From: Jonathan Maracle of Broken Walls Visionary of: Sing to the Mountains Music Fes;val An overview and le@er of invita;on to a@end
I would like to invite you to a family friendly gathering (childcare is available) in the heart of the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. The homeland of the Cherokee. It will be held at Lake Junaluska near Ashville This gathering is called: Sing to the Mountains II (Rekindling the Sacred Fire) Friday, star+ng at 6 pm Will begin with protocol with local leaders. The evening will be dedicated to building rela;onship across the genera;ons. Main focus will be towards youth (I highly recommend everyone to come and par;cipate) - The evening will start with Carry the Cure s Rhythms of Life program led by Bill Pagaran in partnership with Broken Walls - It is a program we have presented around the world for many years and has produced great results. - The main objec;ve is suicide preven;on and building self esteem in the hearts of our young people. - Next up, Friday evening will be Lilly Among Thorne s - a young band I met last year while in Lancaster, New York.
- Lilly Among Thorne s is fronted by First Na;ons lead singer Cheyenne Cleveland. - They ve released 2 albums - Their vision, to bring hope and shine light in the darkness - The evening will be completed with an Ice Cream Social Saturday and Sunday, Sing to the Mountains will begin with a Sunrise Ceremony at 6:30 am hosted by Casey Church who is Potawatomi and new director of Wiconi Interna;onal. - This will be a beau;ful experience of honor to Christ from a Tradi;onal perspec;ve. - Please bring a small piece of wood from your fire so we can celebrate our diversity and rekindle the Sacred Fire of the heart, in Unity AYer the sunrise ceremony on Saturday morning there will be story telling by Terry Wildman of RainSong. - Head Elder will be my Mom, Norma Blacksmith of Pine Ridge, South Dakota - We will have speakers like my friend Daniel Kikawa of Hilo Missionary Church in Hilo Hawaii. - Rita Beargrey, Cree from Washington state - Casey Church of Wiconi Interna;onal - Cheryl Bear Barnetson of Street Church in Vancouver,
- Bill Pagaran of Carry the Cure, from Alaska - and myself Jonathan Maracle of Broken Walls from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Canada. Saturday a8ernoon At 1:30pm our Pow Wow begins with Grand Entry, Honoring the Veterans and Elders. Our MC will be Bryan Brightcloud of Na;ve Hope in California and will feature drums from across Turtle Island. - Like local North Carolina drum Deer Clan Singers - Virginia Drum, Yough ta nund - Sacred Thunder from Florida - And Chips are Down from various places across North America. Others will be announced. - Head Dancers will be Troy and Kelly Adkins of Virginia - - - - and Barry and Luanne Greene of New York. - Saturday evening we will have concerts from - Aloha Gathering from Hawaii - Cheryl Bear - RainSong - and Broken Walls. - We will also feature dance groups from Africa and Hawaii. - Other special feature performances will be announced.
On Sunday morning ayer Sunrise Ceremony we will open with Worship on the Big Drum then... - A Passing of the Flame ceremony for empowering the next genera;on - This ceremony will be led by Elders: Willy Jock, Nigel Bigpond, Kenny Blacksmith and Daryl Fields. This will be followed by a word from Seginam Director Cheryl Toothe and Jonathan Maracle Then ayer a short Ques;on and Answer Period - We will Worship and Dance (Indigenous Style) to end Sing to the Mountains. This gathering is in honor to those who have gone on before us.. who loved Jesus and paved the way for this event to even be possible. It is to say Thank you for their courage to follow their convic;ons so we can enjoy the freedom we have today and the sacred giys placed in each one of us. To Register contact: Anna King 828-454- 6682 Or email: registrar@lakejunaluska.com Lodging and Meals: Contact: Resertva;ons: 800-222- 4930 reserva;ons@lakejunaluska.com
Program Ques;ons: Contact: Rev. Cheryl Toothe 828-454- 6724 ctoothe@lakejunaluska.com I hope to see you there Jonathan Maracle Oh na ge wa he.. good bye for now