Here’s a little updat efrom this end.  Things are moving forward well, in my opinion.  Everything is exhibiting solid, steady growth.  The training center is going well.  Construction is proceeding and a lot of important jobs have been accomplished.  The architects from Texas will be arriving in September and will be looking at the dining hall and the auditorium in terms of finishing those buildings up to the standard that we all desire.  This is the team of people who do the construction for WalMart.
They are certainly capable, and I am hoping for great things. As far as the work of the center, we have just finished up the 6 weeks training with approximately 100 pastors and their families from all over central Africa. This is an expensive and challenging exercise, but in terms of having an impact on thousands of people’s lives there is nothing that we do that compares with it.  As leaders within their villages they are taught development, medical training, and a wide variety of useful subjects that they take home with them.  It also creates an extended community through which synergy can be created and gives us a channel of access into very remote places.  We are currently conducting the women’s conference which we traditionally conduct the week after Pastors’ School so we can utilize teachers from the US.  Again, a very exciting and rewarding experience for all involved.  The center continues to be booked as much as we will allow it, and this is what I hope the future will look like indefinitely.

The cattle are doing well.  We have had 18 calves in the last few weeks, and a whole bunch more are on the way.  We are now starting to realize our dream of supplying deGama with a steady supply of meat.  They have had 3 cows to butcher in the last couple of weeks, and others will be supplied to them as they are needed.  So the whole system is working.  Our share of the cows helped with the feeding of Pastors’ School.  Brian and Jade’s bananas are doing well.  We have found the variety that appears to be resistant to bunchy top virus.  This will allow us to produce the crop for many years without disease killing the trees.  With this new variety we will plant another 10 acres in the next few months.  The hatchery and the fish ponds are a big deal, and it has all been very challenging, but the fundamentals are right.  It certainly makes money when it works properly, and the next few months should see it becoming profitable.  I am still very interested in growing moringa.  The idea of a plant that produces huge amounts of food which can be used for human consumption, animal consumption, and bio-mass is very attractive.  The sales of aloe vera are slowly expanding and are keeping pace with our capacity to produce it.  We are now selling in Lusaka and in the Congo.  I would have hoped that things were a little farther along by this point, but at least the company doesn’t cost me anything, and within a few months there should be some solid revenue created.  The woodworking is looking hopeful now, but it has been very rough.  The trusses look like they will be in big demand with the mining companies.  Having let others run the company into the ground and then run off I have been left with trying to pick up the pieces.  But it is all coming together finally.  In a few months the company should be on its feet.

That is a brief rundown on what is happening here.   I may have mentioned to you that I received a delegation from the Angolan government who wanted me to put in hydroelectric plants all over Angola to provide electricity for villages.   The Angolan government has so much money because of the oil.  They are looking for community-based development projects, and the electricity units would be perfect.

Love and prayers, John and Kendra

Near the end of 2006 Ken Losch from Trillium Real Estate were assisting with progressing the possibility of developing a hotel complex for several Pima land owners in Phoenix. This did not eventuate due to forces beyond our control but it did establish some good contacts with several of the Pima people.

In Late 2007 Ken asked me if I would be able to help him with establishing an avenue for him to be able to assist Indian people develop affordable housing on their reservations and business opportunities that would help them become self sufficient.

From this initial discussion I had flown into South Dakota to meet with the Oglala Lakota tribe at Pine Ridge Reservation two hours drive out of Rapid City. I had been to Pine Ridge Reservation on several occasions and was able to arrange a meeting with Chief Cecilia Fire Thunder and several of her people. Following my discussions with them they agreed to travel down to Ken’s offices in Tempe Phoenix for a three-day conference, which he would host and facilitate for them.

Ken Losch then had Chief Cecilia Fire Thunder and four of her people flown down to Phoenix and hosted them in a conference. Where best management practices, strategies and thinking were shared with them to enhance tribal managerial dynamics. As well, their needs were discussed and possible business opportunities that they might like to be involved in.

The meeting went very well with trust being developed and a door for possible future meetings and business opportunities being opened.

