Recent volunteer soup & salad social.

To volunteer email info4TheGathering@gmail.com. Be part of this amazing commUNITY, active in charity and cultural preservation.

“U” are in “commUnity.” Our connections are “community.” And our “unity” is also in “commUNITY.” Our unity gives us strong footing, to do, to help and to be.

OUR MISSION/VISION.  Our mission is helping leaders first and bringing recognition to the contributions Indigenous have given and continue to give to the globe. As we do this, we reduce suffering in the world.
     By volunteering with us you are taking an active role in reducing suffering in the world. As long as you and we keep volunteering, we are transforming peoples’ opinions, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
     Thank you for being part of a group of people who care about community and are doing something about it! Thank you, thank you and thank you. We are proud to serve with you.

Chris and Rene' White
Sanctuary on the Trail™
CEO and President

     Thank you to those who were able to attend Saturday’s, July 30 BBQ at Sanctuary on the Trail. Currently we have 75 volunteers signed up by email to help out with the Indian Village and The Gathering; this does not include Facebook friends, partners, Boy Scouts and news media who are helping.
     If you were unable to attend this past weekend's BBQ, you have another opportunity in ~ a month, then again to help during the Indian Village event. We had close to 40 of you attend the BBQ this weekend.
     Our small volunteer gatherings are vital to making this year’s Indian Village, at the Bluemont Fair Sept. 17-18, 2016, and The Gathering 2017 next year Oct. 20-22, 2017, even more successful than last year’s. 
     MEMORIES FROM SATURDAY.
Many of you and a few of you:

• Visited the Indian Village site.
• Helped set up for the BBQ.
• Shared gifts for giveaway. 
• Brought delicious food, flowers and plants.
• Ate together.
• Indulged in ice-cream and shameful desserts.
• Gave donations.
• Brought sacred Tobacco.
• Prayed for friends.
• Prayed with friends.
• Laughed out loud. 
• Won door prizes.
• Drank coffee.
• Sat through four rain showers.
• Shared stories.
• Drank BB&T water.
• Met new people.
• Reunited with old friends. 
• Took pictures.
• Saw butterflies.
• Ran in the rain.
• Played drum.
• Played flute.
• Sang songs.
• Laughed at Sue’s Tea-Shirt, Glenda’s Angel Shirt, and Tracy’s Drank Shirt. 
• Danced around a fire.
• Planned next steps. 
• Looked at the stars.
• Stayed over night.
• Helped clean up.
• Took home paper butterflies.

Special thanks to Laurae Hughes-Cummings, Chris Chapman and Ben Drenning for helping us carry heavy, wet bark from the woods today. Lots of bark is needed for the upcoming Indian Village. 

These are a sampling of the questions children and their parents asked us Native American Indians and volunteers during Kidz Fest this weekend along with our answers:

Q. Do Indians wear hats?
A.  Yes, see that Indian over there, his name is Andrew Tyler and he's wearing a hat and he's also a military veteran. I am an Indian too and I like wearing hats. 

Q. Is it hard to kill a buffalo?
A.  Yes. Buffalo are very fast. Faster than dogs.

Q. What do Indians do?
A.  Indians protect the Earth.

Q.  Did Indians kill the Pilgrims?
A.  Yes Indians killed pilgrims, but a lot of pilgrims killed lot of Indians. A lot of Indians also helped the pilgrims.

Q. What tribe are you from?
A.  (We each answered with our own tribal affiliation)

Q. What tribe is this song from?
A. It is an inter-tribal song, where we all can dance together.

     Volunteer Ashley Creek Chickasaw said she told the butterfly story at least 120 times, each time passing out small butterflies she made by hand.
     Volunteers Liz Ortiz and Penny Robb Stone danced and sang songs with the children, as Andrew Tyler, who drove six hours to volunteer, played and sang with his Indian drum. Chris Anderson took photos while Sue Peoples and Rene' Locklear White helped people understand the pre-contact map and passed out prizes. Tracey Pitcock and her three children Tiffany, Shawnee & Joey along with Cindy Mann-Tenney and Sue's husband Mitch Peoples, arrived just in time to help talk with hundreds of people passing by and then tear down between rain showers.
     Special thanks to the Bluemont Fair committee volunteers Cynthia Morris and Jen Stone and their families who baked dozens of cookies for the children and volunteers. Thanks to Dianne Waddell for helping make extra butterflies. And big thank you to Dario Savarese with Full Circle Marketing who invited us to participate in their Kidz Fest event.
     And a BIG thank you to Mary F. for all your work in the background.

