Give-away
By Perry Robinson
"Give-away" is an ancient practice of tribal people, which celebrates the connection and absolute interdependence of tribal life. It is a way of affirming that my people come first. In western culture we are accustomed to receive gifts at special times: birthdays, weddings, funerals, Christmas, etc.; whereas in tribal culture these are occasions in which the individual, especially aware of how the tribe is the source of the quality, abundance, place, and safety of existence, does a give-away to the people.
The Center for Peace and its people do not make up a tribe in the truest sense. Yet, when we gather around activities and ceremonies, the quality, abundance, place, and safety of those events are dependent upon all those who participate. When those activities are not going on, the Center still exists as a "person" devoted to providing a place and leadership for these activities.
For many years, because everything involves expenses, the Dance Chief and Center Council would set a fixed "cost", which participants would be expected to "pay" in order to participate in a dance, for instance. It seemed necessary to do that, in order to be able to continue the Center’s work, although sometimes it did not feel right; because it encouraged people to ask"Can I afford it?" instead of "Is Spirit calling me to do this?".
In February, 2007, Joseph Rael, who brought the dances to the Center – and who set the costs for the dances he brought --, said we needed to make the Sun-Moon Dance that year a give-away and to teach the people about give-away. That is what we have done ever since for almost all Center activities.
Almost immediately people used the term "free" instead of “give-away”. [Even in commerce we know we had better "look out", when something is advertized as "free". It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that, if all events at the Center were really "free", nothing would happen, the Center would cease to exist, and the state of Tennessee would disburse the property to some other charitable organization.]
Even substituting the term "donation" or "suggested donation" doesn’t suit, although every charitable organization accepts "donations"; and the state of Tennessee recognizes give-away to the Center for Peace as such.
In the tribe people were always experiencing different life conditions. Some had more, some less, some were sick or injured, some were alone, others had many family members, etc. Those could do more and give more were happy to do so, partly because it would injure their pride to see their people in need or diminished by their need to ask.
Give-away is with nothing expected; AND the safety and well-being of the tribe depends upon every person participating. When all things are in balance there is enough for all. Native people were very practical; and, when provisions were thin, that was when the balance was most important.
In our life together here at the Center for Peace balance means those who participate here receive spiritual benefit, safety, and the best efforts of the people. It also means practical needs are met, expenses paid, and the continuity of the Center’s ongoing life – power bills, repairs, taxes and gas – is maintained.
Give-away encourages us all to belay the process of "seeing what we are going to get" out of each other. The Center organization gets to focus less of "what it’s going to get" from the people who come; and the people who come are less encouraged to focus on "what they are going to get" from the Center. Ideally, give-away allows an atmosphere within which the Center becomes the people who show up; and the people who show up become the Center for Peace. When we do enough of that, we may remember how it feels to know that there is only one person here.
Give-away means I am grateful for my people and what we are doing together; and I give what I can to see that it keeps happening. Give-away means that I allow the same Spirit, which guided me here, to guide me as I choose my gift. If I have no money to give, I am here and I give something to express by gratitude to the people. When I have in abundance, I am here and I give abundantly to express my gratitude to the people. The person who has no money to give need not feel diminished. The person who gives in abundance need not feel magnified. The people just see to taking care of the people.
We remember what that is like. That is how we live with our people. That is the way the people live.
That all the people may live!