In the final day of this conference, in the middle of introductions to Ken’s business partners to the Oglala Lakota visitors, a significant spiritual revelation into the approaching financial crash occurred and was shared with Ken Losch and other members of his team who were in the conference room at that time detailing what was coming and what would happen…

The financial crash came and  things were put on hold with the Indian work but the door to the Oglala Lakota remained open for future contact which we hope to explore soon.

My work with Ken during this period developed into a close friendship of trust where since then TRACares has been involved in supporting my programs to the following Indian tribes on several occasions:

To Idaho to work with the Shoshone and Bannaqua Indians at Fort Hall Reservation, in to Oklahoma to the Indian River Side Boarding School to speak to non achievers, to North Carolina to meet with the Lumbee, to Page in Northern Arizona to meet with Ernie White Horse from the Navajo as well as continuing my work with the Salt River Maricopa Pima at the Papago Reservation in Phoenix.

In New Zealand these are some of the programs I have facilitated since late December 2010 until May 2011.

December 28^th 2010 – Flaxmere Suburb in Hastings. Tongan community meeting to help them address gang issues amongst them. 25 people attended.

January 9^th – Opotiki community meeting 20 people attended. Focus drugs. Crime.

January 14^th – Hamilton community meeting 40 people attended. Presented on cultural identity.

January 21^st – Cultural training for Rangipo prison staff 18 people attended. Training went for six hours.

January 25^th – Rotorua met with a family about identity and genealogy.

January 28-30^th – Three days facilitating programs amongst the Northen Tribes in Kaikohe City. I did nine presentations and spoke to around 300 Maori people covering subjects such as parenting, identity, education, crime, drugs, alcohol, gangs, and spirituality….

February 2^nd – Conference call with Ken Losch to give him updates and progress we are making.

February 6^th – Huria Marae in Tauranga city. Presented on the necessity for self-evaluation and change. 25 people attended.

February 13^th – Opotiki town met with Maori elders about the importance of identity.

February 18-20^th – Facilitated a conference for 43 Tongan, Samoan and Maori young adults. Discussed the importance of ancestral values and principles.

March 4^th – Flew into Las Vegas and spoke at the James Smith M5 conference at Green Valley Resort for two hours on the Indian Tepee and it’s hidden message. 200 people were in attendance.

March 4^th-21^st – For three weeks traveled to different parts of the US working with 1^st Nations people while based at Ken Losch and his wife Lori’s home in Tempe Phoenix AZ. I spoke to hundreds of Indian people during this period.

March 26^- 27^th  – Rotorua City New Zealand two-day conference with Maori leaders. 60 were in attendance.

March 29-30^th – Two-day program at Rangipo Prison with 50 inmates on identity and how to break the cycle of crime.

April 1-2^nd – Two-days in Manurewa Suburb, Auckland city, working with families.

April 9^th – Hamilton city with 20 people a three-hour conference on breaking the cycle.

April 15-17^th – 60 Tongan, Samoan and Maori young adults from Papakura Suburb Auckland city on a three day camp on identity.

April 24^th – Hamilton city facilitated a three-hour conference with Maori elders on Identity and intervention strategies in crime prevention.

April 26-29^th – Assisted in facilitating a Probation program for released prison inmates. Focused on how to change and why that was necessary if any of those on the program were going to be able to move positively on with their lives.

Following are several comments from participants on the Probation program April 26 – 29^th :

“Helped me look at myself in a different way. I have set a goal to become a person I am happy with”.                                           Matt Beazley (Black Power Gang member he has spent over 20 years in prison)

“I learnt how I can free myself from the chains that are holding me down. My wairua (spirit) is stronger and I can see clearly now. I want to change my path, head for the light and stay away from the dark. I want to better myself and look after my tapu (sacredness) and help others”.    Manuel Rata (He had the words ‘Red Eye’ tatooed in large letters on his neck so we called him red eye).

