Gearing Up For Good, Native American Style

You don't need to bring anything. You can just come and listen to the drums, the flutes, to stories, to people sharing about their culture. Have something to eat. Stay a while. Make new friends. This is the approach Redbird has taken since its very first gathering, and it's considered a traditional way.

The goal of the gathering is, of course, to collect things. New, warm, washable blankets. New toys and school supplies. And monetary donations sufficient to ship them to South Dakota, and sometimes other locations as well.

Like-new winter gear such as coats and ski pants are also appreciated, as well as items like new, warm socks. These will go to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, to the outlying regions where families are remote and isolated. It will be a little bit like Christmas when the White Plume Family, who receives these items and then distributes them, puts out the call to come and get gifts, or delivers them to those who cannot travel.

Just to be a part of the gathering in any form is an experience. It's a chance to reaffirm the goodness of the human soul. To laugh, dance, learn. To be moved by stories that come from the heart and be with people as they share on a level that doesn't often happen at a public event. That's because at the core of it, there's a sense of family. The Lakota call it Tiyospaye - extended family. Here, in southern California, that family includes members of every tribe. It is a community that embraces its members, young and old, and strives to uphold the principles of respect, gratitude, generosity and humility that can so easily be overshadowed by urban life. You'll feel it here. From 11 AM to 3:30 PM, you'll know that there is hope for humanity. You'll witness kindness in many forms.

Joining the gathering again this year are massage therapist Jamie Sullo and acupuncturist Dr. David Lee, flint knapper and paleo tools expert Gary Pickett, several Native American crafts vendors (get some Christmas shopping done!) as well as dancers and singers, flute players and storytellers. While your donations are very much appreciated, so is your presence...the gift of your time and attention.

Mitakuye Oyasin - We Are All Related.

Here's the details:

Redbird's 22nd Annual Blanket, Toy and School Supplies Drive and Mini Powwow

December 2, 2017

11 AM - 3:30 PM

Simi Valley Town Center Mall Community Room, in the center of the mall

Benefitting the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota, including the riders of the Oomaka Tokatakiya, The Future Generations Ride

Powwow Dancers bring your regalia and dance to the songs of our guest powwow drums

Lunch, refreshments -

Do some Christmas shopping, have a chair massage, courtesy of Jamie Sullo, or an acupuncture session courtesy of Dr. David Lee

Cultural Presentations

Free and family friendly

How it Works: New, warm, washable blankets and soft toys get sent to the White Plume Family in Manderson by Redbird for distribution; Hard toys and school supplies go to Walking Shield for reservation distribution.

Monetary donations pay for the shipping of these items and are always needed. You can donate securely via PayPal:

paypal.me/RedbirdsVision

Redbird is a 501(c)(3) Native American and environmental non profit association. Donations are tax deductible. We accept checks, cash and all forms of plastic via Paypal. Our mailing address is Redbird, P.O. Box 702, Simi Valley, CA 93062

Find us on Facebook: Redbird, Chilao School, Forest Recovery Project and Corina Roberts (Redbird)

www.RedbirdsVision.org

Email: redbirds_vision@hotmail.com

Facebook Event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/289696531528031