Storytelling Copy
Recording coming Soon!
Stories • Prophecies • Instructions • Teachings • Music • Waterfalls & River Swimming • Sacred Fire
Storytelling Festival 2024 ~ Storytelling lights the fire of hope!
“It was a privilege and an honor to attend the Center for Sacred Studies Storytelling Festival at the Waterfall House. Every storyteller held my attention and piqued my curiosity for more! Meeting Jyoti Ma and Louisa Teish who I listen to on Morher Earth Delegation calls was definitely a highlight in addition to the gift of Peter Yarrow sing with Bethany. I feel truly blessed to have participated in this event and thank you.
With deep respect,
P.C.”
Fri, May 31st, 12:00 pm – Sun, June 2nd, 2:00 pm + Late Night
Waterfall House
256 W Fulton Rd West Fulton NY 12194
All donations appreciated.
If you can’t attend, your donation of $250 will bring an edited version of the festival to you, which you can share with your family.
Donate To Register for the Festival, Please Click Here!
Questions? Email at centerforsacredstudies@gmail.com
The Mother Earth gave Her sacred gift of storytelling to the Original Peoples in the beginning days. These creation stories and stories that also prophesize and instruct have been passed down through the generations. These stories provide a tapestry of The Story of our existence.
They share the bigger picture of Mother Earth’s story and how all has evolved. We invite you to enter with us into this very sacred space and ceremonial time where traditional storytellers will share the stories that will help us walk through these challenging times. As Grandmother Luisah Teish says, “We must re-inspirit the art of storytelling. Our children must learn to sit still and listen. The story is important in their instruction.”
In that spirit, she offered this prayer.
Grandmother Luisah Teish is a delegate of the Mother Earth Delegation. She is a teacher, dancer, storyteller, and high priestess. She is Iyanifa and Oshun Chief living in the United States. She will be with us in New York!!
As many of you know the Mother Earth Delegation has tirelessly walked out the instructions that the Mother Earth is giving them. These instructions are a response to these times. This gathering will be a moment to bring the support this movement needs to continue strong for us all!!
And you are a part of that!
We are asking for a $250 donation for entry. Each entry a vote for protecting the sacred territories and cultures that are sustaining life for this planet. Truly it is your moment to step into this movement and support our Original Peoples in this work. For those that can’t offer this level of support, we are working to create a way that will allow your participation in other ways.
This is a gathering for all!! A time to unite all nations as we continue to stand up for and with Mother Earth. We are in a time of critical choice. Make your choice be one that is investing in the future of generations to come. This is a time to deeply listen! And the instruction for each of us is held in these traditional stories.
All donations appreciated.
If you can’t attend, your donation of $250 will bring an edited version of the festival to you, which you can share with your family.
Donate To Register for the Festival, Please Click Here!
Questions? Email at centerforsacredstudies@gmail.com
Storytellers & Musicians
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Yeye Luisah Teish, Iyanifa and Oshun chief (USA)
Yeye Luisah Teish is a writer, storyteller- activist, and spiritual counselor. She is an initiated elder (Iyanifa) and woman chief in the Ifa/Orisha tradition of the African diaspora.
She has studied the indigenous spirituality of African, Native American (North, South, and Central) and Caribbean cultures. She is a priestess of Oshun, the Goddess of Love, Art, and Sensuality, and a devotee (mambo) of Damballah Hwedo, the Haitian Rainbow Serpent
She is the author of six books, most notably “Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals,” a women’s spirituality classic (1985) that has been translated into German, Dutch, and Spanish.
She co-authored “On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Land” with Leilani Bireley, a Hawaiian Kahuna.
Her latest work, “A Calabash of Cowries: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times” ( Feb. 2023.), is an Amazon Books best seller.
She has received a lifetime achievement award for community service from the International Black Women’s Congress, the XX award for Defending women’s rights, the Radical Truth Telling Award, and the Grandma’s Hands Award.
Luisah Teish is a writer, a ritual theater performance artist, and spiritual guidance counselor.
She has contributed to 25 anthologies and published articles in magazines such as Essence, MS, Shaman’s Drum and the Yoga Journal.