 “It has filled the gap I didn’t know about my people. This has helped in a big way with forgiveness, courage, being proud, and how to steer my life in the right path. I want to make changes around the way I think about life and approach things in a different way. I want to be a better person and make the right decisions. I would encourage the brothers I have moved away from, hopefully they could learn something and turn their lives around. I liked most learning about Ta Moko (tattooing), the links back to the islands and our ancestors. I have a lot of positive energy now”. – Michael Rata (Red Eye’s twin brother).

 “I set a goal to stop drinking and smoking and being a violent person. There is a meaning to life and I want to treat my wahine (woman) and whanau (family) in a better way”. Anton Frazer

 “I want to stop drinking. The wananga (knowledge) is good for the wairua (spirit). I learnt about smoking being a curse, and drinking. I learnt about Te Kawiti (a famous Maori ancestor). I need to stop drinking so I can be a rangatira (chief) for my whanau (family)”. Wynn Goodwin, he is a direct descendant of Chief Te Kawiti.

Noho ora mai na

Herewini

4^th May 2011

Kiora e Ken,

I was great to arrive back home safely to an on coming winter and to a happy family. I know that things will be going well with you both on the home and work front.

I have just come out from Rangipo prison where I facilitated a two day program, 9am-4pm, for 50 Maori inmates in the indigenous unit there. I gave my time free as there are huge cut backs in program monies for inmates programs especially in the indigenous units. Normally people are only allowed to work with 5-10 inmates at a time or they work with the inmates in a case management role.

The manager cleared correctional obstacles and allowed me to have all the men in the unit in one group because it takes around 14-19 staff to control them they were very nervous so one officer sat in the program room for the duration of the course – he was amazed that nothing went wrong as well as the impact of what was shared had on him personally and he started taking notes after the first hour of the program.

The men were different at the end of the two days, calmer, reflective, harrowed up, tearful, especially as they could view from a totally indigenous perspective the seriousness of their crimes  (ranging from murder, drugs, violence, gangs…) and the impact that there offending has on their families and extended families as well as the wider Maori community – the deterioration of family values and principles is definitely on the increase at an alarming rate. Following the program the unit manager asked me to run a program for them every six months she was blown away by the effects the course had on the men in just two days so the next one I will actually sleep in the prison with the men.

Last weekend I was two days in Rotorua with 70 tribal people at a local Maori meeting house there. This was a totally different program to that in the prison with spiritually focused people.

Thanks for everything Ken miss you and I know that things will be good.

Arohanui
Herewini

To summarize how our projects here are going:

1.  Fish farming:  We have built a fully operational hatchery capable of
producing up to 1,500,000 fry a month.  It is now supplying fish for both
our own use and local farmers.  These fish are sex-reversed, and we have 3
varieties.  We have 3 hectares of operational fish ponds which are
performing well, and we are in the process of building up to an additional
20 hectares of which 8 are completed.  The fish project is one of the many
projects which we seek to transform into a profitable company.  The profits
from this company will be used for schools, adult education, and
reinvestment for economic development within the community.

2.  Aloe vera:  The aloe vera company is progressing well.  We have
approximately 15 hectares of aloe vera planted.  There have been significant
difficulties in getting the plant to grow here, but those difficulties have
now been overcome for the most part.  We are currently producing
approximately 3000 500 ml bottles of aloe per month which we sell to the
retailers for $4 and they are permitted to add $1 profit.  Aloe has been
shown consistently to be a highly effective immune booster among many other
significant medical benefits which it conveys.  There are approximately
2,500,000 people with HIV/AIDS in Zambia, with many other with diabetes,
stomach ailments, and other diseases who would potentially benefit greatly
from aloe vera.

3.  In our honey project we have approximately 1000 rural farmers who are
currently signed up.  We will initially give each of them 5 beehives as well
as 5 swarm boxes for capturing bees.  Gradually these farmers will continue
to receive hives until each one has around 50, but the capacity of each
farmer will be limited to how many hives they can properly take care of.
This should generate somewhere between $100-$200 a month per farmer, as well
as creating approximately 1000 tons of honey for local consumption and
export each year.  Our initial goal is to have out 30,000 bee hives with a
final number around 300,000.

