Native American Celebration

My dear neighbor, Kay Martin, and I were lucky to be able to enjoy each other's company in the great outdoors this past weekend.

Every year for the past 12 years Dallas County Conservation Board presents a wonderful Native American celebration called a Prairie Awakening at Keuhn Conservation Area (in the Racoon River Valley), which is just a few miles from our place.


This is the second year I've attended and it's very moving. Native Americans from seven states and Canada join in blessing the land here, which once thrived with their ansestors. Many are buried in the Raccoon River Valley and this land is very sacred to them.

Many dances are performed by Native Amerian Elders and their families.

Tribe members beat drums and sing important songs with deep messages and everyone is welcomed to join in the dancing.

An owl was also released that day that had been rehabilitated from being injured. Owls are known as messengers. Hearing one, not seeing one, is important... meaning you are recieving a message from the spirit world. Click here for a short video on the release.

This is our fabulous neighbor, Kay Martin. She's has lived here for many years and loves this area. Her family honored her for her 70th birthday with this engraved stone bench here at Keuhn.

"MAKA OCHANTE" is Lakota (native american tribe) for "sense of place" --meaning appreciating the earth, where you live and come from, doing all you can to preserve it and understanding those who came before, whose spirit still resides there. What a really special gift!!