer, better looking, smarter, more oppressed, more spiritual etc. Whatever standard we use, it makes our relationship with our Creator less direct and less personal. It is an outside connection, not an inside connection. It propagates the myth that ceremony, ritual or spiritual leaders are more important than the participants they serve.
Folks might want to ask themselves:
- How do the ceremonies I participate in, serve me?
- Do these ceremonies help create a relationship with my Creator?
- Do these ceremonies connect me to the higher energies and create integration and healing?
- Do these ceremonies and the energy surrounding them help me see clearly new avenues for spiritual growth?
- Do the focus of these ceremonies harness energy to propel me forward in my spiritual growth?
We have found that the beauty of ceremony is that it is designed to let you see your most uplifting and divine aspects. These aspects may not be readily apparent to you. Ceremonial Practice, in it most successful form, strips away the barriers of your own perception to reveal the love within that is interconnected to the divine love.
As Earthkeepers, ceremonial practice unlocks the encoded destiny for each of us stored in the vibrational frequencies of Mother Earth and our DNA. Our access code is accepted as our hearts come online with the pulsating beat of the planetary heart. As John would say, “Our lives become a sacred act, a ceremony celebrating the Gift of Life that we so graciously treasure from our Creator”.
So it is no small thing to have our ceremonies serve the participants.
Thank you Hollis, John and most of all Creator for showing us about ceremonies, so we might connect.
Hugs, Tracy ~ Each person is responsible to find the truths they came to learn on Earth. We share what has come to us…take what you want…leave the rest. May each person come in-sync with Mother Earth so each might find their Ways.
