PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly will be airing an interview with us over this weekend (September 12th - 14th).
     It features Chris and Rene' White and the Paleo-Indian site in Clarke County, VA and compares our site with stone circles around the world, particularly Stonehenge.
     The producer is David Tereshchuk. The commentator who interviewed us is Lucky Severson.
    We are not sure when exactly during the weekend your local PBS station would be scheduling it, if indeed it does carry it. Most PBS local stations carry the broadcast but not every single one.
     It will also be available online of course, at www.pbs.org/religion from Friday September 12th.

Images of the filming in July with David, Lucky, Tony and Mark with PBS Ethics and Newsweekly.

"Does an "Outside Force" exist? Is there a thing such as a "Spiritual Draw?" Where does "Faith" come from? What do you really believe and have faith towards? These things are of a spiritual nature," explains Chris (Comeswithclouds) White in a video he posted about the Paleo-Indian site he found in Northern Virginia.

         __________________________

by Chris (Comeswithclouds) White
Native American Church of Virginia

     Is there something spiritual about the ceremonial Paleo-Indian site we found here?
     Professionals have been helping us investigate the site since 2010. There is evidence of intelligence left by a people more than 10,470 years ago here.

     We are the site's guardians. Currently, we are preserving, protecting and restoring the site.      To find out more about what has been accomplished so far, updates are online at:

• SantuaryontheTrail.org
• Paleo News Room.

     Thank you for following the progress and thank you for your interest and encouragement.

BLUEMONT VA -- The Virginia Pilot, 220 miles away, published the Winchester Star article, "Stone circles on Va. property predate Stonehenge." Written by Val Van Meter, the online May 11, 2014 article received 462 shares on Facebook so far. Thanks Virginia Pilot.

The Virginia Pilot
ONLINE ARTICLE.

Bluemont VA – This Winchester Star feature story talks about how PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, learned about the Paleo-Indian site and the Native American Church of Virginia through the local newspaper and arranged to film here at the Sanctuary on the Trail yesterday.
     From Virginia, PBS Director Lucky Severson, Photography Mark Thalman and Audio Engineer Tony Stewart joined PBS Producer David Tereshchuk from New York, to interview the site’s guardians. The special program, about concentric rings found around the world, will air on PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly in late August.
     Paleo-Indian site guardians Chris (Comeswithclouds) White and René White (Feather) have volunteered thousands of hours for the past five years to preserve, protect and restore this site. Thermal Luminescence (TL) dating results recently confirms the site was last used 10,470 years ago, making it older than the standing boulders at England’s Stonehenge.

Related Links:

• PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
• Winchester Star
• Sanctuary on the Trail

Bluemont VA -- Religion and Ethics Newsweekly David, Lucky, Mark and Tony filmed here today at the Sanctuary on the Trail. They interviewed Native American Church of Virginia CEO and President, Chris (Comeswithclouds) White and Rene' White (Feather) and the lead Archeologist Jack Hranicky.
     This PBS special, featuring concentric rings found around the world, is expected to air around the end of August.     

     The Native American of Church site guardians Chris and Rene' are preserving, protecting and restoring a Paleo-Indian sacred ceremonial site they found on their property.
     For more photos of the shoot and copy of the program please follow us here at www.SanctuaryontheTrail.org.

BLUEMONT, VA – Local students and family from three local churches learned more about Native American culture and the Paleo-Indian concentric rings found in here through a July 9 “Art in Nature” ™ class held by the Native American Church of Virginia.
     Students and families ages 6 to 73 arrived from three corners of Northern Virginia to share in this unique physical and spiritual art experience. Eight members from the Bluemont United Methodist Church; seven members from the Emmaus Church of Berryville; and one member from the Fairview Methodist Church in Stephens City participated.
     Led by Native American of Virginia artist René White (Feather), a retired Air Force veteran, the class revolved around the letters P-R-A-I-S-E as a tool to study the Paelo-Indian concentric rings. Her husband Chris (Comewithclouds) discovered the Paleo-Indian site in 2010 while looking for a spot on their land to build a Native American medicine wheel. Last use of the Paleo-Indian rings dates to 10,740 years ago based on recent anthropology luminescence dating of an excavated artifact.
     “My goal with this Paleo-preservation class is to help build comprehension of the process of exploration and to gain an understanding and appreciation of Paleo-Indian culture and see how ancient people lived in balance with nature thousands of years ago, without cell phones and television,” René said.

P-R-A-I-S-E
“I used the letters in PRAISE to help explain the ideas of Purpose, Research, Analysis, Implement, Strategize and Evaluate in a physical, spiritual and FUN art experience outdoors,” said René who is the Native American Church of Virginia president.

P - Purpose
The class began as Chris, CEO of the Native American Church of Virginia, led the group in prayer. Sitting on red, white and blue blankets René explained the class “Purpose:” to create “Art in Nature” to leave outside for Creator God and to PRAISE & worship together.