When the village opens this fall, the general public will be surprised to find out how many things they do not know about Native American Indian people. This initiative is also an opportunity for children and volunteers to be ambassadors for this underrepresented group and their culture.

The target audience is 45 Montessori school children of ages from 2- to 12-years old, along with seven teachers.  The children will participate in building a wigwam/yahkin, erect a tee pee, build and paint drums, learn to cook food over open fires, and much more. Later in the fall, the children will open the Indian village to the public during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Bluemont Fair on Sept. 17-18, 2016.

Leading the construction for the dwellings is Chris White, CEO of Sanctuary on the Trail™, a class-A general contractor and self-taught engineer. Mr. White is of Cherokee descent and a wood and stone artist.
Debbie Johnson-Conti of the Sauk & Fox Nation will assist Mr. White with developing the blueprints and obtain appropriate materials for building the yahkin or wigwam. It was common for women to actually build the structures on the east coast, according to Powhatan oral histories and eye witnesses’ accounts recorded by early settlers in Virginia.   ​

“At this time more than ever, we are at risk of losing the understanding of indigenous ways of life and what they stand for,” Mrs. White said, explaining that she took to her oath in the military to protect and defend to heart. “The impact of funding cannot be over-stressed in its ability to help us.  It provides to us the support necessary to enable the educational development for both teachers and students.  It provides the means of preserving a heritage valuable to all.” 

“Native American Indian people have a rich heritage in the arts, but also in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM,” said Michael Gress, VMS owner. “Indigenous contributions to the globe affect what we eat today, influence ecology, and inspire sustainable living. We are excited for our children to participate in this innovative program.”

VMS utilizes a unique prepared environment, indoors and out, which utilizes the sensitivity that children have to take in impressions and organize them through their senses. The approach is hands-on and child-centered.

“The Montessori-way recognizes and values the human spirit in the development of the whole child – physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively,” said Toby Gress, head of VMS.  “Our students will embrace the experience of this collaboration which mirrors and supports our current method of instruction.”

The team’s goal is to raise $27,850 for the artists, materials, and supplies needed to bring this program to Loudoun County. With Ken and Julia’s contribution of $7,500, the team still plans to raise $20,350 through community contributions and other grant opportunities.

ther sponsors, partners, and donors from the community are invited to support and participate in this cultural education program. This is a 501(c)3 non-profit initiative and all contributions are tax deductible.

More than 100 volunteers help the Whites field-test Art in Nature™ and Sanctuary on the Trail™ activities outside the classroom to ensure they are well-received by students, teachers, families, and the public alike.

Last year, commuters may remember seeing a tee pee while driving along US Highway-7 between Leesburg and Winchester at Clermont Farm on the corner of Berryville Main Street. Mr. White designed the structure with help from a Navajo/Dine artist who plans to drive from New Mexico to participate in this program.

Additionally, the team hosted “The Gathering 2015” an educational celebration of agri-culture held last fall at the Clarke County fairgrounds. Close to 5,000 people attended the Native American Indian harvest festival. Next year, “The Gathering 2017” is expected to draw 20,000+ people on Oct. 20-22, 2017.
 
This Indian village project would not be possible without the support of Jen Stone and her Bluemont family who have volunteered their private property to create the village, the Bluemont Citizens Association, and the Bluemont Fair Committee, who incorporated the grand opening of the village into the 2016 Bluemont Fair.
 
“We’re thrilled to have the Indian Village as part of our rural, historic Bluemont Fair,” said Bluemont Fair Co-Chair Cynthia Morris (with Jen Stone). “The Native American heritage of our area has been underrepresented in the past. This is an exciting opportunity to remind people of those who were here long before the events that we usually talk about when we reference local history. The Indian Village will be an exciting addition to our Fair—everyone is invited to join us in Bluemont on September 17 & 18, 2016, and experience it for themselves!”
 
To volunteer or contribute visit www.HarvestGathering.org, email info4TheGathering@gmail.org, call René at 540-554-8730 or visit www.BluemontFair.org.

The Gathering 2015 volunteers made 1,000 prayer ties for our military veterans serving in the four directions.
     Close to 200 veterans of all ages, who attended the grand entry on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, received prayer ties made the traditional way using Native American locally grown tobacco.
     Rather than burn these remaining prayers, which is a tradition (as the prayer ties go up in smoke towards the heavens/Father Sky, so do the prayers) these prayers are on their way to the Rotary Peace Conference being held in Californian next week. 
     Veterans and those who know a veteran attending the peace conference will physically receive prayers made here in Virginia. Supplies are provided for people in California to also make prayers for vets.
     "This Turtle Box will carry our east coast prayers to the west coast as we remember our veterans into this new year," said Rene' White retired Air Force Lt. Col and executive director for The Gathering 2015. "May all our veterans receive peace as they work to protect our freedoms around the globe,"
     The theme for the Calif. peace conference is, "Connecting Leaders and Conflict Resolution Experts with Solutions to Create a Culture of Peace."

