The Earthkeepers

With great sadness, I report that John Hopkins, son of Cynthia Hopkins, left this life recently– he was 43. Cynthia, who led the Sedona Encampments after John Armbruster hit the road in the early 90’s, is offering a memorial ceremony on Saturday, June 30th at 3 pm in Camp Verde, Arizona. If you would like more info, please call Cynthia at 928.567.6855.

Duke, Lama Norbu, John Many Voices, Joseph Many Horses

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Duke Joseph Big Feather Schallmo on October 31, 2006. Duke was the Leader of the: Two Feathers Medicine Clan; Intercessor of the All My Relations Sundance - sharing the vision of the Condor and the Eagle; Roadman for the Native American Church of North America of the Cowlitz Indians and the Four Directions Lodge and our Western Hemisphere Affiliates; and a Dog Soldier.

As part of the Earthkeeper family, as well as the Sundance family, we are ever grateful for Duke’s support. We can still hear him entering the Earthkeeper’s Dance Circles saying, “Happy…Happy…Joy…Joy!!!”

It is with great reverence that we share Duke’s photo’s taken at the Earthkeeper Dances.
We have posted photo’s from folks at this website: photoshow.comcast.net/watch/It4pP6ne (Click: watch, full screen, turn on the volume and wait for advert to finish.)

Fly High Duke!

Hugs, Dave, Tracy and Janisse

P.S. - Added INFORMATION:

Raven has posted photo’s as well at photoshow.comcast.net/watch/VF2Bn7as

Also, a Photo Show with focus on Sundance has been posted at www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=116995 . When site comes up - click on left box under All My Relations. When presentation is loaded, click anywhere in black box to start. Make sure your sound is on. I understand Mac users cannot access, so I posted one that does not have the same Sundance music track at photoshow.comcast.net/watch/xz6EU8mn with additional pictures added to this one.

If you’d like to leave thoughts, memories or memorial to Duke, click comments, found above photo, and follow directions. We will forward messages to the family.

So many of you have asked to join us in our family earthkeeper ceremonies so Dave, Tracy and Janisse invite you to join us as we continue down the ceremonial trail in Appreciation of Mother Earth and the Ancestors who ride the winds.

We dance in balance of those who dwell in the Within…beyond the illusion…home of “All That Is”, purple, seven…and place of inner reflection where the sacred hoop is made whole, and you are shown the medicine that allows you to know your place in the Sacred Hoop.

If you are unable to join us in person, please join us in Spirit.

Date: Saturday, September 30, 2006

Time: 4:00 pm set up circle — 4:30 pm Ceremony begins

Place: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Dunbar Beach near the town of Beverly Shores (see directions below)

Bring:
§ An open heart, happiness, pleasant thoughts, and rattles.
§ Sacred item that represents your within, to be placed on an altar, symbolizing your prayer for this ceremony.
§ Blanket may be needed to sit on in the circle at times and you can bring a chair as well.
§ Chooch (Pipe) carriers may bring their chooch.
§ Dress appropriately for the weather and ceremony.

We will be eating at a local restaurant afterwards for those who might want a bite to eat.

We thank our friend, John Many Voices Armbruster, for teaching us Earthkeeping Ways.

Any questions contact: Dave, Janisse or Tracy - email address: youncedjt@verizon.net

Directions to Dunbar Beach: 1) starting at Interstate 94 and Indiana Highway 49 (Chesterton exit) go north on Highway 49 about 3 miles to US highway 12. 2) The exit to US highway 12 is on the left, turn left onto exit, then bare right onto US highway 12 going east. 3) Travel east on US highway 12 about 5 miles to the stop light at Broadway Street. 4) Turn left (north) onto Broadway and follow road to Lake Michigan. 5) At Lake Michigan, turn left (west) onto West Lake Front Drive and take it to Dunbar Avenue stop sign. 6) Turn left (south) onto Dunbar Ave and start up hill. You will see the parking lot on the right (west). The ceremony will be directly north of Dunbar Ave on the beach at Lake Michigan.

7th Earthkeeper Dance: All-day Ceremony

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2006

Time: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm CST

Place: Indiana Dunes State Park, North of Chesterton, Indiana on Hiway 49, - at Duneside Shelter, (rain or shine) - the shelter is reserved for us

Beforehand: Go within for guidance on what your personal intent will be for this ceremony, and on what sacred items you might bring.

Bring: Your joy, laughter, drums, rattles; items to help set-up circle and altars; personal sacred item (s) to place on Altar(s); a blanket may be needed to sit on in the circle at times and you can bring a chair as well; women may wear a shawl; dress appropriately for the weather and ceremony; we will have a potluck lunch and dinner, please bring food to share for both meals. Don’t forget to bring your own table service. There will be a give a way blanket at the close of the last ceremony so bring a gift to place on the blanket.

Remember, as always, we dedicate our ceremonies to joy and laughter on Mother Earth.

We thank John Many Voices Armbruster for sharing his Earthkeeping Ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please contact Anne Thomas, email tandathomas@msn.com, if you have any questions.

Hugs, Tracy - take what you want…find your truths…leave the rest…I share because I care.

Dear Friends - Greetings to you, your family and acquaintances, with best wishes to all.

