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 Fourt Directions
8 West 40th Street
Suite 1610
New York, New York, 10018

##

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