Please be patient with us . Wado
Have you ever tried to keep a bear stuck in his recliner all day? With his foot propped
up? For weeks?
Old veterans have health problems that most of us are aware of, and Emmette's
diabetes has cost him one of his toes. Things were going well after his first surgery, but
this week it was necessary to have a followup operation, just about the time he was able
to start getting active. Back into the recliner. It has slowed him down some. So, he
growls.
The Many Waters town is already working on this years Gathering. We are looking for
individuals who are willing to help with the children's programs, the nature and learning
walks we hope to use as a way to introduce them to our Tsalagi heritage. We are also
researching additions to our fund raising sales, more T shirts, flags etc. Grandmother
Redleaf has generously donated the rights to the book she published several years ago,
a collection of recipes and stories about her life. We may not be able to offer the whole
book this year, but certainly excerpts for your enjoyment. It is truly delightful. Thank
you, Grandmother. If you have any ideas to contribute about the Gathering please feel
free to contact Emmette directly. And of course, this time of the year, there is site work
to be done, thanks to our mild winter, not as much as other years.
Emmette will be able to make the Tribal Council meeting in Troup this month, even if he
will be traveling “wheelchair assist” on the airlines. There are many important issues to
be addressed. We hope to see a large attendance of enrolled members.
We look forward to seeing everybody at the Pacific Northwest District meeting at Frank
Perkin's place in June. At that time Emmette will report to everyone about the Tribal
Council meeting. I will also be chairing the Women's Society meeting there, if anyone
has anything they'd like to discuss or explore, please let me know ahead of time.
Just a note: I have found I can do some beadwork again, and of course, we have some
very experienced beadworkers in the group. Yes, Shannon, I do mean you. Judy Black
and I managed to figure out peyote stitch together,,,(who writes those books anyway?)
Many of us have skills to share, so if people would like to bring beadwork projects or
ideas, we can work with those. I did quite a bit of research and completed a bandolier
bag for Emmette's regalia, I will bring it to show you. Now I am working on his regalia
aprons. Contact me if you need help getting things together to start a project, maybe I
can help. Do remember, Shipwreck Beads is located very near Frank and Gloria's.
At this time, we don't have our next Town meeting scheduled. You can understand why
things have been a little hectic. We will keep you posted. And you are all invited to our
Fourth of July Barbecue AKA Skunk Wrassle the weekend of the 4th. The Potluck will
be on Sunday, campers welcome for the entire weekend. We can probably get together
for a bit on Saturday to have a town meeting then.
Walk in beauty
Ulista Waya Gabe
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Women's Society
Greetings, My Sisters
First of all, Thank you so very much for all your help and support at the Gathering. Special thanks to the
younger members who worked so tirelessly to keep the coffee pots full from dawn to late at night. Without them I
could never have kept on going, and someday I may even find all the cups I left scattered around the meadow.
(And thanks to all of you who did find most of them and get them in to be washed.) And the food, not all of it
cooked just by the women, was wonderful. We had plenty of food, and next year we will have even more plates to
put it on. I think there was always someone washing dishes.
We held our meeting in the new Arbor. All the women at the Gathering were invited, from ages 78 to exactly 1
year old. Our discussion involved the events of the Gathering, and we went around the circle, everyone speaking
in turn. Nearly all had something to say about how much they were getting from our weekend, not only the new
knowledge gained, but the sharing of being Tsalagi together. I know that for many people, it was the first time they
could celebrate this part of their heritage with so many others like themselves.
Many women had made a special effort to make and wear the Cherokee chosen traditional dress, and they were
bright and beautiful to see. While this dress is not necessary, for those who wish to wear it, I am always available to
help in its creation.
Issues were discussed, not only at the meeting but at other times during the Gathering. One point that was
made is that we need to address especially the needs of the young people, even the very young. Last year we had
one child at the Gathering, this year they were everywhere. We will have special programs set up for them next
year. They do need to be introduced to the protocols of Tsalagi behavior and the reasons behind them. For
instance, the ways that we show respect to the elders such as first at mealtime. There were also requests for
information about these things for the older people as well, since so much is new to all of us. There were requests
for songs we could learn.
We need to remember that if we are working with our mission of bringing together, there will always be people
who are just starting to learn and wish guidance every year, adults as well as children will experience new things.
As we welcome newcomers, all of us also have a mission to help in explaining our cultural ways. We will need to be
tolerant of mistakes, heaven knows I make enough of them, and remember that we are all trying as we learn. On
our web page we will have a section for children to ask questions about our culture, please read them and if you
can contribute an answer, write in. Perhaps there also ought to be a place for adults to send their questions, too.
But if there is any question I might to able to answer, or find the information for you, please email me
(gabegabel@hotmail.com) and let me know. I've met a lot of people a lot smarter than I am and I know how to
contact them. I also welcome any feedback you have about the Gathering. We are all trying to make next year's
Gathering even better for all.
This year's Gathering was tremendous. Many of us found a spiritual connection that we had not expected. It
was a time of insight and growth that will continue the rest of the year.
My love to you all. May you walk in beauty,
Gabe
Osiyo, Relatives
During the Gathering, we received many blessings. The weather, an abundance of good food, and the coming
together of our People. The Gathering in September brought together the people of our town as well as many from
all over the nation. I speak gratitude to you all for this Gathering. First, to Emmette and Gabe, for sharing their
beautiful home. Second, to all those who supplied the sweat equity that made our Gathering possible: Emmette &
Gabe, Roger & Judy Black, Brett Perkins, Will Stringfellow, and Bubba Jack Rhodes. You all went above and
beyond expectations in your contribution to the People. And lastly, to all who travelled to be with us, to share in our
celebration of the bounty of Mother Earth, family, and friends, Wado. Having so many Elders and leaders from the
other Districts share this time with us, was not only a blessing, but strengthened us as a whole People. The Many
Waters Town was truly blessed by your presence.
The Gathering brought together many old faces, but also blessed us with an abundance of new friends and
relatives. It was extremely pleasant to see so many of our young people here this year. Without our young adults
and children, we are a lost people. Only through them do we continue to live, to grow, and to survive.
The Gathering brought us another blessing this year, that to me was unexpected, but very much appreciated. It
has been many years since I have had the opportunity to spend so much time within a circle of Women. The
Gathering gave us all the chance to do what women have always done. We were able to do what Cherokee women
have done for centuries—bond together and celebrate in Woman’s Power. We worked together for the benefit of
the People; we cooked, we laughed, shared tears, shared some the old ways, and learned more about the ways of
our People, and shared goals and dreams for the future of our families, our Town, our Tribe, and our People. We
were able to reaffirm the strength that we, as women, possess. I cannot express how much gratitude I have for all
my Sisters. I don’t know if the men had as much fun as we did. But, I know that I am looking forward to the next time
I can be together with, and be blessed by all these amazing women who were gathered here.
My life is certainly richer for having attended the Gathering and having been blessed by each and every one of you.
Again, Wado, my Relatives.
Walks In Water