The 4 first days are the days of purification

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We sweat 1 door to make us feel good.

We prepare the place, we eat, we help each other.

We have daily meetings to get to know each other, explain things, sing a little, get connected little by little.

These purification days bring us peace et help us get along. Not to be missed !

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On the 4th day, we go get the tree.

After praying with him one last time and making sure he agrees, we cut him down and carry him to the dance circle. He is decorated with tobacco ties, flags and other “beauties” then he is planted in the middle of the circle. The tree will be our connection between the sky and the earth during the dance .

Thank you! Oh! Thank you!

From that moment on, the dancers will not drink or even touch water.

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The dance

The men and women dancers start dancing from sun rise on the 5th day within the large circle around the tree. When night ends, they prepare their canunpas, sweat during one door in the sweat lodge and put on their prayer clothes.

When the sun rises, the singers are ready. The drum gives the rhythm of a day of dance and peace. We sing all day long, we help thanks to our presence, we keep the sacred fire going, we burn cedar.

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We contemplate the beauty of those dancing in prayer. Mmmmh! so good!

When the dance stops for a while, we smoke the dancers’ canunpas. We share the peace.

The evenings are blessed with goodness.

We get into the sweat lodge if we feel like it, we take care of the dancers who need help. Then we go eat with the other supporters.

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The healing day

On the 3 rd day of dance, the dancers get close to us around the circle and bless us with their prayers.

It is a great moment of healing!

Some people ask for a healing and so they are taken near the sacred tree by the leaders to get help.

Sometimes, in the evening, when it is getting cooler, we sing again and live a great dance to the moon …So magical!!

On the last day, men and women dancers step out of the circle in line. We all stand on a line to welcome and honour them.

After a short closing sweat lodge, the dancers join us all for a festive meal!

The tree is put down and we offer tobaccos prayers and flags to the sacred fire.

Everyone can go back home with a piece of the sacred tree so that his peace stays with us all along the year.

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What is my place?

As a dancer ?

To dance, you'll need to sincerely desire to dance your prayers. We advice you to start with vision quests and to have your own pipe. Dancing supposes that you have some experience and some self sufficiency in ceremonies.

To be pierced, you'll need to have a good reason !

Watch for your dreams, for your inspiration. A sun, a tree, your feet dancing… But above all, make sure that you are the one willing to dance !

And then, get in touch with Mathieu Loup Gris as soon as you feel the calling (dudhuloupgris@yahoo.fr)

There are quite a lot of things to prepare in order to get ready (tobacco ties, clothes, feathers, canunpa, mocassins…)

Make sure you you belong to a group to practice sweet lodges and receive support and advices. The usual way to get to dance is to start with sweat and vision quests to learn how to pray on this path. I also encourage you to come  help and learn for your first visit. You'll have one year to get ready this way.

 

As a camp helper?

There will be many things to do in the camp if you do not wish to dance.

-the sacred fire needs to be watched day and night, and fed with stones before the sweat lodges

-the ”cedar spot“ is important during each dancing session

-the drum and the songs so as the heart of the earth can beat in music

-the kitchen spot so as to feed every one’s belly….

-Helping the dancers

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There is a lot to do and we will talk about it during the first 4 days so as everything be well organised. There will be boards and felts to put one’s name down and register for different activities !!

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It is just like a vision quest camp then ….but not quite the same ….

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