Quiet Turtle Society-Chapter One; The Gathering of the Holy-Part Three

This day, like most other days, was September 11, 2001 in the rolling hills of the northern plains, where the plains meets the lakes, it was 100th Grand Gathering of the Society, created by the original instructions received from the Turtle, it has grown to thousands of members from all 13 Bands of the Great Sioux Nation called the Seven Council Fires. There was only one outsider at this time, a German nurse, Frieda Winter who had married Harry Bird at the end of World War II. All members followed the Dakota Way, with only Dakota spoken, everybody had a designated position and specific duties to carry out, all adhered to a strict moral code of behavior, because of individual faith that required only good thoughts, to always give more than they received, that all would share equally. Each and every person gave respectful love, it is such a wonderful way of being and a great life for all. There were the four legs of the Turtle, four degrees or levels, but not competitive, when one reach all four levels, they would return to the first and begin again. The four legs each had officers, a Chief with sub-chiefs and full organizational structure. Each with their own songs and ceremonies, each with special powers, but with limitations, for only as a whole could the realization be obtained. For example, only for good and righteous causes. But, jointly the powers were tremendous.
The ‘Moves About’, were trackers of energy or spirits, the ‘Walks Above’ were thought listeners who know the truthful past, the ‘Blue Talkers’, could clean water and speak all languages and healers, and the ‘Bright Faces’, were changers of events, people, and things, who know the final aspect. They were just like all other Dakota and other Indigenous Native Nation, no way to know the difference, yet, each knew each other and live amongst all races, places and societies. Only united could they correct any difficulties externally required to have requests from within the internal circle, could they intervene, during ceremonial time. Each Grand Gathering was hosted by a different leg. This summer it was the ‘Moves About’, in charge of activities. Today they would follow the same agenda as usual, sunrise ceremony, breakfast, social events like give-aways and announcements, the Grand Council with dances and feast, which sometimes went all night. Camp crier shout out, Sweet Grass has special message to announce…the breeze picked up from the east, the dark clouds went west, the sun peeked in and out, the people buzz, went silent, as the soft rain began, standing in the center of the circle stood Sweet Grass the leader and eldest smoked his pipe…all eyes on him all awaited his worlds. (to be continued-