In the story headlined “Medicine men lead blessing ceremony” (Journal, July 14) two items require correction.
First, the Ceremonial Ground is located on Southwest Intertribal Voice property that used to belong to the Neskahi family. Second, peyote is not smoked in ceremonial use, it is taken as medicine.
Thomas House was not identified as the Ute Mountain Ute tribal elder who conducted the tepee blessing. He was assisted by Blair House. Lorenzo Root directed the brand new tepee set up. Several Ute Mountain Ute tribal members spoke during the tepee blessing. Alfred Wall donated the use of his tepee poles and organized the tepee dedication.
The Ceremonial Ground will be used mainly by Ute Mountain Utes and Navajos, a first in the region. Expected uses include healings, blessings, weddings, puberty ceremonies, etc. Also envisioned are wellness, educational, and other community gatherings.
The Ceremonial Ground is the first phase of SIV’s Language and Cultural Preservation Program. Many reservation schools provide language and culture classes, but where Federal funding is involved, the spiritual aspects of the culture are left out, due to separation of church and state issues. SIV seeks to include the ceremonial spirituality from which our language and culture are derived.
Centuries of oppression by government and church programs have wiped out generations of native ceremonial knowledge. Today, these indigenous religions continue to decline. Little is being done to support the continuation of these indigenous religions. Most natives say it is up to the family to continue it, but in a great percentage of families, there is no one left who knows the traditional teachings.
By providing the ceremonial ground, hogan and tepee, SIV will work to support families that need and want ceremonials. When a family hosts a ceremonial, all family members are involved, elders, adults, teens and younger ones. The teachings are passed on and strong families are the result. Families need to provide their own healer/medicine person.
Southwest Intertribal Voice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions for this effort are welcome. Call me at (970) 560-4489.
Art Neskahi
Cortez