Wisdom of the Elders

Series 1, Program 6: The Harvest*

Introduction

Elder Wisdom Feature: The Monacans

Barbara Roberts features segment two of the Monacan nation, including the 18th Century Monacan village being reconstructed at The Natural Bridge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Chief Branham and two elders discuss how they still gather from the abundance of wild foods their ancestors relied upon as well as from their apple orchards at home on Bear Mountain.

Health and Healing

Judy Bluehorse Skelton tells how she follows the plants through the seasons, focusing upon the summer season. She discusses gathering St. John's Wort, "a beautiful little yellow flower which blooms in June. You gather the fresh flowers before they're pollinated which means you've got to beat the bees to it."

Tribal Rhythms

Nico Wind shares harvesting songs from several cultures and special background on how the people traditionally give thanks to Creator for the abundance of the harvest.

Taheebvu Chadi

Song carrier Judy Trejo shares four traditional Pine Nut Blessing songs and tells of the Pine Nut Blessing Ceremonies when, in the springtime, the people would go to the mountains to pray and sing for a bountiful harvest come fall.

Turtle Island Storytellers

Jack Dalton tells the traditional story, "The Gathering Song," relating how an Alaskan Yup'ik village survived conflict and starvation by listening to an "old man" who taught them to sing and dance an ancient Yup'ik song. This restored the harmony and successful caribou hunting, and saved the people from starvation.

* Segment transcripts and participant biographies can be found on the Wisdom of the Elders Web site.

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