WCOE - HOW YOU CAN HELP
| S a m u r a i o f L i g h t |
SUNDANCE Support Teams
It takes a community to put on the International Sundance. Here are some of the opportunities for you
to share your passion and contribute your skills to the planning of the International Sundance. We'd
love to have you join us in Montana in August...but even if your schedule allows you to be with us in
Spirit rather than in person, there are still ways that you can help out. Please look at the teams below
and join us on our next Planning Teleconference if you'd like to add your energy to our event!
It takes a community to put on the International Sundance. Here are some of the opportunities for you
to share your passion and contribute your skills to the planning of the International Sundance. We'd
love to have you join us in Montana in August...but even if your schedule allows you to be with us in
Spirit rather than in person, there are still ways that you can help out. Please look at the teams below
and join us on our next Planning Teleconference if you'd like to add your energy to our event!
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
How you can help in advance of the Sundance:
DRUMBEAT – this team will focus on spreading the word about the World Council of Elders throughout the year
and promoting the Honor an Elder eBay Auction and airline miles fundraising. This will include press releases,
radio interviews, internet newsletters, appearances by Woody and/or Catie (and others representing the
WCOE) etc. Due to the sacredness of the Sundance, guidance will be provided as to what is best to be shared
as this is not commercializing the ceremony but raising awareness of WCOE and supporting our Elders through
the eBay auction of Indigenous Artwork donated by the Elders’ communities to help fund their travel to
Sundance. The focus of this team is to provide more exposure for WCOE to connect to even more individuals
who carry the heartspace and wish to join the community and attend our gathering.
FUNDRAISING – We’re doing lots of exciting things this year, including eBay Auctions, in-kind donations from
corporations who hold similar visions, beginning an Honor an Elder program, starting a marketplace for the
beautiful crafts produced by the communities our Elders lead and more. We’re looking for donations of air
miles and tipis, biodegradable plates and sacred tobacco. We’re also looking for creative ways that honor the
sacredness of ceremony to sponsor additional drum groups and sacred dances.
ELDER TRAVEL– this team will focus on coordinating air travel for
Elders, so if you have Frequent Flyer miles you’d like to donate to
support an Elder joining us at Sundance please email us at
worldcouncilofelders@gmail.com We’ll also be sharing details
soon on how you can donate miles even if you don’t have enough
for a full ticket for an Elder.
SUSTAINABILITY– In honoring Mother Earth, WCOE is committed
to doing our part to offset the carbon imprint of our travel to/from
Montana and also to have as minimal an impact upon the land as
possible during the Sundance. We are working with Jerry (a botanist) who has been assisting Tana (the
Keeper of the Land where Sundance is held) with bringing back the native flora of the land to provide
opportunities for everyone who attends to plant a tree or shrub, etc on the land to help offset their carbon
imprint. We’ll be providing a link to a website so each attendee can calculate their carbon imprint. Plus, we’re
looking at a multiple of ways to keep the event green and clean. Join us!
HeartReach – each year the extended family in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and Wind River, Wyoming need
winter clothing and blankets for little ones to adults. In addition, new mothers very much appreciate a “basket”
to take home with them when they leave the hospital with their newborn infants.
We invite you to donate articles of clothing, gloves, scarves, blankets etc that can be then brought to Pine
Ridge and Wind River to support the family. So, start taking a look in your closet for clothes that have been
outgrown or keep an eye out for sales and we have been asked to focus this year on winter clothing for infants
to adolescents, but all is welcome. Please make sure any donations are washed and in good condition. We
also would appreciate any volunteers who may be driving to Sundance that might be able to drop off the articles
on their drive back home. Details of how to send clothing and blanket donations if you are not able to join us in
Montana will be included in the July 10th DRUMBEAT e-Newsletter.
How you can help on site at Sundance:
RIDE SHARE & AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION – we’ll be providing a forum for people who are looking to share
rides to/from Sundance to communicate with each other. In addition, as we’ll have many arriving by air we will
be setting up a forum for people to coordinate their flight arrivals so that they have rides to/from the Billings
airport and the Ranch. If you love logistics and can help by being the team coordinator for Ride Share and
Airport Transportation please let us know!
