Anchorage Alaska to Host 9th Gathering of the Int’l Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Convening on May 18, 2011 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage Alaska, the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers will open their 9th Council gathering.  The gathering is open to the public through May 21.  Visit the Events page at http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org for detailed information and registration.

Hosting the gathering is Yup’ik elder and healer, Grandmother Rita Pitka Blumenstein.  The theme, “Healing the Spirit from the Light Within,” will manifest through three and a half days of prayer ceremonies, healings and cultural exchanges.  

The gathering begins with a welcome from local native leaders, followed by the Yup’ik purification dance known as Tarvamaramken.  Local dignitaries include Alaska Federation of Natives President, Julie Kitka, former State Senator, Arliss Sturgelewski, and Father Peter Chris.

Three times daily at the sacred fire in the park, each of the 13 Grandmothers is scheduled to offer prayers from her respective tribal tradition. The Grandmothers will offer a special blessing of the homeless, veterans (men and women) and men at the sacred fire. A Youth Environment Education Program will include traditions in tending a sacred fire. Women and children will be blessed indoors.

Each morning and afternoon Open Council roundtables will be held during which participants can publicly address the Grandmothers. Open Council themes include the role of women and motherhood, restoring your foundation and peace (mental, physical, spiritual health), healing Mother Earth, and balancing life with laugher, tears and healing.

Grandmothers’ Mission Statement:
We, The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our Mother Earth, all Her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next seven generations to come. We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth and the destruction of indigenous ways of life. We look to further our vision through the realization of projects that protect our diverse cultures: lands, medicines, language and ceremonial ways of prayer and through projects that educate and nurture our children.

Origins of the Grandmothers’ Council:
In the fall of 2004 thirteen indigenous Grandmothers gathered from the four directions, from Alaska, North, South, and Central America; Africa; and Asia. They came together at the Tibet House Menla Mountain Retreat center in upstate New York. Within three days they formed a Global Alliance for the good of all beings.
The Council was set in motion by a common vision, prophecies seeded decades ago in many people around the world. One of these seeds was planted by members of the Center for Sacred Studies which helps facilitate the Grandmothers many activities.

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