American Indian traditions, methods to be celebrated
By ANGIE PARKINSON VIEW STAFF WRITER
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In a world of triple bypass and laser surgeries, at least one local woman said there is still a place for traditional healing methods used for generations by her American Indian ancestors.
Linda Gray, whose father was Cherokee, was delighted when library staff asked her to discuss some of her beliefs about healing as part of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's Native American Heritage Month. She will present a lecture on the topic at 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.
Many of the traditions she was taught are used across many different American Indian tribes, not just Cherokee, she said, including the burning of sage. Although she will not be able to present that ceremony live, due to fire codes, Gray will talk about it as well as other blessings and sacraments, including the use of peyote.
"It's a sacrament that is taken in a tea and it's used like the wine in the Catholic church, and people make so much out of it," Gray said. "It's to give you the meditative state to go into the healing area where God comes in and heals you."
Gray learned what she knows about healing from family members and friends.
"You learn from family. We are an oral tradition. It's not written down," she said. "It's starting to be put in a lot of books now, but unfortunately a lot of it is misinformation."
The crux of American Indian healing beliefs is spirituality, she said.
"We're more spiritual than anything else. Our healing comes from the creator," Gray said.
American Indian healing traditions also use things in nature to thwart illness, she said. Many modern drugs are made from natural ingredients, such as a juniper berry tea that can help with diabetes.
"We believe that everything is alive. We're all energy so the trees can heal us, the rocks can heal us, the plants can heal us," Gray said.
Gray likes the idea of incorporating American Indian beliefs into more mainstream healing. Some hospitals allow healers from various tribes to treat patients while they are admitted.
One of the things she will demonstrate for the library program is what she calls "shaking hands." She demonstrated by rubbing her hands together rapidly. In a real healing situation she would then put her hands, which shake after being rubbed vigorously together, parallel over the area of a body that needs healing.
Gray is just one of many participants in the month-long celebration. The Native American Festival will kick off the month of activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The festival will include dance, films, children's activities, food, crafts, jewelry, pottery, carvings and more.
The Native American Movie Fest will include two feature films to be presented at various times and locations throughout the month. There also will be two evenings of documentaries about American Indian culture -- "The Return of the Navajo Boy," "Contrary Warriors," "Alcatraz is not an Island" and "The Spirit of Annie Mae."
American Indian dances will be presented by the Nawetsa Dance Group, demonstrating Zuni traditions, and the Wind Spirit Dancers, demonstrating Northern Paiute, Shoshone and Washoe traditions.
Four-time world champion hoop and fancy dancer Derrick Suwaima Davis and drummer Eldred Matt also will present six 30-minute family dance presentations including the Horsetail, Friendship and Hoop Dance, where Davis will highlight the animals created by the formations of the hoops. The team also will speak about different instruments used for American Indian dancing.
Residents can meet author and illustrator Shonto Begay, a popular Navajo storyteller, at area libraries on five different occasions throughout the month.
Gallery exhibits will include Begay's work as well as that of local artists Leonard Gena and Rosie Taylor. Their award-winning jewelry designs and hand-woven rugs and blankets will be on display in an exhibit called A Touch of Navajo, open through Nov. 30 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave.
"The library district believes it's very important to provide our community the opportunity to learn about other cultures, particularly the other cultures within our community," said Clark County Libraries spokeswoman Patricia Marvel.
Native American Heritage Month is one of four months set aside each year for the purpose of educating and highlighting cultures, including Hispanic, African American and Asian Pacific. The programs have been in place for about five years in some form, Marvel said.
For a complete list of activities, call 734-7323 or log on to www.lvccld.org.
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