Encircling Light – Expectant Silence: Memories

- By Monica Gold

One of the many very special events during our conference was a talk given by Meta Williams from the Southern and Northern Tuchone First Nations. She is from the Wolf Clan but in her also lives her British heritage. During her talk she shared with us “the Native Way” of nurturing children and leading them through youth into adulthood. Many of us were deeply touched as she brought to life the caring and love extended by elders in this process.

I had spent some time talking to her on the bus during one of the excursions. She revealed to me that as soon as the conference was over she was planning to go into solitude leaving all comfort and earthly goods behind. Throughout the winter she will live on her own, with the world of animals, in the forest at temperatures which are far below freezing. She described how food caught can be preserved in a five foot deep hole during the cold winter months. This she will do
in preparation for the opening of a healing centre for women of her clan.

At her talk she stood before us on stage saying: “First and foremost, I feel responsible for all of you, secondly I feel responsible for my family and thirdly for my clan.” In some of us arose the question: What are we doing for her? As she is parting with all of her belongings, she will need help with funding to fulfill her calling and so on the day of her talk, a fund was set up without her knowledge, to assist her when she decides to move on. Phillip Thatcher will remain in contact with her. It is held under the umbrella of
ISIS Cultural Outreach Society
c/o Arie van Ameringen
1358 Chemin Bruce
Dunham, J0E 1MO, Quebec
If you are interested in helping with this worthy cause, please make out a cheque to
ISIS Cultural Outreach International Society and mark it clearly with Meta Williams Fund, then send it to the above address. If you are a Canadian Citizen you may request a tax deductible receipt.

Meta:

We have made a new friend,
Her laughter purified by suffering,
Her speech transformed through tears
Reached deeply into our Being.
Breathing stopped for moments,
Hearts felt touched – and peace
Found a new place.
Monica Gold