Prayer Vigil for the Earth: Presenters

Presenters for the Prayer Vigil for the Earth

	The Ceremonial Drum, representing the heart beat of Mother Earth, calls the Prayer Vigil in and honors the Fire in the hearts of all.
	Clyde Bellecourt, (Thunder Before the Storm), White Earth Anishinabe-Ojibway Nation. Clyde is a founder and director of the American Indian Movement (AIM). He was a major figure in the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 and played a founding role in an ongoing Indian School System, Legal Rights Center and the International Indian Treaty Council. He is also directing the Peacemaker Center for Indian youth. He is an organizer of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media. He is founder and currently Chairman of the Board of American Indian OIC, an innovative job program that has moved over 14,000 people from welfare to full-time employment. Clyde sees a bright future: "This generation of little children is the 7th Generation. Not just Indian children but white, black, yellow and red. Our grandfathers said the 7th generation would provide new spiritual leaders, medicine people, doctors, teachers and our great chiefs. There is a spiritual rebirth going on."
	Sharon Franquemont, a co-founder of the Prayer Vigil, has been dedicated to intuition for more than 30 years. She is a coach, consultant, teacher, reader, and writer in the field. Working with the Life Science Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, which explores health and wellbeing, 21st century science, education and consciousness, Sharon brings her expertise as an author, professor, coach and consultant to the public. Her experience includes teaching graduate students at JFK University, delivering intuition training and coaching for employees of major companies, presenting speeches to US and international audiences, writing books, recording tape sets and traveling the world to promote s the wisdom of intuition.
	David Berry, a co-founder of the Prayer Vigil for the Earth was ordained by Namgyal Rinpoche a few weeks before his death. While he conducts retreats, his spiritual work is often under cover weaving spirituality into talks in sustainability in Europe Asia and the Americas. David has been invited to speak on sustainability and spirituality at the Russian Academy of Science to scientists from around the world and has served on two committees of the National Academy of Science of the United States. In 1992, David helped a Hopi Elder fulfill a prophecy to speak at the Great House of Mica (the UN).
	Tazio Ihara, Sensei, Shinji Shumeikai Spiritual Elder. Shinji Shumeikai is a Japanese-based spiritual fellowship dedicated to the enhancement of life. The essence of the Shumei philosophy is expressed in its vision of the Divine Light underlying all creation, Light that can be tapped both for personal strength and growth so that one can better address the problems intrinsic to life, as well as healing the Earth herself. The Shumei founder, Mokichi Okada, emphasized the importance of HODO--maintaining balance in all things."
	Shumei Taiko Ensemble Drummers. In ancient Japan, the beat of a drum or âœtaikoâ accompanied petitions to God. Today, the ceremony lives on and is called "Mikotonori," in which the sound of drumming bridges the divide between the human and the divine. The thunder of taiko is pure. It cleanses both the senses and the surroundings of those who pray. Mikotonori is a prayer in which the hopes and thankfulness of those participating rise straight to God. Such occasions of transcendence are known as "kanno doko," moments in which the spiritual and physical worlds speak to each other and are entwined with divine light. It was at such a moment that the ShumeiTaiko Ensemble was born. Shumei Taiko Ensemble believes that art can touch every human being despite the differences of language, customs, race and religion. The mystical power which springs from the artistâ™s soup passes through the written word, the picture and the musical instrument, and plucks at the soul of all humankind. It is our goal to bring all hearts together in a united call for world peace.
	Chief Iya NâIfa Efunyale (Mother Taylor), Yorba Faith of West Africa. We honor and revere our elder priests â the great â˜wisdom keepersâ™ among us. We are blessed and strengthened by their prayers and visions. Mother Taylor, Chief Priest of the Yoruba Temple of Spiritual Elevation and Enlightenment, is a pillar in the traditional African community in the U.S. and among the elders who offer blessings at the Prayer Vigil each year.
	Rabbi David Schneyer is the spiritual leader of Am Kolel and Kehila Chadasha, two trans-denomination Jewish communities based in the Washington, DC area. A musician and cantor, David also directs the Am Kolel Sanctuary and Renewal Center, an ecumenical retreat center near Poolesville, MD. A member of Rabbis for Human Rights and the Montgomery Countryside Alliance, he is devoted to social and environmental justice. The Shofar, a well know symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is one of the earliest instruments used in Jewish music. Usually made from a ram's horn, it is the one musical instrument that has been sustained in practice from ancient times.
	Lillie Cummings, Pawnee Elder. Lillie brings her amazing voice to the Vigil annually as she sings Christian Gospel songs for the participants. Lillie is on the Pawnee Tribal Council in Oklahoma and has traveled internationally singing and sharing her traditional culture.
	Iya Ololodi (Amshatar) Monroe, Yoruba Priest and Founder of SACRED SPACE: Where Indigenous Paths Meet. It is only through the "Doing" of the Almighty Mother/Father God of Creation and its Spiritual Hierarchy (by whatever names they may be known) that we can do anything. With that understanding, the presence and power of the "Doer" is invoked and honored at the beginning of any significant undertaking. Iya Olofina chants to Oshun (Yoruba River Goddess) in praise, honor and invocation that Oshun would be an active spiritual force during the Water Ceremony so that it could achieve the purpose for which it had been called and be a blessing for all.
