Native Fire is a ministry that reaches out to individuals who have an American Indian hertiage, but is open to any individuals that are interested in attending.
Native Fire meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month at The Fathers House church.
Activities include: a talking circle to determine the interests and needs of the group, and cultural focused discussions.
Our hope is to bring Native Pride back to our people, and to bring hope into difficult times.
For more information contact: Vivian Prince at 330-807-2340
Beginning June 2009 our meetings will be the second Monday of the month only. During the summer everyone is busy.
We have had a very busy year so far! We have looked at many avenues of Native Peoples. Anthony Parks taught three classes on “the Cherokee Way”. The classes will be offered again in October 2009. The Cherokee is the largest people group of this area, so it only made sense that we begin there. We learned about their culture, government and written language. Anthony reads and writes Cherokee. He gave us two classes on how to do that as well.
We talked about current events, events we can do together like Pow Wow’s and supporting local Native meetings in our communities. Did you know we have a local Native American newspaper? Speak to Twelve Eagles she can tell you about it. We learned about the spiritual side of being an Indian, what that means and how it works.
We have had requests to learn native dancing, how to make dream catchers, how to find wild herbs in the woods (I feel a field trip coming on), tanning a deer hide, play the flute and many others. Last week we learned how to do beading on a loom. Thank you Ken Brandes. We will look at all of these as the year progresses.
Some interesting facts about things that you may hear or see associated with Native Americans.
DRUM
The drum is the heartbeat of all creation, the heart beat of the Creator. With all new babies, the very first thing they hear is the beating of their own heart. We can hear that same baby’s heart beat in the first trimester in an ultra sound. Even before the child can see or breath, walk or laugh, Creator puts the promise of His heart in the drum of the child. This is to remind the child to follow after the heart of Creator all the days of his life. The drum is like a holy offering of that understanding between the Creator and man. We as children of Father God want to be near him and feel His heart beat in our lives. Each one of us has a drum inside of us, to remind us of the Creators love for us.
SAGE
Native people believed that Sage was a purifier and that it chased away bad spirits. Using it in the prayer ceremony they believed that the smoke carried their prayers and their problems to the Creator. In the same way that Christians believe the Holy Spirit helps us to live pure lives and that HE carries our prayers to the Father God. Example, Praying in the Holy Spirit is our direct line to the ear of Father God and it chases away bad spirits too.
CIRCLE
Everything the Creator made we honor/respect as Native Americans, because Creator allowed it to be. Example: Rocks – they filter our water and make it pure for us to drink. Native people are environmentally friendly. Don’t take more than you need, use what you have, don’t leave scars on the landscape, walk gently on the earth. Take nothing for granted. The Circle of Life is also an aspect of the circle. With man there is always a beginning and an end in the circle of his life. With God our Father, the alpha and omega, there is no beginning and no end, He is the circle. We are all connected, everything and everyone, because we all come from the same Creator. Sitting in a circle face to face we can speak truth to one another with honor and respect.
TALKING STICK
The Talking Stick is a tool that allows council members to present their point of view. The talking stick is passed from person to person as they speak and only the person with the talking stick is allowed to talk during that time period. This way you respect the words of the person who is speaking. Indian children are taught to listen from the time they are age three forward; they are also taught to respect another’s viewpoint. Each stick is different and is make by the person holding the council. Each element speaks about the heart of the person who owns the stick.
My talking stick is made from white pine; peace, rabbit fur; to listen with a warm heart, turquoise stone; reminds us that the Great Spirit hears the message of my heart as well as the words I speak, Iridescent Shell; ever changing, creation, people and situations, Eagle Feather; high ideals, courage and wisdom to speak truthfully and wisely, to be carried higher, Black leather: eternity when only Creator was, white leather; then there was light, brown Leather; then Creator made man, colored beads; We go to be with the Creator from the north south east and west and become one with Him in eternity. This Talking Stick reflects who I am. Yours would be different.
