American Indian Insitute

American Indian Institute and Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth

The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth

The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth is a spiritual circle open to all Indian people. It constitutes the continuation of an ancient practice of joint council among the most respected leaders of Indian nations. Its purpose is to nurture a grassroots renewal of traditional values and worldviews among Indian peoples, to ensure the continuity of Native wisdom, and to bring that wisdom to bear on important issues facing all peoples of the earth. The values inherent in the traditional Native worldview - faith, thankfulness, love, and respect for all Creation - are essential for living well on this Earth. These values are the foundation of life. Discussions of education, economics, environment, and other issues are secondary to this basic understanding of Creation and one's place and function in it. Projects and annual gatherings of the Traditional Circle reinforce and strengthen traditional values within participating delegations and extend them to Indian communities as well as across cultures.

The Circle is organized in the traditional Indian way. There are no signatures, no hierarchy of officers, and no membership restrictions or limitations. Those who come to Circle gatherings on a regular basis represent grassroots communities and are empowered by consensus to speak on behalf of their people. They have the respect, trust, and support of those whom they represent. Their guiding principles are moral, not legal in origin. Actions of the Circle are based on consensus. All dimensions of issues are discussed. Consensus is formed by the persuasiveness of the positions presented and their consonance with traditional perspectives. A core group of Elders who participate in nearly all activities of the Circle are its respected leaders. This group represents most areas of Indian Country in North America.
The Circle gathers for six days each year at an encampment hosted by an Indian Nation. Every Circle gathering includes: Elders who, because of their experience and commitment, speak on behalf of their people from the perspective of a traditional, spiritual worldview; "Runners" who have not yet achieved "Elder" status but whose commitment to the Circle is unquestioned, and who do "leg work" for the Elders; Young people who may sit with the Elders in the councils as observers, and who also help maintain the camps. Youth also meet separately during the gathering to discuss common issues. They are invited to present their perspectives to the Elders' Circle where they are respectfully considered. Family members and children of all ages who participate to the extent of their capacities and interests. Inclusiveness is an ancient Indian tradition that insures the cultural and spiritual continuum of Indian people.
Councils of the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth Circle councils provide a forum for consideration of issues involving and affecting indigenous people. The issues are clarified and discussed, and the combined wisdom and experience of the group is utilized in seeking responses and solutions. Responses may involve direct or indirect action by the group or by individual members. A response may be simply the articulation of a moral position which then becomes an important tool in the hands of individual members. The American Indian Institute acts as the Traditional Circle's sponsoring agent. The top priority of the Institute is to help facilitate the Circle's annual councils by disseminating information, assisting the host community with food and lodging arrangements, arranging travel for key Elders and Youth, and finding funding for the event each year. The support of the Institute is given freely with no strings or limitations. It is understood that the goal is the welfare of traditional Indian people first, and the welfare of all people through the joint effort of the two partners second. Neither side dishonors that goal.

Gathering	Host Nation	Location
August 1977	Crow	Missouri Headwaters (Three Forks), Montana
June 1978	Hopi	Kykotsmovi, Arizona
October 1978	Creek	Phillip Deere Roundhouse, Okemah, Oklahoma
August 1979	Cree	Assumption, Alberta, Canada
October 1980	Northern Cheyenne	Austin Two Moons Ranch, Busby, Montana
August 1981	Onondaga	Onondaga, New York
August 1982	Navaho	Dan R. Yazzie Ranch, Dove Waterflow, Arizona
June 1983	Santa Clara Pueblo	New Mexico
August 1983	Puyallup/Tulalip	Sapa Dawn Center, Yelm, Washington
June 1985	Northern Cheyenne	Austin Two Moons Ranch, Busby, Montana
June 1986	Oglala Sioux	Oglala, South Dakota
June 1987	D-Q University	Davis, California
September 1988	Tongva/Chumash	Leg Lake Park, Los Angeles, California
September 1989	Haida	Haida, Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
August 1990	Onondaga	Nedrow, New York
October 1991	Santa Clara Pueblo	New Mexico
August 1992	Puyallup/Tulalip	Sapa Dawn Center, Yelm, Washington
August 1993	Anishnabe	Turtle Mountain, North Dakota
August 1994	Crow	(Council cancelled due to extreme fire danger)
July 1995	Crow	Lodge Grass, Montana
July 1996	Oneida	Southwold, Ontario, Canada
May 1997	Miwok	Ahwahnee, California
August 1998	Penobscot	Indian Island, Maine
June 1999	Sac and Fox	Prague, Oklahoma
August 2000	Saginaw/Chippewa	Mount Pleasant, Michigan
February 2001	Pima/Maricopa	Gila River, Arizona
August 2002	All Nations in Montana	Flying D Bison Ranch, Montana
August 2003	Haida	Haida, Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
August 2004	Anishnabe	Turtle Mountain, North Dakota
July 2005	Tulalip	Tulalip, Washington
Feburuary 2006	Independent Seminole Nation	Fort Drum, Florida
July 2007	Assiniboine/Sioux	Fort Peck, Montana
July 2008	Lake Superior Band of Chippewa	Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth

Councils of the Traditional Circleof Indian Elders and Youth

Gathering

Host Nation

Location

Councils of the Traditional Circle
of Indian Elders and Youth