Lakota

On Jan. 12, a huge circle of people gathered by the St. Johns River at Marywood Retreat Center for what was an incredible, moving experience. Basil Brave Heart and his wife Charlotte travelled from their South Dakota reservation to bless the river. The group was "cleansed" with smoke from sage leaves, spread across each participant with an eagle feather. Good friend and St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon offered participants water from the river to place upon their finger tips. With chants and drumbeats from fellow Native Americans and others participating in the ceremony each person in the circle placed their prayers in the form of tobacco on to prayer cloths.