Our Summer Travels
As students begin to return from summer vacation across America, and soon in Ghana, many will be sharing "What did you do this summer?" Our summer has been full of criss-crossing the North American continent, planning for the future and connecting with amazing individuals who are becoming part of a growing coalition inspired to connect children globally and make a world of difference! California was an amazing break from the heat of the southeast! The vistas of the Pacific Ocean are quite different than those of the Atlantic, or the Gulf of Guinea, and much cooler. A huge thanks to Mike Beegle, with Effection Media, whom continues to help us with an archival system for all of the video we are working with to share this story of hope. Thank you also to Super Star Volunteer, Ann McGinley, for her continued support in our financials and future development planning.
From California to Parry Sound, Canada, and weaving in a new culture rich with stories and traditions that came from children! Deina Bomberry, a teacher and Jingle Dress Dancer, and her husband John Rice, Former Chief of the Nation, Drum Carrier, and Traditional Male Dancer shared their home, stories and challenges of ensuring the survival of their way of life. Last January, these master story tellers shared drumming and traditions with The Paidiea School in Atlanta, and Kings Ridge School in Alpharetta, Georgia. We were able to hear and participate more in depth many of the traditions of the Ojibwa Tribe and the Wasausking Nation. We picked strawberries and heard about rights of passage, danced in the intertribal dances at a Pow Wow on July 4th (incidentally, the flag being carried for the veterans song was the American flag!), participated in a Sweat Lodge on school grounds, and picked sweet grass. Both the drum and sweat lodge, intrical parts of their community’s ceremonies, rituals, and healing came to be through the vision of children. We look forward to working further with the children of this Nation, and sharing more in depth the visions of these children steeped in sage wisdom that has value for people of all nations. Meegweetch for your hospitality and tireless commitment to peaceful ways amongst nations and for mother earth!
Onto the final stops on this summer tour- the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. The clean fresh evergreen and sage infused air, combined with expansive big mountain vistas, and star filled nights are sources of renewal and inspiration for dreaming big for the upcoming year. We are now scheduling for the US schools for September, and in contact with our friends in Ghana planning for October and November. International Day of Peace is a month away, as we begin our fall exchange focus on our shared humanity cross-culturally, spreading the children's hope for our future. While the end of summer comes with bittersweet emotions, we are beyond excited to soon be back in the classrooms facilitating the cross-cultural exchanges!