4.  The cattle project is progressing well.  This is a slow, long-term
project which is now starting to yield.  We have been able to provide
several cattle to Degama for their feeding program.  We also have in excess
of 50 calves which are growing up and many more on the way.  Because of the
constraints of grazing land we will probably limit the herd to around 200
producing cows, and use all of the offspring for food for the Degama
nutrition program and the Kafakumba Training Center.

5.  Our other programs, such as the woodworking shop, the production of palm
oil, production of bananas, and production of vegetables are all progressing
satisfactorily, but on a much lower level.  These projects will create
income for local people, but I do not anticipate them having a significant
effect in the creation of capital and jobs until we are able to put more
investment in to them and expand the production.

This is a summary of what we discussed on our projects at this end.  With
regards to what we talked about concerning your activities in Phoenix I
would be very interested in representing your company in Southern Africa.
Obviously the main source of activity is South Africa, but each of the
countries in the region have growing economies and incredibly high fuel
costs which would make your product highly desirable.

Together,
John

DEAR TRACares,

I wanted to sit down for a few minutes and give you some brief updates on all the projects that are going on around here.

The funds are gradually coming in from our friend connected with Wal-Mart for the construction of the center.  We have the walls finished on the last dormitory and work is going forward on landscaping, painting and a host of other jobs needed to get the place up to the standard which we must get to.

The self sustaining projects are all moving forward although it is a long haul to get things profitable in Zambia.  I suspect that if the truth is known it is difficult anywhere.  The cows are doing great but this is a long term project.  We are starting a feed lot for the calves that were born this past year so they should be fattened up much quicker (18 months from birth) than to run them on grass which takes about two and one half years. We should have well over one hundred calves born in the next few months and when they are at a sellable size then things should carry themselves.  We have had almost no disease or deaths and any problems have been slaughtered and used for food.  The cost of carrying the whole thing until it gets up and running has been a lesson that I have been taught.  We are selling infertile animals and getting by.  One huge advantage is that we have a lot of land and the animals can forge for food.

The fish are a happy development.  We have finished the hatchery and are able to produce all our own babies that are sex reversed.  As you will recall all the fish in ponds have to be males so the babies are fed a tiny bit of testosterone to tip them into becoming males.  We have 5 acres of ponds operating and plan to add many more this year.  My son, Nathan, is in charge of the fish area and has several great Zambians who work very closely with him.  The whole thing is encouraging and should show some profit
towards the end of the year.

The wood working area is picking up and is being properly managed.  It has had many problems over the last year but things are stable and should become profitable in a few months.

The honey project is encouraging.  It is still early days but we have 3000 hives that will be occupied soon and we will be on our way.  The plan of working with villagers who look after the bees and earn a good living seems to be working out well. The honey is of great quality and we will see how the whole thing goes forward.  We are steadily making hives and hope to have 30,000 in a few years.

Bananas are showing good progress.  We have bought the kind from India that should be resistant to the disease so we will see.  The old ones still have a few years of production in them.

The Aloe Vera is just coming into its own.  There were some problems with disease and too much water but we are on top of that now.  We are starting to advertise over the radio and get our sales up.  We could not go all out selling when we had no product.  Now we have something to sell and it is taking off.  It has been a long. I am hoping that by July we should be in a positive cash flow situation.

The palm oil is about the same.  It is a drain financially but I really can’t crush the hopes of those little farmers so we will hang in there and see what happen.

Well, that is about it.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  It is important and exciting and if even one of these projects hits a home run we are flying. So we hang in there and have the faith and courage of believe that suffering and wretchedness is not predetermined lot of Zambians

John Enright

Ndola, Zambia

Ndola, Zambia is a community deep in Africa where the Reverend John Enright and his wife, Kendra, are making a vital, ongoing difference in the lives of thousands of African people.

Having served in Central Arica since 1977, the Rev. Enright has been a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries, of the United Methodist Church.   Additionally Jon is the director of Wings of the Moring Aviation Program, of the North Katanga Conference, and is also the director of the Kafakumba Training Center.