R - Research
After a quick “go song” on the flute by René, the group began their “Research” to find natural materials to create their PRAISE art in nature piece.
     Using baskets, bowls and scissors they collected arm loads of fern, cut beautiful flowers and fragrant plants, and gathered unusual rocks as they hiked a small portion of the Blue Ridge Mountain eating raspberries along the way.

A - Analysis
The “Analysis” activity took place around a blue tarp near the sacred Paleo-Indian site and along the Spout Run creek, where students laid down their pickings and separated all the mixed up textures and colors into separate piles. One student even carried in a huge branch downed by last night’s storm.  

I - Implement
The objective was to “Implement” the art project by spreading out all the items into concentric rings, similar to what the Paleo-Indian’s left behind. René established the midpoint of the rings by placing a thin slice of black walnut shell in the center of a dried walnut trim gourd with a streamer going out in the direction of the water flowing down the creek towards the Shenandoah River.
     The students placed everything from a pile of carrots and corn to feathers and ferns into the spiral of rings. As they took turns, René reminded them that the “I” in implement also stands for good “Intent.”

S- Strategize
To “Strategize” the children advised each other on how to lay their items, determined which items to place in the gourd bowl and agreed to keep the red carpets (that Chris laid) open to the East and the rising sun.

     “I was glad to be part of bringing the church kids to the Paleo site,” said Bluemont resident Susan Freis Falknor.  “The Whites have made such an exciting discovery and it’s great that these local children are among the first to know about it.”
     “What sticks out in my mind about the art class was that the children were able to slow down and closely observe natural forms, like ferns, sticks, stones, dried ears of corn. Under the soft green light of the wooded mountainside, the colors of the everyday objects that they arranged on the tarp in concentric rings seemed to glow.”
     After a group photo showing the completed work, children explored in the creek and gathered lunch:  a watermelon and cantaloupe cooling in the creek. They relaxed a few minutes on a bridge eating and just enjoying nature and their new friendships before the class finished.
     “In addition to saying thanks and acknowledging elements of creation, by creating Art in Nature and leaving it here, I think this exercise teaches the principles of humility, giving of self, and non-attachment,” said Chris.
    
E - Evaluation
During the “Evaluation” phase, they climbed to a nearby ridge looking back down at their work of PRAISE. Then each participant spoke about their discoveries to the rest of the group in a brief report. Several were shy, but still took their turn to speak before the group.
     “Speaking in front of each other allows them to feel how good it is to get up and acknowledge the experience of letting a creative project bring them together,” said René. “And I think it gives them courage to want to say more next time.”
     Special thanks to Claudia DeLancey of Winchester VA for volunteering to be the official photographer for the event.
     _________________________________

     The Native American Church of Virginia is a 501(c)3 compliant non-profit located at a Sanctuary on the Trail™ near Bluemont, Virginia, and raises money to help preserve, protect and restore a Paleo-Indian site the family found on the property in Northern Virginia.
     Their mission work includes helping reduce suffering in the world, helping wounded warriors and elders by helping leaders first.
     For more about the Native American Church of Virginia, the sacred Paleo-Indian ceremonial site or Art in Nature™ find out more online at these locations:

• Web Site
• Church Facebook
• Sanctuary on the Trail Facebook
• Art in Nature Facebook  

BLUEMONT VA -- Today's feature in the new Winchester Star newspaper LIFE section features the Native American Church of Virginia, Sanctuary on the Trail and Paleo-Indian site.

Full story at Winchester Star online.

BLUEMONT, VA

"Calling the Rain"
    This music video, in the rain, is not what we had in mind when we set out to play Native American Flute during a mass release of butterflies. But sometimes, Great Spirit leads us to create what we create.

An Authentic First in a Historical Place
     Military veteran and musician Alan Stanz, now stands where another people stood 10,470 years ago. Experts have authenticated Paleo-Indians were here. They held ceremony in these symbolic concentric circles of stones. There is intelligence here. We found it. (Link)

A Spontaneous New Song
     Alan is spontaneously playing a new song. His first recording. Not from a song sheet, but from his heart. 
     Did Paleo-Indians play songs here too, within these circles? Was it eagle bone flute? Church bells? Trumpet taps? What did they pray for? How many heard it? Did they call for rain? Did they release butterflies? We have lots of questions.

Authentic and Real
     This video is as authentic and real as the place Alan stands now; a place where others stood more than 10,000 years ago.
     This is a "one-shot" music video recorded on this spot. One take. One camera. One microphone. Authentic. Real.

Giving Thanks
     We give thanks in all things. For this opportunity. For this song. For this knowledge. For this place. For the rain.

By Josette Keelor
Northern Virginia Daily

BLUEMONT -- The Native American Church of Virginia started in 2009, but a recent discovery of an artifact dating back 10,470 years to a Paleo-Indian site has inspired Rene White (Feather) and Chris (Comeswithclouds) White to call it the oldest church in continuous operation in the world....

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

Photo by Emy Dean