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Jan
Cyr "The Red Road, Destiny or Choice?"
People from every corner of our Earth home, all ages, all walks of life are being drawn to the Red Road. I've heard countless stories throughout my life that, even as tiny children they wanted to 'play" the Indians instead of the cowboys. Why is it that so many, regardless of bloodline, feel Indian? Why are the elders now sharing even the most sacred ceremonies such as Sun Dance with mix-blood peoples after so many years of necessary secretness and protection? Why do so many First Nation's prophecies point to this time and us, as a generation? I look forward to discussing these things and much more when we circle up in Cloudcroft.
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Jan is an Indian elder of Cree, French, and Nez Perce ancestry. Her formal education was in media, majoring in film. Jan’s career began in concert, radio and music production and later, as head of the Sound Department for Alpha Cine, the largest film studio in the northwest. She free-lanced in location film production all over the world including Canada, Africa, Trinidad, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, England, Germany and Mexico. Her favorite, by far was in Indian Country where she had the honor of working extensively. Ultimately Jan pursued her “work of heart” involving herself in documentaries for and about indigenous peoples. This background, coupled with being an observant listener growing up with her Nez Perce grandmother, led to her current and favorite work to date as the guardian of “Hummingbird Stands” Lodge.
“Hummingbird
Stands” Lodge is housed in a twenty-four foot Crow tipi on her farm near
Rainer, Washington. While Jan’s
retirement from film afforded her the time to give back to the people, she
realized there were many sweat lodges and support groups for men in Indian
Country but few for women. Jan
recognized the need for women to have a safe and sacred space to talk and
celebrate themselves as spiritual beings. The
lodge was named “Hummingbird Stands” because hummingbirds, like women, are
seldom seen standing still. The Lodge is a place to come and be still. Now, many
years into this endeavor and with a mailing list of over two hundred and fifty
women who have “smudged up” and participated in this Lodge, Jan realizes
that the “talking circle”, based on the “Red Road” is a model that is
needed in a much broader and more far reaching way.
She has led circles at weddings, funerals, the workplace, within families
and a variety of healing conferences and gatherings large and small. She recently led talking circles at the Quinault Reservation
for a gathering of three hundred Washington State employees.
Through all of this experience, she has found herself amazed at the need
for this type of work and the positive, grateful response that it brings.
Utilizing teachings from First Nations, the Medicine Wheel, story telling,
singing and drumming the ancient songs, sweat lodge, prayer and herbs, Jan can
lead groups of any size, age or background.