Rev. Enright’s tireless work over the past 30 years covers a wide range of activities and efforts on behalf of the Ndola people.  By extension his work is aiding a broadening scope of African people across this vast continent.

Reikura Whitiora Organization

Herewini Profile 2009

Answer For Cancer Tour 2011 

www.answerforcancertour.com

MISSION: To raise awareness for cancer prevention by:

** Educating on ways to adopt a truly healthy lifestyle.

** Educating on how to reduce or eliminate cancer-causing exposures.

** Educating about natural options for cancer prevention and treatment.

THE RIDE: To accomplish the mission, Jason Bosa and Lori Bryan will be embarking on a 65 day, 20,000 mile endurance motorcycle ride where they will visit 48 states and 10 provinces in the US and Canada.  Dr Christina Tondora will accompany in the chase vehicle, keeping the riders hydrated and healthy as well as educating at the various events and functions. The ride begins in Vancouver, Canada in June, 2011 and is scheduled for completion by mid August 2011 with a return destination of Vancouver. 

Why the Answer for Cancer Tour?

•       The National Cancer Institute estimates that 80-90% of all cancers can be attributed to environmental factors: the foods we eat, physical factors, biological factors and exposure to chemical contaminants.

•       Since 1950, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44%; the incidence of breast cancer and male colon cancer by about 60%.

•       In Canada, statistics released by the Canadian Cancer Society in May 2010 show that cancer now accounts for about 29% of all deaths in the country – the number one cause of death.

•       In the U.S., many cancers are also on the rise and according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Epidemiology & End Results (SEER) database, 1 in 2 men will likely develop invasive cancer and 1 in 4 will likely die from it.  For women, 1 in 3 will develop cancer and 1 in 5 will likely die from it.

•       According to Dr. David Agus of Navigenics and www.oncology.com, there was virtually no change in the cancer death rate between 1950 and 2001, despite billions of dollars spent on finding a cure.

ACT believes that cancer isn’t an inevitable disease, but rather something that can be prevented through lifestyle choices and education.

Help us by becoming a sponsor of the Tour or by donating to one of the two organizations that share our vision: Don’t YOU think it’s time to ACT?

The Enright’s mission in Africa was inaugurated with the founding and operation of their Kafakumba Training Center.   Their work at the center involves several important areas of enterprise that is helping the African people in this impoverished region regain a sense of their own self-respect, independence and destiny.

Organic Farming is a key focus of the Kafakumba Training Center.   In 2005, the Enrights-with funding assistance from others – purchased approximately seven acres of immature banana trees on the outskirts of Ndola.   The development of this farm is one facet of the Enrights’ commitment to help erase poverty in Zambia.

By using organic farming, creating a fish hatchery and manufacturing and marketing high-end woodworking products, the Enrights and others are helping to fuel a sustainable income and productive life for the Zambian People.

Most importantly, by focusing on joint ownership and profit-sharing by and among the Ndola residents, the Enrights are helping to create a model for sustainable economic and social development that has no donation of sheer cash could match, in terms of its profound, positive effect.    Through their innovative teachings and training at Kafakumba, the Enrights are planting the seeds of hope for the African people in this vicinity.   As a result, these native people can enjoy the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from managing their own growth-focused economy, and the satisfaction that independence and a bright future hold.

I arrived at AGI offices in Chandler Phoenix Arizona at 2pm Thursday 7th September 2010.

On the 10th September I traveled up to Flagstaff having been invited to speak at the funeral service for Mr Eddie Chee Yazzie, by his family, he passed away at 89 years of age was a returned war veteran and one of the Last Navajo code talkers from the second world war. I was asked to speak at the grave side where he was given a full military funeral.

This was quite an honor, being a non Navajo, and knowing how the code talkers are held in high esteem by the Navajo Nation.
Saturday 11th September held a two hour presentation on the Salt River Maricopa Pima Reservation for 20 people sharing with them root indigenous strategies that would help them with their substance abuse addictions. I have built up a consistent relationship with this community since first coming there in November 2004.

