Did you know that plants speak to us? Most of us have lost our ability to hear them. Fortunately, there are Indigenous peoples around the world, many of whom are shamans, who have not lost this ability. Shamans work with the energies and intelligence in Nature that we cannot necessarily see or hear anymore. The domesticated human mind is disconnected from this reality. However, there is a path for regaining our indigenous consciousness. We can do this, by spending time in Nature, listening to Mother Earth, and learning from Indigenous peoples. The Tribal Trust Foundation (TTF) is dedicated to supporting the cultural preservation of Indigenous peoples and sharing their wisdom for this purpose.
As the modern world consciousness dominates indigenous consciousness, there is a declining interest among educated youth to keep traditional practices alive. For example, in the remote Black Forest of Central Bhutan, Monpa healers lament that no one wants to follow in their footsteps. Enjoy this article here.
Monpa Shaman by Barry Shaffer
Yet, we have promising news! The TTF received a grant from Serving Our Spirit (SOS), on behalf of the Monpa, to fund the revival of a fading ceremony. The fading tradition, a shaman Shilaidung Ceremony unites the three Monpa villages, of Jangbi, Phumzar, and Wangling, by bringing them together for three days of prayer and ritual. In the past, Shilaidung was celebrated in a grand fashion in the villages. Nowadays, Shilaidung has lost its former splendor, with each village organizing its own ceremony, leading to diminished unity among the communities. During Shilaidung, there is a temporary halt for foraging from the forest for three days, commencing from the bridge that marks the boundary between the outside world and the Monpa community. This ceremony is scheduled for January 25-27, 2025. A Bhutanese documentary team will film the events. We hope the Monpa inspire you to disconnect from the modern world and spend time in nature.
Monpa Offering by Tom Sturgess
As writer and National Geographic explorer Wade David recognized, “Nurturing a spirit of place, displaying fidelity to land and water, and embracing with conviction the obligations of stewardship, ought surely to be aspirational imperatives for all people and all human societies.” As the poet Gary Snyder wrote, “We must all become Native Americans, whatever our ethnic background, if there’s to be any hope for ecological and cultural vitality on our shared Turtle Island.” Mr. Snyder did not have cultural appropriation in mind; he was talking about the urgent need to change the way that we as humans inhabit this planet. True social activism begins with us. Together, we create a movement.
The Tribal Trust Foundation is located in the unceded homelands of the Chumash People and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. By recognizing these communities, we attempt to honor their legacies, their lives, and descendants. To learn more about the Indigenous People’s land on which your home or work sits, visit: native-land.ca
