Earthdance : Hub Event

The Gathering of the Elders 2006

An important part of this year’s festival is the “International Elders Forum” featuring first nation and modern elders from many countries. The elders will share wisdom and sacred ceremony and will join in council to discuss the important issues that are facing our planet at this crucial time. Earthdance Laytonville is honored to host this important gathering. Please see schedule for more info.

PARTICIPATING ELDERS

The oldest living female member of the Rogue River Indians, Takelma tribe. Originally from Southern Oregon, Agnes was chosen by her tribe as a “Living Legend. Agnes is an ambassador for our Mother Earth. She is a spiritual elder of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and granddaughter of Chief George Harney, the first elected chief of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. She is a world-renowned spiritual leader, elder mentor to the Native American Student Union of Southern Oregon University, and keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony

Woody Vaspra, a native Hawaiian, retired Air Force pilot, Vietnam veteran and former corporate director for several companies, co-founded the World Council of Elders, a 501(c)(3) educational organization in 2000. Woody has traveled across the globe meeting with indigenous Elders of many native cultures in fulfillment of the vision of creating a worldwide organization of traditional indigenous wisdom-keepers ready to share their Earth-honoring traditions toward love, peace and harmony for all peoples.

Mercedes Barrios Longfellow, Maya Elder from Guatemala, has dedicated most of her life to sharing the Maya ancestral knowledge with others. She is a wise teacher and loving healer who travels extensively throughout the world conducting sacred ceremony, teaching workshops, and providing spiritual counsel. Her vision is that humanity will fully embrace the role of healing our Mother Earth and all living things.

Master Yu Tianjian is a Living Buddha from China, and is the Highest Master of the Hanmi Esoteric Buddhism lineage. Master Yu was recently enthroned as The Great Enlightener (Golden Crown) MahaVairocana Dharma King. He is currently the Abbot of the Dari Rulai Temple (LA), and has additional temples in Maui, Toronto, Las Vegas, and China. Well known for his tremendous ability to heal thousands worldwide of severe or difficult illnesses, Living Buddha Master Yu focuses on the need for more people to become enlightened this lifetime in order to serve mankind through the upcoming Earth Changes. Master Yu was previously a speaker at the United Nations Millenium World Peace Summit of Religious & Spiritual Leaders, and will be also delivering some prophecies to Earthdance participants concerning these upcoming Earth Changes.

Wailaki Elder, Fred Coyote Downey, has given himself in service to his people as a great healer and is an inspiration for all people he meets. Along with his spiritual and community building works, Coyote is an activist for environmental, cultural and historical protection, and is an Ambassador to the United Native Nations as a member of their Legislative Assembly. He participates in the Confederation of the Continental Indigenous Elders of America, is an Advisor to the Native American Treaty Council, and belongs to two committees in an advisory capacity to improve archaeological protection of sites in Mendocino County and for California’s Native American Heritage Commission and was awarded the prestigious “Sempervirens Environmental Award” at the 25th Anniversary celebration for the Environmental Protection Information Center.

ChoQosh Auh’Ho’Oh was named by the Seneca and Chumash elders. She is herself an elder of Coastal Native Indian descent. She is a giver of spiritual tools, divine and practical, and a messenger of ancient prophecies and sacred stories. ChoQosh taught for the Cross Cultural Communications program at University California Berkeley for 19 years, and classes in the great teepee at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California. Having lived in the Canadian wilderness for many years, she passes on the knowledge of how to harvest the wild for food and medicine. ChoQosh was host for KAZU-FM’s award winning radio program Songs For The Earth/ Mending The Sacred Hoop (1985-1990). In 1990, at the invitation of the Maori King Hukapa Mateau of Aotearoa/ New Zealand she was asked to come to share her knowledge and sacred stories. It was there she received the name “Te Wahini O Nga Ho O E Wah- Woman Of The Four Directions Who Call The People To Action”.

Moises Villafane of Arhuarco tribe of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Columbia. He was formerly the liaison of the Mamos (spiritual priests) of the Tairona peoples consisting of 4 tribes, the Arhuarco, Arsario, Concuamo and Kogi. At present, Moises was selected to be the first ambassador of the indigenous peoples of Columbia.

Counter culture icon best known for his presence in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in the 1960s and for co-founding "The Farm", a famous spiritual Intentional Community in Summertown, Tennessee. He was a Green Party presidential primary candidate in 2000 on a platform which included Campaign Finance Reform, Universal Health Care, and Marijuana Decriminalization. He is also recognized for the legendary “Monday Night Classes”, which he taught at SF State University in the 60ies and which became an open discussion involving up to 1500 students. Gaskin now works as an international activist and speaker, and continues to write.

Known throughout the world for her efforts to empower midwives, mothers, and babies. Her influence on U.S. birthing culture has been profound. She has been widely credited with having created the modern home-birth movement, as well as almost single-handedly inspiring the renaissance of midwifery in the United States. Her book, "Spiritual Midwifery has sold over half-million copies. She is the wife of Stephen Gaskin.

Swami Chaitanya has led a colorful life . After decades of living in the USA and abroad, primarily India, he was initiated into a Jnana Yoga Shankara Parampara sect at the 1998 Maha Kumbha Mela in Hardwar. Since then, he continues to study and teach, through words and actions. His artistic skills are now directed towards designing and constructing temples such as the three-dimensional Sri Yantra at Earthdance 2005. He is currently in residence at Turtle Creek Ranch and sanctuary in Laytonville, California.

Comedian, comic actor and activist clown. He was a part of the Beat movement in the late 1950s, hanging out in Greenwich Village with hipsters and folk singers like Paul Krassner, Lenny Bruce, and Bob Dylan. By 1966, he was one of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters and lived on a mountain top commune near L.A. called the Hog Farm. After a time, the Hog Farm took to the road with its members living in a fleet of converted school buses and traveling the country protesting the Vietnam War. Wavy has filled his days with an endless list of benefits and worthy causes, including the Seva Foundation, Home Aid (for the homeless), Cowboys for Indians (for Native Americans), Blues Against Blindness and more. He also co-founded the legendary camp Winnarainbow for children with is wife Jahanara and has spent countless hours spent in children's hospital ward.

Mongolia Chief Shaman Zorigtbaatar Banzar was called by the Great Spirit to fulfill his life’s purpose as a shaman when he was eight years old and began his apprentice with many renowned Mongolian shamans. He is the leader of Center of Shaman and Eternal Heavenly Sophistication Mongolia. He holds a Master of Shaman Research from Religion University of Mongolia and received an Honorary Doctor of Nalandar University in India. He was honored as Golden Gerege from Mongolian Government and Commission of 800th Anniversary of Great Mongolia Chief Shaman. He has presented his work for The Institute of Noetic Science and several International Conferences on the Study of Shamanism and Alternative Modes of Healing. He lives with his wife and three children at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.