She is a featured storyteller in the film “Changing of the Gods.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU_QkhxfZjs&t=2s.
She can be reached at
https://linktr.ee/luisahteish
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Randy Lays Bad, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Turtle Island)
Randy Lays Bad, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Turtle Island)
Oglala Sioux Tribe
Lakota Language Speaker
Born: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Education: Our Lady of Lourdes School; K – 8
Little Wound High School; 9 – 12
Oglala Lakota College; A.A & B.A Degree in Lakota Studies/ A.A in Tribal Law
2011 W.I.N.S(Washington Internship for Native Students) 8 week internship – intern at U.S.D.A – evening college courses at American University
Paraprofessional, Lakota Language Teacher, & Lakota Language Instructor
Type 2 firefighter & Engine Boss @ Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Fire Dept
Type 1 Tatanka Hotshot Firefighter @ Custer S.D
Oglala Sioux Tribal Council Representative in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
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Elin Teilus, Sámi (Sápme, Sweden)
A singer, yoiker and artist of the Sámi. Daughter of the lands of Udtja, Sábme. From her rebel heart and with a proverb for the innocence of Life she yoiks the unseen and unspoken. www.elinteilus.se
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Steven T. Newcomb, Shawnee Lenape (Turtle Island)
Steven T. Newcomb (Shawnee, Lenape) is a scholar, educator, author, journalist, film producer, public speaker and workshop leader/facilitator. He is internationally recognized for his more than three decades of research and writing on the origins of federal Indian law and international law dating back to the early days of Christendom, most notably focused on the religious doctrine now known in history as the Doctrine of Christian Discovery. He is considered one of the foremost scholars and speakers on the subject.
Steven is author of “Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery” (Fulcrum Publishing, 2008) and a Producer of the 2015 documentary film, “The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code”, and co-founder and co-director of the Indigenous Law Institute, founded in 1992 and dedicated to supporting Indigenous nations and peoples to protect their sacred ancestral homelands, to restore and revitalize their linguistic, cultural and spiritual traditions and to heal from the trauma of colonization.
facebook.com/steventnewcomb1 / originalfreenations.com
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Kurikindi, Sumae Causai (Kichua Nation, Ecuador)
Kurikindi, Sumae Causai (Kichua Nation, Ecuador)
Golden Colibri from the Ecuadorian Amazon, Protector of Mother Earth and of the Sumae Causai, Guardian of the Amazon
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Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong, (she/her/hers)
Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong, (she/her/hers)
Residing on the ancestral lands of the Council of Three Fires (Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi)
Bilingual Storyteller/Percussionist/Speech & Language Pathologist
Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong has often been called the “Singing, SIGNING, Spanish-Speaking, Storytelling, Percussion Playing Speech Pathologist. She was inspired over 30 years ago as a speech and language pathologist to begin writing stories, songs and plays for her predominantly African American and Spanish Speaking Children. She saw the need to show them the beauty and power that she saw within them that they didn’t know how to see. Blending her West African, Gullah, Cherokee, Seminole and Italian ancestries, she has encouraged both children’s and adult audiences to embrace all of who they are, realizing the value in their sense of wholeness. She has provided performances and workshops for universities, museums, cultural arts festivals, various places of worship, the social service, corporate sectors and much more. Her published stories and articles reveal the power of story for literacy, language development, interpersonal communication, and connecting with the Great Spirit within. Traveling internationally, and at times blending various languages (including American Sign Language), Mama Edie’s mission is to remind us all of the power there is in simply feeling welcomed; to also find the light we have inside, to nurture it and to nurture the light in each other, so that our spirits all shine. From there, we will soar beyond our greatest imaginings and – without wings – we will learn to fly!
