YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ENTERED SACRED SPACE Ceremony for Ingrid Washinawatok Pablo Lonesome Wolf

Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 22:25:57 -0400
From: Pablo Lonesome Wolf
Subject: Ceremony for Ingrid Washinatowak

By Pablo Lonesome Wolf
5/22/99

On the steps of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in NYC are people of all colors, people dressed in many different kinds of clothing.....Some in ribbon shirts..some in African robes... some in Moslem dress and head coverings. Women, men, old, young speaking English, Spanish, French, Arabic.... They came from Minnesota, California, Guatemala, Palestine, South Dakota, Vermont..... They are Elders, Professors, Singers, Ambassadors, Poets...... They numbered over 2,000.

At 7 P. M. they all go inside the vast Cathedral to see a screen and a number of monitors all with the same picture, that of Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa, Flying Eagle Woman, Menominee,. Elder at a young age, Internationally known Indigenous People's Rights Champion, Indigenous Women's Role Model, whose enthusiastic charisma and energy was snuffed out on March 4th, 1999 as she was assassinated after being captured in Colombia by FARC.

The lights dim and a violin Sonata is offered, followed by A Prelude and Fugue on the piano. And then 8 or 9 guys come up and sit around a drum, The Silver Cloud Singers start an honoring song. Though the Singers are amplified, the drum and the song bounce off the walls of the cavernous cathedral, giving hair-raising ethereal quality to the ancient melody and words. You know you have entered sacred space..........

First a prayer and then one by one they come, offering tribute to the the late wife and mother, sharing stories of her triumphs, her spirit, her humor, telling of the vacuum left by her crossing..... Names you know.. others you don't... All of whom were effected by her smile, her direction and her example..... Jake Swamp, John Mohawk, Audrey Shenandoah, Margo Thunderbird, Clyde Bellecourt, Agnes Williams, ..... H.E. Mr. S. R. Insanally, Ambassador Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guyana to the U.N.....Esmerelda Brown, representing Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum..... Many more..

The group Ulali & Shy Woman First sang first acappela, then with hand drums, and then joined by other women, sat, sang and drummed at the big drum, the heartbeat of Indian spirit. The progress of women back to the traditional place of strength, wisdom and power. Ingrid would have liked that.

John Trudell read a poem and then reminded those assembled that the case has not been solved and should be.

A very interesting slide show took place being accompanied by three ladies from the Spiderwoman Theater

And the final speaker, Ingrid's husband of 17 years, Ali El-Issa who had his best friend snatched from him without even a chance to say goodbye; A man who has helped so many of those connected to Ingrid in someway, to grieve; A man who's strength is obvious; who's compassion is enviable, and who has allowed his part in the partnership to remain in the shadows in loving deference to his wife.

Another honoring song and one by one we leave the sacred place never to be the same again, with a new perception of our friend Ingrid. We leave the sacred place inspired to try to harder to carry on as Ingrid taught us, with enthusiasm, kindness and reverence.

The Flying Eagle Woman Fund has been created by the family and friends of Ingred Washinatowak to commemorate her work and values, in partnership with the Fund of the Four Directions.

Contributions can be sent to:
The Fund of the Four Directions
8 West 40th Street
Suite 1610
New York, New York, 10018