     For schedules for upcoming gatherings check out www.HarvestGathering.org or The Gathering on facebook.

"For my family, the Gathering was a celebration of both the uniqueness and the commonality of Native heritage.

For children, especially when they are far from their culture, it can be very difficult to accept, much less embrace, that culture. Events like the Gathering, with hundreds of people of all colors, neighbors, new and old friends, people who have never experienced Native culture, to all come together and hold hands and dance to the heartbeat of the drum...for me, at that moment, the Spirit of the Gathering was manifest.

Watching my children play and dance with friends they have made at pow wows, as well as getting to share their culture with classmates, is something they will always remember, and something to which I will always be grateful. Hoho'u'

– Joseph Clay Morris – Volunteer for The Gathering

Clarke County, Virginia – Local non-profits are offering internships to High School and College students in Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia the surrounding areas, help bring an “Educational Celebration of Agri-Culture” to the region. The event is called “The Gathering” and is expected to draw thousands of visitors and provide select-students hands on training and experience.
     Interns will gain hands on experience in leading and managing community outreach activities as well help develop background experience for resume and college applications.
     “The Gathering” showcases one school day Fri. Oct. 30 and two public days Sat. – Sun. Oct. 31-Nov. 1 with Native American Inter-Tribal Harvest Dance; the Virginia Gourd Festival; Living History Exhibitors; Uniformed Services Tribute; and Multicultural Thanksgiving at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville Va.    
     “Our volunteer internships are unpaid, but we help our interns create something good for their community and build strong content for their lives while having fun,” said René White retired military veteran and the event’s executive director.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 
Each intern reports directly to the Executive Director and supports the Elders Council for “The Gathering” to promote, staff, coordinate and implement a variety of educational programs for the people of all ages in Clarke County, the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia and beyond. Interns will learn to plan and implement special events, family oriented activities as well as assist with Summer and Fall programs and meet Native American icons. Spring, Summer and Fall Internships differ slightly based on scheduled programming and the students schedule.

SPECIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:  Extremely flexible work schedule including early mornings, weekends, holidays and changes with less than 24 hours notice. Previous experience in the area applied for is stressed in the selection process however, it is not vital.
   Candidates applying for physical jobs that require heavy lifting must be able to able to lift 40 pounds and be able to handle physical demands required for preparing and building sets, displays, moving band equipment, hanging speakers, moving bleachers etc.
   Candidates applying for written communication positions must understand Windows based software including MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
   Understanding of social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc. is a bonus. Successful candidates must pass a reference check and telephone interview.

SPECIFIC DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:  
Providing quality family oriented activities and programs, or assisting with related Internship projects. Implementing and assisting with family oriented programs such as but not limited to art contests, documentary assistance, Native American harvest dance, gourd festival, book forum, concert series, art show & sale, movie premiers, marketing, event planning, event logistics, budget planning, supply purchase, money collection, records keeping, grant writing, updating web sites and attending meetings in

Areas of training interns can apply for include receiving training and instruction in:

Writing and editing, drafting articles, crafting captions, writing and applying grants and capturing oral histories.

Communications. Learn to Engage with businesses in to build lasting partnerships and sponsors in the community.

Protocol. Help coordinate a celebrity line up, including Native American recording artists, living legends and American icons. 

Marketing and Advertising. Work with non-profits to develop advertising campaigns, follow up on news releases and interact with news reporters & other media representatives.

Graphic Design.  Use computer and artistic skills to develop logos, designs and videos.

Film and Photography.  Document events that lead up to “The Gathering” for the Library of Congress and social media.

Hospitality.  Be part of friendly reception to greet, arrange lodging & logistics for VIPS news reporters and special guests.

Logistics.  Help install unique structures like a teepee, band equipment, lighting, carry heavy equipment and arrange electrical cables.

Learning Core Values. Experience, learn and apply faith, honor, gratitude, humility, respect, forgiveness and love.

Maintaining a Special Facebook Account. Share and promote how you and your school are making a positive impact in the community.

Getting Recognized. Students who contribute the most to “The Gathering” will receive memorable community service recognition.

person or on the phone, using email and social media, computer graphics, engineering, providing customer service, communications, answering phones, collecting survey information, documenting history, taking photos, creating graphics and escorting dignitaries. (Projects are mutually agreed upon.)