The Story of the Hoop
by Don Coyhis

From the Fall 1995 issue of Wisdom of the People, impressions of a gathering of Indigenous Elders from the four directions. Mathis Pentha (Pikku Máhte), from Guovdageiannu, represented the direction north and the color white. Mathis' drum was used by Nez Perce elder Horace Axtell for the direction west and color red part of the ceremony.

Pikku Máhte and Horace Axtell

In 1994, an Indian man had a vision in which he was told by a Native Elder that he was to build a hoop of 100 eagle feathers. He was told that the eagle feathers would come from various Indian nations. When the hoop was completed, he was to gather the Elders from the four directions. At this gathering the Elders from the four directions were to put their blessings into the hoop. The feathers came from all the directions and from all over the world. In May 1995, the eagle feathers were tied on the hoop while a special ceremony was performed in a sweat lodge. The hoop, made of a willow tree, was suspended in the sweat lodge and four sweats were conducted. The same fire was burning throughout the weekend. Wrapped around the hoop were four colored ribbons, red, yellow, black and white, each representing the four major races. In the first sweat, 25 feathers were hung on the hoop in the red directions and prayers were said for the people in that direction; another sweat was conducted for the 25 feathers to be hung in the yellow direction; another sweat for the black direction; and yet another sweat for the white direction.  The Indian people conducting the sweat fasted throughout the weekend.

            When the fourth sweat was completed all 100 eagle feathers were hung on the hoop. The four ribbons were tied together in the center of the hoop and one more eagle feather held the four ribbons in the center. The hoop was then complete with one hundred and one eagle feathers. The same weekend that the hoop was built, tobacco was taken to Elders in South Dakota. The story of the vision and the hoop was told to them and they said they knew this was to be and that they would come and help to conduct the ceremonies. The Elders had foretold a sign from the north signifying the location for the gathering. A White Buffalo Calf was born on August 20, 1994 in Janesville, Wisconsin. It was understood that this was the sign indicating where the gathering was to take place. The birth of the White Buffalo Calf signified the coming together of all the races. It also signified a time of unity upon the Earth.

            Elders were contacted from the four directions. Indian Elders from Oglala Lakota, Oneida, Seneca, Passamaquoddy, Mic Mac, Ho Chunk, Nez Perce, Menominee, Yakima,  Inuit, Ojibewa, Maliseet and many more representing over 27 different Native American tribes. Representing the Yellow directions were the Tibetans. There were Black Elders, some from Africa and Aborigines from Australia, Hispanic Elders and Saami people from Norway and Finland representing indigenous White Elders.

L to R: Geshe Sope, Elvin Jones, Marja Sofia Aikio, Pikku Máhte

            200 Elders and participants arrived on June 21, 1995 in Janesville, Wisconsin. The first evening an Elders talking circle was held. On the morning of June 22, the ceremonies for the gathering of the Elders began.

            The first ceremony was the Blessing Ceremony. While the singers were singing native songs, the people lined up to receive a blessing. The next ceremony was the Wiping of the Tears Ceremony. After lunch, the Elders from the different directions spoke. The Elders discussed the natural order of things and the coming together of the nations. When they were finished, a ceremony was performed for the hoop of 100 eagle feathers. With the hoop in the center, cedar bows were laid on the ground in four directions. The people lined up in four directions. The drums began to play and the singers began to sing. Four people at a time approached the hoop and offered prayers, often in their native tongues. The four blessings were: the power to forgive the unforgivable; the gift of unity; the gift of healing and the gift of hope. After the hoop ceremony, a feast was prepared for the Elders and guests. The evening ended with a closing ceremony and a giveaway. It is said that wherever the hoop goes, a healing will occur.

L to R: Marja Sofia Aikio, Brian Kelly, Australia; Marie Ramco, Passamaquoddy; Reuben Kelly, Australia; Pikku Máhte

            This issue of Wisdom of the People includes the recollections of the ceremony, graciously written by the Elders and participants.
Reprinted with permission, published by White Bison, Inc. Individual copies available for purchase through www.whitebison.org