	Ani Rinchen, is an ordained monastic in Nyingma School of Vajrayana School of Buddhism. Since her ordination in 1988, Ani Rinchen has been a constant and influencing presence in the Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) Buddhist community close to Washington, DC, located in Poolesville, Maryland. She has represented the Buddhist community at the annual Prayer Vigil for the Earth for more than five years, where she leads participants in prayers and meditation, discusses Buddhism in Talking Circles, and leads the community in a blessing of the event's prayers and purpose through a walk around the circle.
	Holy Sultan, Shaykh Abdul Kerim al Kibrisi, Sufi Elder, Osmanli Naksibendi Sufi Order. âœOurs will be the generation that will welcome the Holy one, the Mahdi, the Saviour, who will come to dispel darkness and bring the Light of Truth everywhere, to every believer. That will happen in our lifetime, insh'Allah, together with the second coming of Isa al Masih, Jesus the Messiah.â Grandshaykh, Shaykh Mevlana Muhammad Nazim Adil al Hakkani al Kibrisi. Osmanli Naks-i'bendi Hakkani Dergahi is an Islamic center for the worship of ALLAH. The Dergahi (pronounced der-ga-ha) was built and is maintained according to Islamic principles and practices.
	Little Wolf Vasquez, Ohlone Nation, California. The ceremonial drum is the heart beat drum for many native traditions. and founding father of the Prayer Vigil for the Earth, Harry F. Byrd taught Little Wolf Vasquez about the drum and many other aspects of Indigenous spiritual life. Little Wolf makes the First Nations' drums, which the Prayer Vigil family uses; provides guidance for sacred fire tending; holds the presence of the Veterans with others at the Vigil; and brings his depth of wisdom to all.
	Rev. LaKotaHaise Frazier is of Abanoki, Lakota and French descent. LaKotahasie (Elk With No Horns or Buffalo Woman Comes Running) is a Spiritual Dance Elder for Beautiful Painted Arrow, Medicine Wheel Healer, Metaphysical Healer, Counselor and Therapist, and Spiritual Artist. She does not teach traditional Native American Ceremony, but as a minister from her own life experiences. LaKotahasie is a Reverend in the Order of Melchizedek.
	Lillian Pitawankwat, Annishnabe Nation is known as Grandmother Lillian. From Canada, she leads our Sunday morning sunrise Pipe Ceremonies.
	World Peace Prayer Ceremony leads the All the Flags of the World in Prayer, sponsored by the World Peace Prayer Society. People all over the world are joining together to bring peace to our hearts and our planet through the prayer "May Peace Prevail on Earth." This prayer for world peace carries a message of great hope and healing. It transcends barriers of nationality, race and religion to unite humanity in a call for the common good of all life on Earth.
	Mary Sunbeam, Cherokee Nation. Mary leads a blessing of children that is an ancestral ritual that honors the child's life and path of destiny which is supported by elders, family and community. The blessing also awakens in all adults the responsibility and commitment to be a model, as a child is always watching and seeking guidance. The blessing calls on the Creator to protect each child until the child can protect her/himself. The ritual honors those children who have made their transition and their spirit is at peace. The honoring of children for those in our family and the children of the world unites all cultures in the teaching of respect, understanding, compassion and tolerance in the prayer that each child in their growing leadership role can make a difference in world peace.
	Bill Jenkins, the Pied Piper and Youth Coordinator. At the Vigil we feel that it's important for children to have their own space, so there is always a Children's Tent or Tipi where art supplies, musical instruments and craft projects are available. Bill brings his collection of over 100 instruments collected from around the world. At various times during the Vigil, a Children's Parade is created where we circle around the entire site making a joyful noise. The children learn how to be in a real band and how to play a variety of drums and percussion instruments.
	Roberto Borrero, Taino Nation from the Caribbean. The TaÃno are pre-Columbia indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles islands, which include Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. The TaÃno society was arguably destroyed in the 18th century, decimated by introduced diseases, and forced assimilation into the plantation economy that Spain imposed in its Caribbean colonies, with its subsequent importation of African slave workers. Many people today claim to be descendants of the TaÃno, most notably among some Puerto Ricans, both on the island and US mainland. People claiming to be TaÃno descendants have been active in trying to assert a call for recognition of their tribe.
	Rev. Sidney Byrd, Lakota Nation. Grandfather Sidney Byrd, brother of Harry Byrd, encourages participants to respect each other and to seek peace as Jesus, the Prince of Peace, taught.
	Trudy Morse, poet and musician. A political activist in the Washington, DC area, she worked on Civil Rights, Vietnam War and other peace movements. Her interest in her husband's research on anomalous phenomena has taken her to all five continents. She recalls with particular interest, her travels in Africa, Australia, Europe, India, China, and New Zealand.
	Pamela Ramadei, Labyrinth Society. Prehistoric labyrinths are believed to have served either as traps for malevolent spirits or as defined paths for ritual dances. During Medieval times the labyrinth symbolized a hard path to the God with a clearly defined center (God) and one entrance (birth). Labyrinths can be thought of as symbolic forms of pilgrimage; people can walk the path, ascending towards salvation or enlightenment. Many people could not afford to simply travel to holy sites and lands, so the use of labyrinths and prayer substituted that need. Later, the religious significance of labyrinths faded and they were used primarily for entertainment, although recently their spiritual aspect has seen resurgence. Many newly-made labyrinths exist today, in churches and parks, to provide people with a meditative way to relieve stresses and regrets.
	Nina Gibson, musician and leader of the Northern Virginia Women's Hoop. She is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, drummer, and penny whistler who touches us deeply with acoustic originals, Celtic ballads, Native American chants, and a magical voice. She wrote the "Unity Blessing" which has been recorded and is now sung around the world.
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