WISDOM OF THE ELDERS CELEBRATES

NATIONWIDE LAUNCH OF NEW RADIO SERIES

(Portland, Oregon)  Wisdom of the Elders – a new public radio program series from Native America – celebrated its nationwide launch at a special thanksgiving gathering at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 18, 2004, in Portland, Oregon.  The event was held at Portland State University’s new Native American Student and Community Center, located at the south end of the campus on the corner of SW Broadway and Jackson Street. 

The purpose of these programs is to strengthen traditional cultural values among current and future generations of Native Americans.  WOTE also acknowledges the need for reconciliation between Indian and non-Indian. A second goal for this series is to increase the national public radio listener’s knowledge of and appreciation for Native American oral history, art, story and song.

The launching, following an opening prayer and blessing song, featured live performances of each of the program segments offered:

·        Elder Wisdom: Zona Loans Arrow, Lakota Elder and WOTE Spokesperson

·        Health and Healing:  Judy Bluehorse Skelton (Nez Perce/Cherokee)

·        Tribal Rhythms and Artist Spotlight:  Nico Wind (Assiniboine/Ojibway)

·        Taheebvu Chadi: Judy Trejo (Paiute) – Storyteller and Singer

·        Turtle Island Storytellers: Rose High Bear (Deg Hit’an Dine) Executive Producer

·        Program Host and Commentator:  Arlie Neskahi  (Dine / Navajo)

Board members acknowledged the many people who have inspired and made this production possible.  To help complete the second series of radio programs currently in production, donations were accepted at the door (and can still be made through the Friends of Wisdom of the Elders program), with free admission for children.  At the conclusion of the program, a Pendleton Legendary Design Blanket and other items were raffled to benefit Wisdom of the Elders.

Event photos courtesy of Anne Morin can be viewed here.

WOTE was founded in 1992 by the late Martin High Bear, Lakota medicine man and spiritual leader, and Rose High Bear, Deg Hit’an Dine (Alaskan Athabascan). This series is the first in several series of eight one-hour radio programs produced by WOTE, who, with their mission of cultural preservation, education and race reconciliation, records and preserves indigenous oral history and cultural arts from exemplary indigenous elders, tribal historians, storytellers and song carriers. Other projects of this non-profit organization include documentary and publishing projects and cultural events.