Song for the Sacred Elements
“We present this song in gratitude to the elements that give us life, and to all peoples of the world who are working together to unite, honor and uplift our voices, songs and prayers on behalf of our beautiful Mother Earth.” ~ Chenoa Egawa & Alex Turtle
Chenoa Egawa is of the Lummi and S’Kallam Nations of Washington State. Her S’Klallam grandmothers were well known healers, ceremonial singers and carriers of language, stories and teachings of the first people of the Coast Salish. She is a ceremonial leader, medicine carrier, singer, speaker, and artist dedicated to bringing healing to people from all cultures through recognition of our shared experiences as human beings. Through extensive travels in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Chile she has served as a bridge for communication in exchanges with indigenous peoples of North and South in efforts to protect and preserve indigenous cultures, languages and homelands. She has also served in cross-cultural interactions among Native and non-Native communities, educators and environmental groups with the intent to bring about mutual respect, understanding and appreciation. She has worked in schools for over 20 years to develop programs that celebrate and integrate Native American culture, values, contributions, accurate history, current issues and spirituality in an effort to foster self-empowerment among Native youth.
Alex Turtle is Navajo from Arizona and Southern Cheyenne from Oklahoma. He was born and raised on the Navajo reservation. Navajo is his first language. On his Cheyenne side he comes from the Turtle family through a lineage of chiefs. In the 1800’s his great grandparents on the Turtle side received and carried one of the original seven ceremonial fireplaces. Both sides of his family have worked and lived with their medicine ways for many generations and are known throughout the country for their work. Alex had the great blessing of being raised by his Dine grandparents, and was taught to carry forth the wisdom, knowledge, teachings and ceremonial ways of his elders from both sides of the family. He is a gifted ceremonial leader and traditional healer, whose kindness, warmth, patience, humor and depth of heart are always felt through his work. He is open minded, open hearted, and generous, always willing to go outside the parameters of his own teachings acknowledging other perspectives and ways of knowing to ultimately bring healing and understanding to people of all backgrounds. He is also a singer, drummer, composer and recording artist.
Download the track here: http://swanclan.bandcamp.com/track/song-for-the-sacred-elements
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