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Jyoti Ma, Elder, USA
Jyoti Ma
Grandmother Vision Keeper
Jyoti Ma is an internationally renowned spiritual teacher. She has cultivated projects that demonstrate ways of life that honor the Earth and all Peoples. As the Grandmother Vision Keeper of the Center for Sacred Studie, she co-founded Kayumari with spiritual communities both in America and Europe. Other projects she has helped to convene are the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers and the Unity Concert. She is the founder of The Fountain (https://thefountain.earth) It’s mission is to restore an economic model that is based on reciprocity and collaboration guided by Nature and the Sacred. She serves as a delegate of the Mother Earth Delegation of United Indigenous Nations. And it is through this current work in collaboration with the Fountain, that a global Sacred Territories Initiative is evolving to protect Mother Earth’s sacred sites and Her Original Peoples. Jyoti has devoted her life to bringing unity to the planet by facilitating the development of alliances between individuals who are the guardians of indigenous culture and traditional medicine ways. Through this work collaborative relationships with organizations that are focused on economic, social and environmental solutions have developed, creatively addressing the global challenges of our times. 
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Bonga, Master Haitian Drummer
Gaston Jean-Baptiste, known as “Bonga“, is a musical virtuoso who has been performing and studying traditional Haitian drum, dance and song since the age of seven. He began playing drums in his family’s peristil in his hometown of Croix-des-Mission in La Plaine, an area of Haiti known for culture and history.
Bonga is regarded as a master of the Afro Haitian drum, sought-after for his extensive repertoire of pan-African rhythms. A dynamic performer, accompanist, session player and educator, Bonga works on stage, in the recording studio, and in educational settings. He is one of the few drum experts and craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build traditional drums using techniques that are centuries old.
As a core member of the seminal Haitian roots bands, Boukman Eksperyans and Foulà, Bonga was invited to the U.S. in the ’90s when musicians were becoming a strong voice for the Haitian people. Since then, Bonga has continued to play solo and in ensemble and at numerous worldwide venues. He is a featured performer with Peter Yarrow, Grace Jones, Dan Zanes and Urban Tap, to mention a few. His drums opened the NY premiere of the Rolling Stones “Voodoo Lounge” tour and he is prominently featured on recordings by Wyclef Jean and Salif Keita.
Bonga’s first CD, Kanzo (2000), incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and funk to create a dynamic version of mizik rasin. The recording features Lou Reed, bassist Fernando Saunders, and trumpeter Frank London. Bonga’s second CD, Ayiti Afrika (2006), received critical acclaim. Featuring cellist Rufus Cappadocia, multi instrumentalist Peck Allmond and Guinean balafonist, Famoro Dioubate, Ayiti Afrika explores the African roots of Haitian music.
www.bongamusic.com
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Bethany and Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow is an American singer and songwriter who found fame as a member of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote (with Leonard Lipton) one of the group’s best known hits, “Puff, the Magic Dragon”. He is also a political activist and has supported causes that range from opposition to the Vietnam War to school anti-bullying programs.
Bethany Yarrow sings music of power and praise. She is a song keeper, earth activist, and student of the spiritual traditions of the Americas. A mesmerizing, dancing spirit with a powerful voice, she carries a living prayer for unity at the heart of her music.
https://www.bethanyyarrow.com/
,Luisah Teish, Iyanifa and Oshun chief (USA)
Randy Lays Bad, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Turtle Island)
Elin Teilus, Sámi (Sápme, Sweden)
Steven T. Newcomb, Shawnee Lenape (Turtle Island)
Kurikindi, Sumae Causai (Kichua Nation, Ecuador)
Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong – Residing on the ancestral lands of the Council of Three Fires (Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi)
Jyoti Ma, Elder, USA
Bonga, Master Haitian Drummer
Bethany Yarrow, Song Keeper & Earth Activist
Peter Yarrow, Singer-songwriter, Guitarist, Record Producer,
“Peter, Paul and Mary”
Event Details
Waterfall House
256 W Fulton Rd West Fulton NY 12194
Tour of Lotsi’tsison Skywomans Forever Farm, 3992 NY-30, Middleburgh, NY 12122 5.7 Miles. (8 minutes by car between the two locations).
DATES & TIMES
May 31st – June 2nd. Friday: 12pm – 6pm • Saturday: 9am – 6pm • Sunday 9am – 2pm
+ Late Night
Spontaneous songs and storytelling at the Sacred Fire after dinner at night!
Free PARKING
Portable Bathrooms with washing stations Available
DONATION PASS & INFO
Donation Pass: $250
(Sliding scale donation pass available to locals and individuals who may benefit from a more flexible payment structure.)