REGISTRATION – once camp opens, volunteers will assist registering attendees as they arrive. Especially for
our new members, first impressions are important – the welcome, the hug, the smooth confirmation of their
registration. If you’re a people person and you’d like to welcome
our returning family members and open your heart to newbies,
please sign up for a few hours at registration.
ELDER SUPPORT– It is our dream to expand the number of
Elders that our ceremony is honored with. This team will assist
with the coordination of on-site Elder assistance including
transportation, housing, meals, teachings, ceremonies etc.
SECURITY – We’re blessed with Sacred Ground being
secluded and private, and yet we still need people in the
role of security for the parking area. Donate a few hours
to provide peace of mind to all in attendance.
KITCHEN – For all supporters we call out to you to contribute time in the kitchen. Over the last two years while
many have enjoyed the food prepared, only a few actually stepped up to the plate to assist in food preparation
and clean up…and to those we are very grateful. The Sundance is also about balance and harmony, so
please contribute to the preparation of the food that nourishes not only the supporters and Elders, but through
them the Sundancers who are dancing in sacrifice and prayer.
WATER & SANITATION– Porta potties, black bag showers, toilet paper restocking, etc. Not the most glamorous
team…but one of the most necessary. No, you don’t have to clean the loos, Honey Bucket will come in to do
that…but we will need the wash stations refilled, more toilet paper, and an eye kept out on the water tanks to
make sure their full.
CEREMONIAL SUPPLIES – the scent of sage is in the air! Once again we will gather and dry the beautiful
sage from the land, prepare prayer flags for the many gates, prepare smudge pots and have people smudging
during the dancing. This is a beautiful way to contribute your heart energy to the Sundance even if you are
not dancing.
TEAR DOWN – As they say, many hands make light work. We would greatly appreciate people planning their
trip to include staying on the Monday and Tuesday post the Sundance to assist with tear down and clean up.
So if this works in your schedule, we are very grateful for your letting us know!
DRUMBEAT – this team will focus on spreading the word about the World Council of Elders throughout the year
and promoting the Honor an Elder eBay Auction and airline miles fundraising. This will include press releases,
radio interviews, internet newsletters, appearances by Woody and/or Catie (and others representing the
WCOE) etc. Due to the sacredness of the Sundance, guidance will be provided as to what is best to be shared
as this is not commercializing the ceremony but raising awareness of WCOE and supporting our Elders through
the eBay auction of Indigenous Artwork donated by the Elders’ communities to help fund their travel to
Sundance. The focus of this team is to provide more exposure for WCOE to connect to even more individuals
who carry the heartspace and wish to join the community and attend our gathering.
FUNDRAISING – We’re doing lots of exciting things this year, including eBay Auctions, in-kind donations from
corporations who hold similar visions, beginning an Honor an Elder program, starting a marketplace for the
beautiful crafts produced by the communities our Elders lead and more. We’re looking for donations of air
miles and tipis, biodegradable plates and sacred tobacco. We’re also looking for creative ways that honor the
sacredness of ceremony to sponsor additional drum groups and sacred dances.
ELDER TRAVEL– this team will focus on coordinating air travel for
Elders, so if you have Frequent Flyer miles you’d like to donate to
support an Elder joining us at Sundance please email us at
worldcouncilofelders@gmail.com We’ll also be sharing details
soon on how you can donate miles even if you don’t have enough
for a full ticket for an Elder.
SUSTAINABILITY– In honoring Mother Earth, WCOE is committed
to doing our part to offset the carbon imprint of our travel to/from
Montana and also to have as minimal an impact upon the land as
possible during the Sundance. We are working with Jerry (a botanist) who has been assisting Tana (the
Keeper of the Land where Sundance is held) with bringing back the native flora of the land to provide
opportunities for everyone who attends to plant a tree or shrub, etc on the land to help offset their carbon
imprint. We’ll be providing a link to a website so each attendee can calculate their carbon imprint. Plus, we’re
looking at a multiple of ways to keep the event green and clean. Join us!
