Monday will be my nephew's birthday, our first without him. And it's hard.
Today, I will be at a Native American Honor Dance with my family, celebrating his much too short life.
His younger brother will hit the drum as he sits in the drum circle. He will sing and proclaim, "We dance for those that can't dance. We sing for those who no longer sing." Singing loud, dancing hard, doing this with the healing thought of being the feet and voice for her son, will be what provides my sister respite from her pain today. If only for the moments of the ceremony.
She'll dance, arms up and feet hitting the ground hard. She'll raise her head and lift her voice and sing for her boy. And in that sacred time, nothing else will exist for her, except the communion between a mother and her child. Private, holy.
Hold us in your thoughts today. Keep us close in your hearts.
Wish us peace.
In Powwow Trail, Dylan Jennings shares a
weekend of singing with Midnite Express and dancing at the Oneida
Powwow. This video is part of The Ways, an ongoing series of stories on
culture and language from Native communities around the central Great
Lakes.
More at theways.orgFollow us:
facebook.com/thewaysorg
twitter.com/thewaysorg
Finn Ryan - Producer, Director, Video
David Nevala - Video, Editing, Photography
A Tribe Called Red - "Electric Pow Wow Drum"
Midnite Express - "Randy's Song"
A Production of Wisconsin Media Lab
* * *
You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Love to you... xo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, for how supportive you've been to me this year. I appreciate it. xo
DeleteThinking of you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI wil have you and your family in my head and in my heart with prayers and love. Dance! xoxo
ReplyDeletemmm...cool thing to do today...its fascinating to watch...and dance for those that cant...i rather like that...and i know monday will not be easy...travel light...
ReplyDeleteHolding each of you up in prayer. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteI know this was yesterday and that you're probably just processing today, but I hope it was uplifting and full of the best kind of joy-tempered-with-sorrow that survivors can ask for. Thinking of all of you.
ReplyDeleteMy mother and I have long believed we were Native Americans in a past life because our attachment to their cultures is otherwise unexplained. My mother once bought kitchen tiles at the Interior Dept in D.C. and each tile had a native American in full regalia. She brought them to our apt in Paris and had them inlaid on the kitchen walls so she could see them every day. I've never been able to walk past any of their artwork or jewelry without marveling.
ReplyDeleteI think they bring great peace for a people who lost so much so many years ago. And I hope your sister, and your family, gets this peace from them.
Thank you so much, Suzy. xo
DeleteSure thing - wishing you peace. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...peace.
ReplyDeleteSending prayers for you and your family. xo
ReplyDeleteSending prayers and love!
ReplyDeleteWe've both had our tough week, and I've got you with me. I feel it. Thank you. xo
DeleteDo you have any idea how much I love you? ANY IDEA?
ReplyDeleteYou and your family are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I know this is such a difficult time.
Hold on. And breathe.
I am here. I will call.
xoxo
Oh, my heart is breaking for you. I've been absent from the Blogosphere for a while, trying to keep up with family and grad school, and I just read about your nephew. This hit me hard, especially since I'm dealing with a very recent death in my own family. You and your family are all in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteTHank you, Kimberly. Some day, I hope, to not wake up with tears clinging to my eyelashes. Thank you. xo
DeleteI hope that this brought some peace to all of you today...but mostly to his mom. I can't imagine. Can't. I keep this tucked in the back of my mind.
ReplyDeleteSending love and thoughts
xoxo
Thinking of you and yours today, my lovely. ♥
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in the hearts and minds of me and my family today. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteAs my Cherokee ancestors would say Nvwadohiyadv - "peace"
Thank you, Lance. Send it all our way, please. xo
DeleteMay you all find the peace that comes from embracing memories and holding them in your soul. xo
ReplyDeleteLove to you & yours, Empress
ReplyDeleteThanks, John, you know how he was my first baby, before I had my own. Thank you. xo
DeleteDancing and singing... one of the greatest ways to honor, remember, and celebrate those who have moved on. I am thinking of you and your family.
ReplyDeleteLove from us and thoughts for you and all your family. The ceremony sounds like a brilliant way to remember, actively singing and dancing in memory of those you love.
ReplyDeleteSo many days will be difficult for you and your family as you acknowledge the loss of your nephew. You did him a great honor by celebrating his life this way. I loved the video.The costumes, singing, dancing, music and heart of the people are so beautiful! I've seen similar dancing at the Powwow in Red Wing, MN. Holding you in my heart and wishing you peace.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you. I hope it's a good celebration.
ReplyDeleteSending much love and peace to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. We will be devastated for a long time, but especially this first year of the firsts without him. THANK YOU.
DeleteI wish you peace, love, and joy. And dance even when you don't want to.
ReplyDeleteI do. Thinking of you, sending you love.
ReplyDeleteHolding you all in light and love.
ReplyDeleteYou are always in my thoughts, Alexandra. I wish you and your family peace and comfort during this incredibly difficult time. XOXO
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charlotte. The level of heartache, I can't begin to describe. My baby nephew, forever, he'll be my baby nephew. xo
DeleteHow are you, Alexandra?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to be late for this. We went away as you know, and I overestimated myself thinking I could keep up with the internet.
Thinking of you and your sister and her family.
xoxo