Native American Fellowship of the Peoria Area Dayspring Church(UMC) — Turtle Lodge Community

The Native American Fellowship Turtle Lodge Community in conjunction with the Native American Fellowship Dayspring Church (UMC) would like to invite the public to a Mother Earth Healing Day, which is a very special gathering on Saturday May 1, 2010, from 9 am-5 pm, at the church’s 43 acre property at 201 N. Norwood Place in East Peoria (adjacent to East Side Center). Admission is free.

Every year Mother Earth is prayed for, in the traditions of members’ respective tribes. This year the public is invited to a rare opportunity to observe traditional ceremonies and traditions that come from members’ tribal backgrounds. Native American people will tell their story in an attempt to clear up racism, false stereotypes, and cultural exploitation of Native Americans.

This event will be lead by NAF Dayspring Pastor Dan Fire Crow Lybarger, elected NAF Medicine Chief Phyllis Singing Bird Ballard, and NAF Turtle Lodge Community Leader Adam Danner.

Many respected Native Americans from around the country will speak and join us in ceremony, including Lionel Little Eagle Pinn (Micmac), a pipe carrier, author of the book Green Grass Pipe Dancers, and past guardian of Crazy Horses’ pipe bag.

Shawnee storyteller, Fred Neake Shaw; respected Dakota elder and pipe maker, Chuck Derby; and minister and flute player, Gary Billiot, of the Houma nation; will be among the respected presenters.

The Native American Fellowship drum and Native American flute players will share their music. Fry-bread and hand crafted goods will be available. For more information call 309-635-1107 or http://nafdayspring.org/.

Directions: Take Rt. 150 or Meadows Ave. out of E. Peoria 2 miles. Turn left at the entrance to East Side Center (East Side Dr.) Turn right at the stop sign at the top of the hill onto Ridge Rd. Turn left at the next stop sign onto Norwood Place. Go past the Mennonite Church to the log cabin church.

Parking will be available in the church’s parking lot next to our log cabin church, at the neighboring Mennonite Church, and also in the south east corner of the East Side Center parking lot. (A bus shuttle will be provided for parking at East Side Center.)

Schedule of Events Times are flexible
9:00 – 10:30 Naming Ceremonies
11:00 – 11:30 Pipe Ceremony, Pipe Carriers representing the 4 directions. (East: Phyllis Singing Bird, South: Dan Lybarger, West: Lionel Little Eagle, North: Chuck Derby).
11:30 – 12:30 Break
12:30 – 4:30 Speakers and Presenters – With intermittent music from the Native American Fellowship drum and flute players: Dan Lybarger, Elaine Belsley, Gary Billiot ( Houma )

Speakers, in order of appearance, include:

Lionel Little Eagle (Micmac), Dan Lybarger (Cherokee,Ojibwa),
Chuck Derby (Dakota), Fred Shaw ( Shawnee )
Carol Lakota Eastin ( Yakima , Lakota),
Phyllis Singing Bird (Haudenosaunee, Abenaki),
The Nature Conservancy, plus more.
Adam Danner will M.C. the Event.