HeartReach – each year the extended family in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and Wind River, Wyoming need
winter clothing and blankets for little ones to adults. In addition, new mothers very much appreciate a “basket”
to take home with them when they leave the hospital with their newborn infants.
We invite you to donate articles of clothing, gloves, scarves, blankets etc that can be then brought to Pine
Ridge and Wind River to support the family. So, start taking a look in your closet for clothes that have been
outgrown or keep an eye out for sales and we have been asked to focus this year on winter clothing for infants
to adolescents, but all is welcome. Please make sure any donations are washed and in good condition. We
also would appreciate any volunteers who may be driving to Sundance that might be able to drop off the articles
on their drive back home. Details of how to send clothing and blanket donations if you are not able to join us in
Montana will be included in the July 10th DRUMBEAT e-Newsletter.
How you can help on site at Sundance:
RIDE SHARE & AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION – we’ll be providing a forum for people who are looking to share
rides to/from Sundance to communicate with each other. In addition, as we’ll have many arriving by air we will
be setting up a forum for people to coordinate their flight arrivals so that they have rides to/from the Billings
airport and the Ranch. If you love logistics and can help by being the team coordinator for Ride Share and
Airport Transportation please let us know!
REGISTRATION – once camp opens, volunteers will assist registering attendees as they arrive. Especially for
our new members, first impressions are important – the welcome, the hug, the smooth confirmation of their
registration. If you’re a people person and you’d like to welcome
our returning family members and open your heart to newbies,
please sign up for a few hours at registration.
ELDER SUPPORT– It is our dream to expand the number of
Elders that our ceremony is honored with. This team will assist
with the coordination of on-site Elder assistance including
transportation, housing, meals, teachings, ceremonies etc.
SECURITY – We’re blessed with Sacred Ground being
secluded and private, and yet we still need people in the
role of security for the parking area. Donate a few hours
to provide peace of mind to all in attendance.
KITCHEN – For all supporters we call out to you to contribute time in the kitchen. Over the last two years while
many have enjoyed the food prepared, only a few actually stepped up to the plate to assist in food preparation
and clean up…and to those we are very grateful. The Sundance is also about balance and harmony, so
please contribute to the preparation of the food that nourishes not only the supporters and Elders, but through
them the Sundancers who are dancing in sacrifice and prayer.
WATER & SANITATION– Porta potties, black bag showers, toilet paper restocking, etc. Not the most glamorous
team…but one of the most necessary. No, you don’t have to clean the loos, Honey Bucket will come in to do
that…but we will need the wash stations refilled, more toilet paper, and an eye kept out on the water tanks to
make sure their full.
CEREMONIAL SUPPLIES – the scent of sage is in the air! Once again we will gather and dry the beautiful
sage from the land, prepare prayer flags for the many gates, prepare smudge pots and have people smudging
during the dancing. This is a beautiful way to contribute your heart energy to the Sundance even if you are
not dancing.
TEAR DOWN – As they say, many hands make light work. We would greatly appreciate people planning their
trip to include staying on the Monday and Tuesday post the Sundance to assist with tear down and clean up.
So if this works in your schedule, we are very grateful for your letting us know!
CREATIVE & WEBSITE – Calling all artists and designers and
website programmers in the community. WCOE is ready to update
our website to be more effective in our communication. If you have
the ability to translate a vision into a graphic or have website skills
you’re willing to donate, we need you! Please drop us a note at
worldcouncilofelders@gmail.com
website programmers in the community. WCOE is ready to update
our website to be more effective in our communication. If you have
the ability to translate a vision into a graphic or have website skills
you’re willing to donate, we need you! Please drop us a note at
worldcouncilofelders@gmail.com
CEREMONIAL GROUNDS– connect your heart
energy to the ceremony – this group will repair the
Arbor, set up the inipis (sweat lodges), gather and
chop firewood for the sacred fire, find the grandfather
stones for the lodge, and under the direction of the
Fire Keeper, assist with the Sacred Fire.
