Oh angel ye of fire
Oh ye angel of the snow
Though you burn in brilliant passion
Yet the gap you see you know
Do you see the crystal vision
of that you wish to be
Whilst you drown in tears of sorrow
‘thin the shackles of reality
‘Tis within the pulse of silence
that mine timid heart doth dance
‘Tis in these times of solitude
my thoughts within the Trance
That space so long forgotten
whose name once bore my home
whose song was sung between the notes
That pulse, that steady drone
I recently spent a few days in Vancouver with a dear mentor and friend of mine, Don Streets, and an amazing and incredibly diverse group of individuals. The event was put on by Lee Brown, a Cherokee gentleman who got his Master’s degree in education 25 years ago through Don’s program at National University in San Diego, California and has since completed his doctorate in education. Lee is a faculty member in the College of Education at UBC and has been asked by the University to begin a doctoral program for First Nation students which is already underway.
The event was a conference for tribal leaders and educators from all over Canada, including a couple Maori representatives from the University of Aukland, New Zealand. The conference was one of the most amazing processes to witness and participate in that I have ever experienced. No parading of credentials, no blasting of hot air and pontificating, no evidence of ego, none of the trappings that often stymie discussions and consultation, especially in academia, no interrupting of those speaking, etc., but rather the kind of humility and rapt attention, respect, and consideration one only experiences among those of the highest sensibilities.
I am enclosing here the transcript of a conversation (to date) between myself and a very precious human being whom I love dearly and who happens to be 11…
Hey sweetheart! Good! I miss you too baby…I think its maybe because I love you so much!!! Hey, are you on facebook? Couldn’t remember if I’d added you or not. You should hop on there if you are. Hey baby, I was reading the first Hidden Word, and Tara and I wanted to do an arts project, where we all read the first Hidden Word and then we all express it in some artistic form, whether it be music, drawing, or whatever else you choose to express it with. It is…