Elk Runner Culture Weekend: a traditional native teachings adventure

4 Days / 3 Nights

This is a unique weekend based on traditional native teachings where adventure will take on many new and exciting dimensions - physical, mental, and emotional. In many cultures, elk teachings are those of reflection and stamina; the ability to engage with your life and decisions in a way of understanding, compassion, community, and acceptance. This weekend, you will first have the opportunity to reflect on and build your connection with the earth and natural world on a nature walk that will allow you to relax and have fun in your new remote surroundings.

The weekend will then continue with the preparation for and participation in a traditional healing and purification lodge with a native elder. This traditional lodge is one of the oldest tools used by natives to reconnect with their place and path in the world. There is much that nature gives us and much we have forgotten about it. This package can reconnect that bond between the earth and the human spirit, instilling you with the renewed endeavor and understanding of Elk.

Activities:

Lodge-based nature awareness and native cultural activities with a native elder, all-inclusive: wilderness nature walk; native ceremonies; traditional healing and purification lodge with a native elder.

Difficulty:

Class 1-3 (easy to advanced).

Dates (2008):

June 27-30
July 7-10
July 29 - August 1
August 3-6
August 14-17
August 24-27
September 2-5
September 9-12
September 16-19

Price:

$895.00 CAD, per person ($ 788.00 CAD p/p with tipi accommodation).

What is included:

Meals, activity costs, native elder and spiritual teachings donation, cabin accommodation based on double occupancy, and transportation while at CWC.

Package Price:
788.00 Can./Person
0.00 U.S./Person

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Location: Canadian Rocky Mountains, British Columbia
Weather: Warm summers
cold winters

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Day 1

Your arrival to CrossRiver Wilderness Centre (CWC), followed by introductions and a chance to settle in to your cabin, or tipi (whichever you booked ahead of time).

Afterwards, we come together for a delicious meal and some introductions over a walk around the wilderness retreat with our resident elder. We close the day with some relaxation/free time, and/or a campfire.

Day 2

We are busy today with various cultural activities that build on traditions and teachings towards finally participating in an enlightening purification lodge ceremony on Day 3.

Beginning with a thanksgiving ceremony on the morning of Day 2, you will begin to engage with a unique and very old perspective on life and our relationships through the teachings of the First Nations sacred pipe, which accompanies all ceremonies.

The sacred pipe is a sacred reminder of the perfect balance and harmony between the male and female in the universe, as well as a sacred teacher that provides an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and relationships.

After the ceremony, we set out on a nature walk along the historic Cross River. Ancient waterfalls and the variety of plants and wildflowers highlight the way. We will return to the CWC tipi village in the afternoon to experience and learn about some traditional wilderness skills, and possibly some traditional games, and/or crafts.

Activities could include making fire with two sticks, traditional drums, dreamcatchers, baskets, or rattles. After another home-cooked dinner, we may participate in a traditional council fire ceremony that will encompass a sharing circle and a talking feather. You don’t need to say anything at the fire, but listening alone can provide wondrous insight.

Day 3

We begin again with a thanksgiving ceremony, and then spend some time in relaxation and communication with fellow travelers and our resident First Nations elder in preparation for the purification lodge ceremony.

The ceremony itself takes up all afternoon, where guests can experience a new-found and rejuvenating sense of self and the world.

The lodge is dark, heated by hot rocks, and comprises four rounds: one round for our relationship with creator, one for our relationship with mother earth and female energies, another for our relationship with all of creation and male energies, and the final round for a general thanks for anything we have to be thankful for.

There is no secret mystical event that happens in the ceremony, just a powerful opportunity to spend time with our neglected souls through the sharing of teachings with our resident First Nations elder and some traditional music.

After the ceremony, we feast and come together again around a final campfire for many stories, music and laughs.

Day 4

After one final sacred pipe ceremony in the morning, and breakfast, we can spend any final time in communication with the native elder before parting ways until next time.