We are happy to offer free admission to children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult. We kindly remind visitors that children must be accompanied by an adult in the Waterfalls and river area.
For teens aged 12-17, we offer a reduced suggested donation of half the regular amount. Please note that teens must be accompanied by an adult at all times while in the Waterfalls and river area.
Calling all Haudenosaunee youth!
We are offering free attendance to the Storytelling Festival for Haudenosaunee youth!
To Register for the Festival, Please Click Here!
All donations appreciated.
If you can’t attend, your donation of $250 will bring an edited version of the festival to you, which you can share with your family.
Questions? Email at centerforsacredstudies@gmail.com
Where to stay nearby!
See links to nearby hotels, motels and Airbnb’s. Additionally, links to campsite options and restaurants.
Max V. Shaul Campground (one mile down the road)
There are several farm stands and a general store a few miles away, Scrumpy Ewe Cidery, Panther Creek Arts, and the Sap Bush Country Store and Café just up the hill in West Fulton. Mustang Valley, a wild mustang sanctuary and rescue center, is just down the road. Nearby hikes include Looking Glass Pond and Vroman’s Nose, among many others.
Feel free to contact us with any questions at centerforsacredstudies@gmail.com
Schedule of the Events
Waterfall House
256 W Fulton Rd West Fulton NY 12194
Stories • Prophecies • Instructions • Teachings • Music • Waterfalls & River Swimming • Sacred Fire
Spontaneous songs and storytelling at the Sacred Fire after dinner at night!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY – May 31st
12pm noon – 1pm
- Opening Ceremony at the Sacred Fire with Lotsi’tsison Forever Farm Family, Luisah Teish, Iyanifa and Oshun chief (USA).
- Traditional welcoming into territory ceremony Lotsi’tsison Forever Farm Family Youth
1:30pm-2:30pm Storyteller Lotsi’tsison Forever Farm Family
2:30pm-3:30pm Celebration of Life
3:30pm-3:45pm Break
3:45pm-4pm Music – Bonga & Peter & Bethany Yarrow
4pm-5pm Storyteller Luisah Teish, Iyanifa and Oshun chief (USA).
5pm-5:30pm Closing prayer at the sacred fire with Steven T. Newcomb, Shawnee Lenape (Turtle Island)
6pm Break
Spontaneous songs and storytelling at the Sacred Fire after dinner at night!
SATURDAY – June 1st
8am Break
9:30am-10am Opening prayer at sacred fire with Randy Lays Bad, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Turtle Island)
10am-11am Storyteller Kurikindi, Sumae Causai (Kichua Nation, Ecuador)
11am-noon Storyteller Randy Lays Bad, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Turtle Island)
Noon-12:30pm Noon prayer at sacred fire with Kurikindi, Sumae Causai (Kichua Nation, Ecuador)
12:30pm-1:45pm Break
2pm-3pm Storyteller Elin Teilus, Sámi (Sápme, Sweden)
3pm-4pm Storyteller Bonga, Master Haitian Drummer
4pm-4:30pm Music Elin Teilus, Sámi (Sápme, Sweden)
5pm-5:30pm Closing prayer at sacred fire with Bonga, Master Haitian Drummer
6pm Break
Spontaneous songs and storytelling at the Sacred Fire after dinner at night!
SUNDAY – June 2nd
8am Break
9:30am-10am Open prayer at sacred fire with Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong – Residing on the ancestral lands of the Council of Three Fires (Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi) & Luisah Teish, Iyanifa and Oshun chief (USA).
10am-11am Storyteller Steven T. Newcomb, Shawnee Lenape (Turtle Island)
11am-11:15pm Break
11:15am-12:15pm Storyteller Mama Edie McLoud Armstrong – Residing on the ancestral lands of the Council of Three Fires (Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi)
12:15-12:45pm Music – Lotsi’tsison Forever Farm Family
1pm-2pm Closing ceremony at the sacred fire with All delegates & Lotsi’tsison Forever Farm Family
THIS IS A DRUG & ALCOHOL FREE EVENT. NO DOGS AllOWED.
To Register for the Festival, Please Click Here!
Questions? Email at centerforsacredstudies@gmail.com
All our gratitude for your sponsorship!
