4th Spirit Matters Gathering - Honouring Indigenous Worlds
August 24-26, 2012 OISE, University of Toronto
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Theme
Honouring Indigenous Worlds;
Visionary Learning under the Fifth Sun
Background
In this pivotal year a 4th Spirit Matters gathering builds on those previous. In 2004, wisdom leaders from many traditions met in councils and dialogue circles to talk about humans reconnecting with the Earth in the Great Work. In 2007, leaders and elders from many peoples met as One Earth Community; Sharing our Stories. Twenty-eight elders, educators and youth from the Americas, Africa and Ireland, traveled the sacred sites of that island together in 2008 following a promise made at the 2nd Spirit Matters gathering to further interpeoples and intergenerational healing.. They did ceremonies and spoke together deeply in circle around healing colonization and rekindling indigenous spirit intergenerationally. In the years since that there have been multiple youth-elder circles with peoples from all four directions meeting in and around Toronto. By 2010, the 3rd Spirit Matters explored the theme Hearing and Listening: Youth and Elders in the Web of Life with more music, art and interconnected activism than ever before.
Themes for Circles
All participants will choose their circles on Saturday. At least two animators or experienced holders of circle processes will be in each theme. Some circles will use a talking stick or stone. Others may be less formalized, i.e. indigenizing education. These are places to share what is known together. One person in each circle will volunteer to sketch or document learnings to bring back into the larger gathering.
Listening to Ancestral Voices
Indigenising Education
Medicine Wheel Teachings
Nurturing Children, Our Future Ancestors
Healing Body/Mind/Spirit
Sound Medicines
Weaving Creativity into Everything
Community Ritual and Ceremonies
Steps into the Fifth Sun
Making Peace; Non Violent Communication and Actions
Being Animal; Honouring the More-Than-Human World
What is the most important question to ask in this time?
Rekindling Indigenous Spirit; Ireland, Uganda, Hawaii, Six Nations and beyond
Earth Practices; Daily Supports
Continue reading from the 4th Spirit Matters webpage: http://www.spiritmatterscommunity.com/theme/