| First let's increase your Word Power with a Few | | | | traditions will they pass on to new employees and |
| Native American Tribal Definitions: | | | | new family members and in so doing honor and |
| Council Fire: "A Council Fire is called in Native | | | | remember you and remember your tribe's |
| American Cultures when decisions need to be | | | | mission? |
| made that affect the whole tribe. One earned the | | | | No, handing out turkey to everyone in the tribe |
| right to sit on the Council with years of being | | | | doesn't count! It's well "Just Not Special or |
| truthful, brave, compassionate, sharing, a good | | | | Meaningful". Whereas Tribal Traditions bearing the |
| listener and a fair judge." | | | | marks of "Good Medicine" are 1) Symbolic --- |
| Pow-Wow: Also known as a "quickening for the | | | | linked by a physical memory/keepsake given to |
| people". Pow Wows brought old friends together | | | | each team member that can't be eaten and |
| and many a night were filled with stories of what | | | | therefore forgotten 2) Personal --- by the sharing |
| had occurred since the last gathering. Tribes would | | | | of a wisdom learned during the previous year by |
| share news, methods of tracking, fishing and | | | | each member of the tribe. Native American |
| hunting and play games linked to tribal pride. At | | | | cultures pass the "Talking Stick" where the only |
| the end of a pow-wow, everyone was filled and | | | | person allowed to talk is the person holding the |
| renewed with a Sense of Unity. | | | | stick! Not to dwell on the Turkey, but can we |
| Blessingway: Navajo cultures used Blessing Way | | | | really think that one person saying grace at our |
| rituals to help members who were preparing for | | | | Holiday Dinner could be more meaningful than |
| an important task. Increasingly used as a | | | | everyone at the tribal table sharing personal |
| ceremony for women preparing for motherhood. | | | | thanks for a particular blessing they received this |
| What are the traditions and gatherings that bond | | | | past year? As I recently gathered with my own |
| your family and/or business? Do you have a | | | | family tribe in Virginia, we passed the talking stick |
| year-end gathering or tradition that inspires | | | | and each of us spoke from our heart, as we |
| loyalty, shares lessons learned during the year and | | | | shared one thing we appreciated about each |
| renews the tribe's spirit and common vision? | | | | family member. It will sustain us for yet another |
| Perhaps you have a ritual that prepares you | | | | year until next year's Family Pow-Wow. |
| mentally for an upcoming business or life | | | | It is fascinating to me that as far back as Native |
| challenge? I attended a Traditional Blessing Way | | | | Americans, the need was seen for an annual |
| earlier in the month for one of my dearest | | | | meeting to discuss the plan and what was learned |
| friends who is expected to give birth to her first | | | | in last years business cycle . In short, despite the |
| child on December 24th. Larissa had gathered all | | | | fact that so much has changed in our current |
| of the women who were important to her, and | | | | world of blackberries, nothing has replaced the |
| would be to her new daughter, to share the | | | | tribal need for an annual face to face connection. |
| wisdom of our mothers. Council Fire of Elders? - | | | | - Source for Native American Tradition: Jamie |
| You Bet! | | | | Sams- The Discovery of Self Through Native |
| In a world filled with constant movement, nomadic | | | | Teachings: |
| careers and life changes, annual rituals and | | | | To plan your Annual Team Retreat and Business |
| traditions serve to re-energize and re-connect | | | | Planning Session contact the Go Wild!Go GREAT |
| tribal members. So my question for you in this | | | | Team. |
| month that we associate with family and | | | | Write her today for inspired and creative training |
| gatherings is what are your tribal rituals? What | | | | in Leadership, Customer Service, Sales and |
| symbolic activity or gathering, can those in your | | | | Creativity. |
| business and/or family tribe depend on? What | | | | |