The Wolf Ceremony: Chief Dan George - "Geswanouth Slahoot" (HD)

This is compilation of "The Wolf Ceremony" and other "boy coming of age" lessons.. intertwined.., from..Chief Dan George...,
with both audio and video clips, as well as a running text dialogue..
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Grandfather-Chief Dan George
"Geswanouth Slahoot"
Tsleil-Waututh (Salish)
On This Earth: 1899-1981
The Wolf Ceremony
I wanted to give something of my past to my grandson. So I took him into the woods, to a quiet spot.
Seated at my feet he listened as I told him of the powers that were given to each creature. He moved not a muscle as I explained how the woods had always provided us with food, homes, comfort, and religion.
He was awed when I related to him how the wolf became our guardian, and when I told him that I would sing the sacred wolf song over him, he was overjoyed.
In my song, I appealed to the wolf to come and preside over us while I would perform the wolf ceremony so that the bondage between my grandson and the wolf would be lifelong.
I sang.
In my voice was the hope that clings to every heartbeat.
I sang.
In my words were the powers I inherited from my forefathers.
I sang.
In my cupped hands lay a spruce seed-- the link to creation.
I sang.
In my eyes sparkled love.
I sang.
And the song floated on the sun's rays from tree to tree.
When I had ended, it was if the whole world listened with us to hear the wolf's reply. We waited a long time but none came. Again I sang, humbly but as invitingly as I could, until my throat ached and my voice gave out.
All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had heard my sacred song. There were none left! My heart filled with tears. I could no longer give my grandson faith in the past, our past.
At last I could whisper to him: "It is finished!" "Can I go home now?" He asked, checking his watch to see if he would still be in time to catch his favorite program on TV. I watched him disappear and wept in silence.
All is finished!
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.."Love is something you and I must have.
We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it.
We must have it because without it we become weak and faint.
Without love our self-esteem weakens.
Without it our courage fails.
Without love we can no longer
look out confidently at the world.
We turn inward..
and begin to feed
upon our own personalities..,
..and little by little..
..we destroy ourselves."..
Chief Dan George
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The Tsleil-Waututh Nation is a small but growing Coast Salish community of more than 500 people, living on a reserve on Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver, with additional reserve and private lands in the Indian River valley.
Our traditional territory.., the land we have always occupied and used.., encompasses a large area of 190,000 hectares reaching from the Fraser River in the south to Mamquam Lake (east of Whistler) in the north.
Today, about half of our people live in Burrard Inlet Indian Reserve #3 (a government-allocated name), and the balance live off the reserve. In addition, we have two smaller reserves at the head of Indian Arm.
---- twnation.ca
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I claim no ownership of any of the clips used...and employ my borrowing of them with respect and thanks. No personal monetization is being done with this video, by me..., nor am I receiving any other benefits from any of this video.. It is meant for all.., to heal, teach, discuss, inspire and inform...
Fair use policy applies for all material used in this video.
I thank Chief Dan George..(in Spirit), his family..., ... and all the other brothers and sisters involved...who have video clips & photos in this video... Nothing is monetized.. Everything is borrowed,
..with much thanks and respect..
....Many Blessings & Thanks / Miigwetch!....
*Set video to 720p HD, for best viewing.