Tag: Native American

• Two Cultures

  Last night my good friend, Susan Grimaldi, came to my class, bringing stories from her life as a Choctaw shaman, and new ethnographic video from her work in Mongolia. Lucky students were able to engage in conversation with a highly respected shaman who has, over the past twenty years, conducted groundbreaking work with remote shamans…

  Michael Watson PhD

  February 18, 2015

  First Nations, Shamanism, Teaching

  Indigenous, Native American, Shamanism, world view

• A Winter Afternoon Chat

  First, a warm thanks to Kim Gossling who nominated my blog for the Premio Dardos Award, a blogging award that “recognizes cultural, personal, ethical, and literary values in creative and original writing.” I am honored by her nomination. Thank you, Kim! 

  Michael Watson PhD

  February 15, 2015

  First Nations, Shamanism

  Native American, Shamanism, trauma

• The View From the Orphanage

  Last night we were honored to be invited by our Abenaki brothers and sisters to drum as part of the opening ceremony at an all city meeting. The event was a  Neighborhood Planning Assemblies meeting called to discuss the proposed development of a large lakefront parcel of land presently owned by a local nonprofit educational…

  Michael Watson PhD

  January 22, 2015

  First Nations, Healing, Shamanism

  development, healing, land, Native American, orphanage, Shamanism

• What Coyote Might Teach Us

  Yesterday we took down most of our Christmas decorations, including the small Nativity set which consists mostly of an array of animals, both wild and domestic, that surround a manger and child. The idea behind the tableau is the ancient circumpolar Indigenous knowing that the animals welcome us at birth, and support us throughout our…

  Michael Watson PhD

  January 5, 2015

  Climate Change, First Nations, Stories, Teaching

  coyote, Native American, Shamanism, Winter Solstice