| By René White (Feather) Lumbee Indian, Local Artist and Military Veteran Berryville VA – Thirty senior citizens most in wheel chairs with brushes immersed in paint, decorated their Valentine hearts and 9” x 12” mixed media paper with lavender, topaz, rose, lime and turquoise paints, then glued down affirmations, shiny stones and faux feathers – “their love letters to the world.” Seven students from Clarke County High School helped. The biggest surprises in February? Half of the class is men over 70 years old, 17 students showed up early, more arrived throughout the 2-hour class eager to participate. This class is fondly called, “My Love Letters to the World," and includes elements from Native American culture. In partnership with Anne Perrault activities director Golden LivingCenter - Rose Hill in Berryville, I initiated this art therapy program after watching my own mother, my aunts in Berryville and Stephens City and friends struggle with aging dementia, paralysis, cancer and quality of life. I love watching them see the beauty in things like simple beads, swimming fish and flying butterflies. Still they find comfort and peace with Art in Nature. I use everything I have, including my understanding of nature and Native American crafts to teach and entertain these remarkable elders. The goal is simple, to help improve their quality of life. My biggest wish? I wish I had started sooner, so I could have loved this longer. Our elderly still have a voice and are able to declare their words and feelings through colors, shapes and shiny things. Activities like this give them a tool to tap into a different part of their brain to access their voices through art and music and to speak to you. Art therapy also helps give life back to our elders and imparts empathy, understanding and gratitude onto caregivers. Volunteers are needed to help with monthly classes. During our Mar. 9 class we combine Native American Indian medicine wheel, agriculture and nature. I could use help planning and funding April, May and June classes. Each month, residents receive 60 participation points in the form of corn, beans and squash seed for showing up. In Native American Indian culture we call this seed-trio, the “Three Sisters.” Corn, beans and squash provided an unwavering dietary foundation to indigenous people for 10,000 years, ironically now these seed serve as a replacement for money for our elderly who have little extra money to spend and fewer opportunities to go shopping. My mother’s living center uses “lima beans” for activity points. But this is more than a fun art class. It is about honor.  In Native American culture, our elders are central to our family and old age is honored and celebrated. Different cultures have similar values. When I was stationed at military bases in the South Korea, Koreans have a fundamental value that dictates that one must respect one's parents and this respect, along with a sense of community, is the “root of humanity.” The Chinese hold this as the “highest virtue.” And in India, elders support the younger ones. The Lakota Indians have a sacred saying, “Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ,” about being related. These words are often used at the end of a sacred prayer or ceremony and are so protected very few people actually know its significance. I will not attempt to explain the full meaning of “Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ” for fear I may misuse or dilute its true meaning. But the point is, as humans we are all related. The Bible book of Leviticus 19:32 says, “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” In the military it is about, “esprit de corps” or “Band of Brothers.” We face dangerous circumstances together. We spill blood and struggle with life and death together. We are tied together by more than comradeship and a determination that comes from being together and seeing it through together. Seeing your loved ones grow old; being with them when they die; you growing old; someone being there for you when you pass over, these are shared struggles. Growing old and death is a natural rhythm of life.  | At some point in the United States it has become socially acceptable to place our parents in retirement facilities. My mother moved to one by choice. Being in a retirement home is not a dishonor. We honor our elders by visiting assisted living facilities and volunteering. If we avoid them, we are missing an important part of their life and our own life. Let us not fear aging nor avoid those who do. If we fear aging, it keeps us from living full lives. Maybe we should call it esprit de life – a rite of passage. May we all share in it.  HELPERS NEEDED. Volunteers and donors are needed to help our elders declare their artistic independence. Artists and musicians are needed to help use art and music therapy to enhance the quality of life for our elderly patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other diseases. Seeking artists and non-artists, musicians, boy scouts, girl scouts, young adults to help assist with:
Together we can reduce suffering helping our elders enjoy this amazing chapter of their lives with dignity and delight. The next art therapy class for this session is scheduled for all Golden LivingCenter – Rose Hill Virginia residents on March 9. Volunteers interested in helping René or donating to the July Trading Post please contact her at 540-554-8730 or [email protected] or visit www.SanctuaryontheTrail.org. Indian Country online news shared these ways to respect your elders: According to Psychology Today, there is more evidence on art therapy than you think. |
“My Love Letters to the World,” New Art Therapy Embraces Elders and Native American Culture2/11/2016
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