First Nations Gathering set for Rapid City

Event unites faithful of Native, non-Native cultures

| Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff

RAPID CITY -- Bridging cultures and breaking down walls between Native Americans and nonnatives through faith and education is the goal of the 2007 First Nations Gathering this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-28, at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

"It's open to everybody," said Sandy Boyd, president of the Montana Intercultural Team, a Christian women's ministry that is hosting the gathering with the support of Aglow International.

The gathering was formerly called a women's gathering, Boyd said. Last year, more than 400 people attended the event in Rapid City.

Registration is free for all programs, including Saturday's concert by Broken Walls. All events take place in Rushmore Halls C and D. Registration is from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26.

"We build bridges between the First Nations' culture -- the Native American culture -- and the nonnative culture," Boyd said.

Participants can learn about Native culture, and they can also experience some cultural events, she said.

The featured speaker at the gathering is the Rev. Qaumaniq Suuqiina, a Cherokee who is co-director of Indigenous Messengers International ministry with her husband, Dr. Suuqiina. They operate a retreat center near Portland, Tenn.

Qaumaniq is scheduled to speak at the Friday night session, which begins at 7 p.m., and on Sunday at 9 a.m.

Workshops on Saturday morning will feature presentations by Jerry Yellowhawk of Rapid City, Rod White Eagle Wilson of Spearfish and Barbara Jenkins of Roundup, Mont. Workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon.

Saturday's activities also include an Honoring Give Away from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., a 7 p.m. grand entry, complete with tribal representatives in regalia or national dress, will precede a concert by Broken Walls, a Canadian-based Christian music group.

The group's latest album, "Ohwihsha-Healing Wind," has been nominated for the Aboriginal People's Choice Best New Artist, Instrumental Album and Group/Duo.

The gathering's goal is to bring people of faith together to learn about each other, Boyd said. "Everybody's welcome."