Monday 13th September spoke to Sylvester Loring and 15 members of his family at his home on the Pima Reservation. Sylvester is 58 years old and has been heavily involved in violence, alcohol, drugs and gangs most of his life. This has had a devastating effect upon his family. I first met him three years ago and by keeping contact with him and bit by bit working on him through sharing cultural knowledge he has softened. So this meeting in his home is a major break through. He stood and spoke when I invited him and it was the first time that he had ever apologized to his family concerning his example and the damage he had caused his family. It was so good to be a part of his life and to see the strength and goodness in him.

Thursday 16th September I was invited for the second time to speak at the Indian AA meeting in down town Phoenix. Around 80-100 Indians were in attendance coming from Navajo, Pima, Apache, Cheyenne, Oglala tribes. I spoke to them for 40minutes on the death bed words of Tasunka Ota (Many Horses) an Oglala Lakota chief from the mid 1880s, what happened to General Custer after the battle of the Little Big Horn was over and listening to the Spirit. This was a good evening and time well spent with these my older brothers and sisters.

Sunday 19th September presented to 60-70 people at a meetinghouse in West Valley SLC on gangs and gang patterns and how gangs operate (Polynesian gangs being the focus). This was a follow up meeting from the Utah State gang conference in October 2009 and the succeeding meeting I had in SLC in March 2010. I realized from the October 2010 conference that cultural intervention strategies are not in the vocabulary of those involved in working with gang members, neither are spiritual interventions discussed – this being quite a surprise to me considering the Polynesian cultures are spiritually based cultures. Mr Fotu Katoa (director of Polynesian Affairs for Utah), Trudy Cropper (Sergeant in Police) were in attendance. This meeting continued to build communication and a working relationship with these people.

Tuesday 21st September I traveled over to the Shoshone & Bannaqua Indain Reservation at Fort Hall Idaho at the invitation of Miss Donna Honena the director of Social Services for the tribe. I have built up a very good relationship with this tribe since 2004. She had organized a very intense two day programme for me to present to and speak to many of their clients and staff at their Four Directions Treatment Centre, to youth and staff at the high school, to the tribal council and at a organized meeting for the entire community to attend. Fotu Katoa the director of Polynesian Affairs in Utah traveled over on both days to attend the various presentations. He was amazed at the impact well presented cultural knowledge and the effect of speaking about the spirit had on those in attendance. After the two days he could clearly recognize the weaknesses in the intervention strategies he had been promoting and using in SLC.

The meeting with 80-100 youth senior and junior at the high school plus staff was very good. I invited one of the tribal youth leaders to participate and he spoke for 30-40 minutes on making correct choices, as we had chosen this as our theme, this session lasted three hours and had a significant effect on those in attendance with each of the students coming up afterward to thank us for coming.

The meeting with the tribal council was also very good I asked Fotu Katoa to speak and he outlined a programme called Mai Quest which he felt would help Indian youth on the reservation that were struggling with different issues. It was also discussed with them about how to set up Shoshone language nests to recover their native language. One of my friends who worked amongst the language nests in New Zealand and now lives in Utah will travel over and help them in developing one for their reservation.

The open community programme was well attended and I decided to present to them sacred knowledge concerning the creation of man and women as handed down by our people. It affected them greatly and made them look at themselves differently as I used Maori, Hawaiian and Shoshone languages to share these sacred points of identity. These were days well spent with the Shoshone and Bannaqua and has built on past visits.
Indian issues are layered, complex and with not any one solution being the correct and full answer to their situation – the dynamics also change from tribe to tribe as each tribe has different traits, characters, histories (though similar anciently & also in the colonization process and at the same time there are some distinct differences). I have found building their identity, magnifying the nobleness of their ancestors, accentuating the innate gifts of leadership and decision making abilities they have inherited …..has a life changing impact on them, encouraging them to re-evaluate their present situation making them aware that the power to change, the power of self determination, the power to succeed has always been with them.

