WHAT'S NEW!

Summer 2009

1. SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE

2. YULUNGA ARTS HAS GONE UNDER

3. FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS

4. ADELPHI/UN TEACHER'S CONFERENCE

5. SUNDANCE SEASON

6. JT'S FAVE-FIVE

7. SCHEDULE

1. SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE —

The next line of that classic Steven Stills song is “What it is ain’t exactly clear.”

That is a fitting description for most everywhere you look these days. The economy has been jolted and people have lost their savings, their homes, jobs, and our Mother Earth has come to the forefront with the planetary changes related to carbon emissions. Our sense of Stability has become entirely based on how well we are dealing with these changes on the inside, because the only word for the world “outside” of us is unstable.

So I wonder how everyone is doing on this mailing list. And I want to extend to you my sincerest prayers that you’re taking care of yourselves emotionally and spiritually and physically as well as you can. It is an uncertain time in our collective lives, but you have friends and loved ones to call and ask for help, if you need it. Allow yourself to be led to what will help you feel stable on the inside.

Remember to go outside everyday and walk on the Earth and look around at the beauty – the birds, the trees, the flowers blooming. Put your mind at ease by remembering the cycles of Nature, which are endless and renewing constantly. We are part of that Nature – and are also renewing.

Don’t lose faith in that which is timeless-your heart, soul and nature.

We are all related—Mitakuye Oyasin

Jacqline Wolf Tice

2. YULUNGA ARTS HAS GONE UNDER —

Down Under, that is!!! When Mike Wolke moved his multi-cultural booking agency to Australia last year, he sadly also decided to move into another career and is closing down Yulunga Arts. We will miss him and wish him the absolute best!! Therefore, until further notice, Jackie’s booking is now being handled “in-house” - click here.

3. FOR THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS —

This independent documentary about the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers will be released very soon. The music supervision is being handed by Peter Buffet (Dances with Wolves, 500 Nations) and Jackie?s Native American flute and guitar pieces are included in the film. Along with Jackie's music, we are also excited that Ashley Judd will be narrating the film, and Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Capadoccia are prominent in the soundtrack. To check for DVD availability in the next few weeks, click here.

4. ADELPHI/UN TEACHER'S CONFERENCE —

Jackie recently taught a workshop on using the Medicine Wheel Teachings for Conflict Resolution at the UN Teacher’s Conference for Peace and Human Rights at Adelphi University on Long Island. This successful forum included a global representation of educators, administrators and students, whose goal it is to bring awareness of Peace and Human Rights into educational institutions around the world. Kudos to Rita Verma (google her!) for organizing this important annual event and to Gertrude Shaffer for the referral to Adelphi!

5. SUNDANCE SEASON —

Jackie will be spending most of the summer preparing and participating in Sundance and other ceremonies. Big things are on the horizon, and new songs are being written, but for now, her summer focus will be inward as the next season of life begins.

6. WELCOME to JT's Fave-Five!—
(New links in every newsletter!)

7. SCHEDULE—

22 September 2006

Yesterday was the International Day of Peace. Yesterday the Touring Choir of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for Performing Arts and I sang Trail of Tears to nearly 1,000 people at the United Nations in NYC. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Michael Douglas, Yo Yo Ma, Jane Goodall, and Sheika Heya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the 61st General Assembly of the UN, were among those who listened and remembered on this day of Global Ceasefire, declared as such by the UN in 2001, but originally launched in 1982.

People in Kosovo, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo were listening and watching via a live videocast. The streaming webcast on the Internet was watched and heard all over the world – our sacred Mother Earth.

The Touring Choir was riveting and professional under the direction of conductor, Dr. David McConnell. The choral version of this song, arranged by my friend, composer and music-for-Peace advocate, Ellen Walter, is a solemn chant naming 30 war-torn countries around our world where religious, ethnic and political oppression and violence has been perpetrated against innocent people. The emotional middle-section roll call of countries, dramatically recited, soars from a merciful plea to the ultimate demanding question, “Who remembers, who remembers?”

Panel speaker and Messenger for Peace, Yo Yo Ma, spoke of his foundation, which is using music as a vehicle of Peace. He acknowledged our performance, commenting on the “Beautiful singing…” and encouraging the dedication of all musicians to find their individual voice and to pursue the honesty, openness and generosity inherent in that search, to forge a pathway to Peace.

Questions, comments and short videos from our friends in Kosovo, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo made us aware of the awesome blessing we have in our lives to not live in a country war-torn on its own soil. We also were moved by the testimony of the many youth represented in the short films. Their suffering has been extreme and their resilience, equally strong.

During the Peace Flag Ceremony, we all sang the “Peace Chant” I wrote on a plane while traveling to, and returning from, the Indian Summer Music Awards in Milwaukee on 9/11/06. With flags waving from countries across the globe, the realization of my continuing purpose of Art for the Sake of Peace was being met. I am humbled, grateful and honored to have this opportunity and accept the responsibility with trust and open arms.

For all of our Brothers
May Peace Prevail on Earth
For all of our Sisters
May Peace Prevail on Earth
For all of our Elders
May Peace Prevail on Earth
For all of our Children
May Peace Prevail on Earth

~jackie tice, 2006