Day 113 - Friday, October 13, 1995 - The Cherokee Tribal Council met today to consider our request that the walk be allowed to camp on the pow wow grounds in Talequah, Oklahoma. They voted unanimously to welcome our walk.
"We are honored to be here,” Jacki Gauger observed as the walkers settled in to the new camp site. “The atmosphere in camp is good right now. We are real organized, and things are much smoother."
In native teachings the west is often spoken of as the "Looks-Within Direction." In truth, ever since the walk turned deliberately from the south to the west—at the Qualla Boundary, home for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina—it has been going through a relentless, often-times painful process of inner self-examination.
Now the walk is here, still moving, still bringing to the surface the elements that lie within, and now guests of the Western Band of the Cherokee Nation.
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Autumn scene on the vast American prairie. Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.com
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I'm retreating from my role as walk coordinator for four days so that I may be restored. The walk's logistics are set for the week ahead, thus no walkers should suffer or be inconvenienced.
While attempting to support the walkers from a distance and to assist in resolution of the confusion and disagreements, I've come to a crossroads. The last weeks have disturbed and strained me. I need to step back and re-evaluate my role.
I've not abandoned hope for the Sunbow 5 vision or for the walkers. In any undertaking, however, there are times to labor and times to rest. -Sincerely, S.M.
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Copyright 2006 by Steven McFadden
Read Day 114 -- Odyssey of the 8th Fire