Thursday 23rd September flew down to Oklahoma to work amongst the Tsistsistas (Cheyenne) and Kiowa. Had some trouble at the first home I went to in El Reno Oklahoma city where a family meeting had been organized by a solo mother, Ana Sage, for her family and extended family. Three years ago I met her when she had drug, alcohol issues and historical abuse syndrome – now three years later she is clean and has her own home. When I entered her home I felt very uneasy, feeling a very bad spirit in the house – because one of Ana’s sons had for several months been abusing the rules Ana had implemented in her house totally disrespecting her – he had been taking drugs, drinking alcohol, bringing pornography into his room…….His action had made his mother very ill, because of the changing of the spiritual atmosphere she had created in her home, causing her to spend several days in hospital where doctors could not find what was wrong with her; she had no strength and had sever stomach pains. He approached me very abusively and threatened to attack me….an attack which never came. He ended up attacking another man in the house and was put down on the ground until the police came and removed him. I had prayers with a very tearful and distraught Ana and over her house and within two hours she was well – the next day she had completely recovered from her afflictions it was amazing to all who had been through it with her.

After this event I went to one of the El Reno community centers where three bus loads of youth had been brought in from outlying areas totaling 60-80 in all along with their tutors and care givers. I presented to them for around two hours, Ana Sage had recovered sufficiently by then to also speak to them about her life changes; she was very powerful.

24th September traveled out to Anadarko town about 50 miles from Oklahoma city and spent three hours with 12 students from River Side Indian school who were in danger of being expelled from the school because of misconduct. I had asked staff if there were any other students I should work with and was told no. After the workshop on identity and decision making the staff member in charge came up and said I am going to make recommendations to the school principle that you go through each dorm as we need it – a good outcome considering at the beginning there were no other students which needed help. It was an initial step which can be built on in the future.

Left Anadarko and traveled over to Geari a distance of 30 – 40 miles and met in a home with the Cornstalk family and friends around 20 of them I spent two hours here. From here back to El Reno and spoke to 30 people at Ana Sages home many of them Indian Elders – the faces changed at each gathering but the issues were the same.

Oklahoma has around 33 different tribes all displaced from their original homelands and crammed into Oklahoma (a Choctaw word meaning red earth or land of the red man). Over three years of visiting them head way is being made slowly but surely. The message is the same remember who you are, who you descend from, nothing changes until we change, no one moves to the red road (the Indian road of peace, principle, hope and faith) until we do, strength comes from within awakened by power from above from Mahe’o (the creator the Holy one). Tears have been shed kind encouraging words have been imparted, hearts have been touched and light appears….

Monday 27th September flew from Oklahoma to Fayetteville North Carolina to spend four days with the Lumbee Indians ( Eastern band of the Cherokee or Tsalagi) at Pembroke. During the course of the four days I visited with several family groups in their homes numbering 28 people in all. People were struggling with addictions, no work, poor housing …..

On Wednesday 29th I presented on the sacredness of woman in a community meeting house for two hours. It had been raining very hard all day and the organizers felt no one would come because of the dangers of flooding. Around 60 women turned up, along with several men, they were solo mothers, women who worked at the university, who ran community programmes, as well as wives and single women.

The presentation was done using three indigenous languages – Maori from New Zealand, Hawaiian and Cheyenne. It was presented as a small portion of the protected knowledge of our people. The impact was immediate as non of the Indians present could speak their native tongue and non of them had ever heard the knowledge which was presented. It helped them to see the once greatness of the people they descended from, and gave them a different perspective on how they viewed themselves, their men, their daughters, their sons and their relationship with the Creator.
I was asked to stay to speak at the American Indian Intertribal Conference on the 14th -16th October called “Walking In Many Worlds – Spirit of One” by Mrs Beverly Collins-Hall the CEO of American Mothers, Inc.

I did commit to present at the American Indian Womens Conference next April which will be held in North Carolina. This was my second trip to the Lumbee and it was much more welcoming than the first visit in March this year.

Heoi ano
Herewini