Just a reminder that the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in Baja California outside of El Hongo is fast approaching. This event is a multicultural, international ceremony open to all races, tribes and religions, where we hope to offer prayers and healing for Mother Earth and All Creation.

Earth Dance is a public event, open to all who come in a good way. As it is a spritual event, there is no charge for attending and participating. Donations are accepted to help meet the costs of the dance.

This may be the last year of a four year period where the dance will be held at Rancho Los Juntas. We wish to thank Horacio, his family, the ranch staff, and the representatives and residents of El Hongo for their kindness, generosity, and continual support demonstrated over the last four years.

We also wish to thank all of the supporters and donors who have offered so much to this year’s dance preparations in terms of donations of goods, work at the site, prayers throughout the year, organization and other services to date. This year’s Tecate Earth Dance will commence in two weeks. The main dance dates are May 11 - 14, 2006. Camping on site should be open between May 7 and May 18, 2006. Everyone is welcome to come as a supporter, where we arrive to provide support to dedicated dancers who vow to fast and pray for four days and nights. During time of rest between dance, supporters may choose to be involved in a wide range of activities amongst themselves, including teachings, activities for children, sweat lodges, a communal kitchen, the help of healers, etc..

As supporters, people can come to Earth Dance from one afternoon to up to two weeks duration, as their schedules and interests allow. Please go to www.earthdance8.org for complete details, including protocol, what to bring, maps to the dance site, etc. Those who feel called to be dedicated dancers are requested to call the dance leaders (men call Adam Yellow Bird DeArmon in the USA c/o 928-646-3000; women call Laura Espinoza in Mexico at (011-52) 686-566-0083 right away if they have not already done so, in order to have such participation considered, be directed as to preparations, arrival times, and so on. The Mexican Earth Dance Council is still in need of funds to support this year’s dance, and all donations from the heart will be gratefully recieved. If desired, call Laura (above) for more information on this matter. In advance, we thank you for your attendance and/or support at the 2006 Tecate Earth Dance in beautiful Baja California, Mexico.

Go to www.earthdance8.org for more information in English and in Spanish. Feel free to pass this email along to anyone who might be interested in supporting and/or coming to Earth Dance. Thanks to the Creator, the Council of Elders and Ancient Ones, Father Sun and Mother Earth.

Goyo …………………………………………

Los queridos Amigos - Los saludos a usted, su familia y los conocidos, saludos a todo. Apenas un recordatorio que el 2006 Danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California fuera de El Hongo se acerca rápidamente. Este acontecimiento es una ceremonia multicultural e internacional abre a todo compite, los tribus y las religiones, donde esperamos ofrecer las oraciones y curando para la Madre Tierra y Toda Creación. Es un acontecimiento público, abre a todos los que entra una manera buena.

Esto puede ser el último año de un cuatro período de año donde el baile se tendrá en Juntas de Rancho Los. Deseamos dar gracias Horacio, su familia, el personal de hacienda, y los representantes y los residentes de El Hongo para su bondad, para la generosidad, y para apoyo continuo demostrado sobre los últimos cuatro años. Deseamos también dar gracias todos los partidarios y los donantes que han ofrecido tanto a estas preparaciones del baile del año en términos de donativos de bienes, el trabajo en el sitio, las oraciones a través del año, la organización y otros servicios para fechar.

Este Danza de la Madre Tierra de año Tecate comenzará en dos semanas. Las fechas principales del baile son el 11 de mayo - 14, 2006. Acampar en el sitio debe estar abierto entre el 7 de mayo y el 18 de mayo de 2006. Todos es libre de vienen como un partidario, donde llegamos a proporcionar apoyo a bailarines dedicados que prometen a rápido y oran durante cuatro días y las noches. Durante tiempo del descanso entre el baile, los partidarios pueden escoger ser implicados en una gran variedad de actividades entre sí mismos, inclusive enseñanzas, las actividades para niños, sudan los alojamientos, una cocina comunal, la ayuda de curadores, etc..

Cuando un partidario, una persona puede venir al Danza de la Madre Tierra de una tarde hasta dos duración de semanas, como sus horarios y los intereses permiten. Vaya por favor a www.earthdance8.org para detalles completos, inclusive protocolo, lo que traer, los mapas al sitio del baile, etc.

Los que se sienten llamaron a ser dedicado a bailarines son solicitados para llamar los líderes del baile (hombres Le llaman a Adám Pájaro Amarillo DeArmon en EEUU c/o 928-646-3000; mujeres llaman Laura Espinoza en México en (011-52) 686-566-0083 )en seguida si ellos no ya han hecho para tener así, tal participación considerada, sea dirigido en cuanto a las preparaciones, tiempos de llegada, etcétera.

El Concilio Mexicano del Danza de la Madre Tierra es todavía necesitado de fondos para sostener este baile de año, y todos donativos del corazón serán con gratitud recieved. Si deseado, llama Laura (arriba) para más información en este asunto. En el avance, nosotros gracias para su asistencia y/o sostiene en el 2006 danza de la Madre Tierra de Tecate en Baja California, México. Vaya a www.earthdance8.org para más información en inglés y en español. Gracias al Creador, el Concilio de Ancianos y Antiguos, el Padre Sol y Madre Tierra. Goyo