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The Purification Lodge at Misty Meadows.

Well, here I am on Gabriola Island and how lucky I am to be able to experience a sweat lodge of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe. More people than was expected showed up at the 2 o'clock advertised start time. Pat The Elder and leader of the Sweat Lodge said he would run a sweat on the Monday for those that could not fit in to-day. Already there are plans to expand the lodge to hold seventeen.- An auspicious beginning for a time honored ritual.

I am an experienced attendee at these events, and I want every one on Gabriola to know what a blessing you have here. I have attended sweats in a number of native traditions, the Huron, the Iroquois, the Mic Mac and the sweat lodge here on your island meets the standards of all that I have had the pleasure to experience. It has only been a short time since the Elders of the First Nations have insisted that they share their knowledge with the rest of the world community and already you have it here on Gabriola.

Over the past month I have traveled to a number of areas where Elders share their wisdom and for me to have this experience here has been the highlight of my cross Canada tour. I have met with a Swami, a Yoga Master, numerous teachers, Joyful Wisdom Tour, Tibetan Music and Dance by the Lamas of the Ganden Jangtse Monastery, and their Peace Sand Mandala ceremony, several Elders of the First Nations, Mayors, newspaper editors, friends, and friends of friends. To-day was special.

Patrick Hendrickson, White Cloud, the Elder greeted everyone warmly, as did each of his helpers. With little instruction, and I prefer a little more, we all experienced an intensive healing.

Our Grandfathers spoke to us in the native tradition of pouring water on the red hot rocks. We sweat. The rocks spoke some more. A prayer is said by each of us, some in silence, some in pain, but all honoring the moment and finishing off with an acknowledgment of "all my relations".

We each prayed for our mother earth, to be healed. To have our leaders be healed so that they can make decisions to enable us to heal ourselves and our mother earth.

Having experienced this again here to-day, I cannot help but think how much better off the whole world would be if each of us could experience the healing of the Purification Sweat lodge. Thank you Pat for bringing it to Gabriola and sharing your wisdom with us.

After presenting this article to White Cloud for his approval, he gave me some further insight into his purpose. As the Elders have been instructed to share their teachings, it is White Cloud's hope that the ceremony he brings will continue after he moves on, and that some of people that have learned of the importance of the teachings will themselves go further and explore the larger meanings of the Sundance traditions in order to facilitate the healing of our "home" planet.

It has also been suggested that those who come be prepared for this experience by talking about the process with others who have experienced it in order that when you come for your first sweat you understand the importance of different aspects of the ritual. As one attends more and more sweats one learns more and more about the deeper meanings carried by this tradition.

Our host for the Sweat Lodge has further suggested that those in the community who would like to support this initiative could do so by bringing over to Misty Meadows some firewood, or some rocks (eight to ten inches across), or even some hard Canadian currency to help defray the costs.

One is also reminded that this event will take place every Sunday at @ 2PM at Misty Meadows at 2980 MacDonald Rd with a Pot Luck Feast following the Sweat. A treat for all.

Written by Mitchell Gold, Peacemaker, learner, teacher. Mitchell is working with the International Association of Educators for World Peace, is their spokesperson at the United Nations, UNICEF etc., and is traveling across Canada, and then the World to get the conversation going on issues of importance.. You may follow his journey on his website http://www.homeplanet.org, or you may write him c/o IAEWP 2 Bloor St. West Suite 100-209 Toronto Ontario, M4W 3E2

The IAEWP is promoting an Initiative called the International Peace City 2000 project. It is the writers opinion that a Peace City should have access to a sweat lodge in their local community. I hope that this community challenges other communities to encourage the establishing of, and the successful support of the First Nations Sweat Lodge and its traditions.