Name: Earth Day Dance Ceremony [Orcas Island]
Start: 2025-04-26T13:30:00-07:00
Location: Eastsound Waterfront Park

Join us for a Community Dance Ceremony for all ages to uplift teachings from Coast Salish wisdom keepers and weave our personal intentions for healing together to create a powerful impact.
With offerings by Coast Salish wisdom keepers Rosie James Cayou, Paul Chiyokten and Raven Borsey.
Planetary Dance facilitated by Hayley Shannon.
This offering is part of the Orcas Island Earth Day Event. Learn more about the (FREE!) offerings happening all weekend: https://earthdayorcas.org/

---ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DANCE CEREMONY---
1:30pm -- Please show up at the Waterfront Park by this time to receive the opening prayers and wisdom teachings from Coast Salish wisdom keepers.
2pm -- Learn the PLANETARY DANCE - a ceremony that is practiced around the world for personal + collective healing. It was passed to Hayley by her teacher, the legendary Anna Halprin, who developed it in a time of great need with dozens of peace keepers. Learn more: https://planetarydance.org/
2:15pm -- Dance ceremony begins. Please reach out if you are a solid drummer and want to participate in this way.
3pm -- We aim to end the dance around this time. We invite you to bring gifts for our Coast Salish friends who are generously sharing their wisdom with us.

---ACCESS---
Everyone is a dancer! All ages + abilities are warmly welcome. (If you cannot walk or run, and want to participate in a chair, that is welcome. Please bring your own chair and sit in the center during the dance.)

---FREE INTRO. WORKSHOP ON FRIDAY---
Friday, April 25 | 2-4pm | at Oddfellows Hall
Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/16Jb6cAxwj/
Explore how movement, intention + creativity allow us to awaken the healing power of dance. We will practice the PLANETARY DANCE so movers feel prepared for the ceremony on Saturday. No prior experience necessary. All ages + abilities welcome.
*Please RSVP for the free workshop by e-mailing [email protected]*

---LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATORS---
Rosie Cayou James (she/her) is Kwiaht's traditional foods specialist and spiritual advisor. She describes herself "I am of many heritages, Samish, Swinomish, Lummi, Tulalip, Tswout, and French and Hawaiian. My passion is to share my knowledge of the teachings of my ancestors. I have a dream, to one day, be a inspiration to new inspirators. One of my goals is to have more on hands on classes in indigenous foods and knowledge. My mission will be to share my knowledge with all tied to San Juan islands, the surrounding tribes, and interested public of San Juan islands."
Paul Chiyokten Wagner is an internationally performing presenter of traditional songs and stories of his Coast Salish tribal ancestors. Chiyokten is a member of the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) Tribe of southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. An award-winning Native American flutist & Storyteller his songs have come to him with visions of healing and prayer for all relations (tree people, animal people and human people).
Xwesultun Raven Borsey is a graduate student in cultural anthropology at Western Washington University, where as an undergraduate he won the 2024 Outstanding Student Award. He is Young Tribal Leader and Culture Keeper at Children of the Setting Sun Productions. He is also a carver. Along with his twin, Free Borsey, he was recently awarded the Bullitt Prize by Washington Conservation Action. He and Free will be using these funds to bring back the Lummi Youth Canoe Family as a nonprofit organization dedicated to canoe journeys and cultural education.
Hayley Shannon is a Celtic dance witch based in the Pacific Northwest who is passionate about generating brave spaces for personal and collective healing. She is a somatic practitioner who weaves meditation, movement, expressive arts, ritual and community building to inspire embodied transformation and reconnection to our true nature and soul's purpose. Learn more at embodysoul.love.
---QUESTIONS?---
Please reach out fo Hayley: [email protected]

---GRATITUDE---
To San Juan Island Makers Guild who are making this event possible and accessible for our island communities.
To Rosie, Chiyokten and Raven for rooting us with indigenous wisdom and connecting us more deeply with the ancestors of the land.
To all of our collaborators who infuse this offering with life and creativity.
To all of YOU for joining us and contributing your magic.
See you on April 26!