Below you will find a brief listing of the workshops and lectures offered at this time. The purpose of this page is to make it easier for you to understand the scope of our work in order to check out those workshops and lectures you might have an interest in. Each listing has a link that will take you to the main page for that workshop or lecture. These "main pages" are linked to secondary or registration pages. Check the Schedule page for times and locations, tuitions and deposits. Wado!
Medicine Wheel Workshop
This is a long two day, highly experiential workshop that teaches the principles and concepts of what the Medicine Wheel is really about; a personal Life mirror and guide of exceptional accuracy. It includes a detailed 40 page manual, and each participant works a Personal Healing Wheel in the class. Class size is kept small to maximize your experience and learning. No previous knowledge of anything Native American is necessary to learn the Wheel.
Medicine Shields Workshop
Life brings many challenges. Some we meet head on. Some we run from. But when we run, it is almost always reactive fear that is driving us. It is possible, though, to understand fear and to separate it from the event that triggers it, whether present or in some imaginary future. It takes great courage and honesty to admit we carry some degree of fear deep within ourselves. By establishing a working relationship with the Animal Medicine Helper that is best suited to help you deal with fear, and memorializing it through creating your Medicine Shield, it is possible to not only control one’s fear, but to develop courage, compassion, and wisdom from it. 68 page manual.
Native American Lifeways and Spirituality
This is an introductory lecture that touches on Prayer as Commitment, Inipi (sweatlodge), Language, Medicine Shields, and the Medicine Wheel. This is presented in two or three hour formats, so check the times on the schedule page. If you are not familiar with me or the Lifeways, this is perhaps the best presentation to start with as it is will give you a good introduction not only to the topics, but to me. I encourage questions from the audience.
Drum Making Workshop
Participants build a 15 inch round, Native American-style hand drum. The drum frame is a 12-ply, steam-formed maple laminate, and the drum head is typically split buffalo hide or elk. This workshop is capped at 8 people. Handmade octagonal frames are also available for a nominal charge. It takes approximately five to seven days for a drum to thoroughly dry, in which time it cannot be played. I like to schedule a drumming about one week after a drum workshop for those interested in "waking" their drum up (this is about ceremony, which is taught in the workshop). The drumming is open to all interested people.
Rattle Making Funshop
You will build at least on hafted rattle (rattle with a "handle") and one palm rattle if you have time after building your hafted rattle. Allow 4-5 hours for this workshop. Rattles are made with wet rawhide, but must be dried during the workshop in order to load the chamber. Class size is capped at ten.
Dreamcatcher Funshop
You will learn the fun art of creating a dreamcatcher on a five inch metal hoop wrapped in buckskin. Once you have mastered the weave, you'll build a second dreamcatcher on a natural vine hoop. I usually have drilled tumbled stones and feathers to decorate the second dreamcatcher with. I encourage you to bring what you have for decoration as well.
Lectures
Native American Lecture Series
The Native American Lecture Series consists of nine lectures, from 20 to 45 minutes depending on the venue (study group, church, drum circle etc.) and are designed to raise awareness and stimulate further inquiry. Where the Lifeways lecture is a general overview of those practices most people have some awareness of or curiosity about, these nine talks are more focused on their respective subjects.
Lifepattern/Spirituality Workshops
Concluding a workshop is not an ending; it is the beginning of a relationship.
Material Culture Workshop and Funshops
Non-Indians and Ceremony
This two hour discussion addresses the propriety of non-Indians participating in Native American ceremony. The position of the presenter is one of inclusion, and his argument is developed solely from the teachings of various well-known elders. Some of the better known ceremonies are discussed, what happens during ceremony, as well as the benefits of doing ceremony. The presenter does not presume people are necessarily interested in taking up the Red Road Lifeways, but does make a strong case that participating in certain ceremonies will improve the quality of one's Life.
Drumming: Circles, Healing, Journey
Drumming Circle and Healing
Often times we are approached to do ceremony along with other presentations, which most often results in calling for a drum circle. Participants are encouraged to bring their Native American-style HAND drums (only) and rattles, and we will typically have a number of drums and rattles available for those who do not have one, but would like to participate more fully. We start by smudging, singing a protection song, and doing the Hollow Bone exercise. We call the Four Winds, which puts us in ceremony, thereby allowing us to sing the sacred songs. Drum healing is offered to those people interested. There is NEVER a charge for ceremony, but we do honor the right of participants to make donations. Most circles are pretty well done after a couple of hours, depending on how many people come for healing.
Drum Journey
The Drum Journey is NOT ceremony, yet we will still smudge, sing the protection song, and do the Hollow Bone exercise to start. A single floor drum is used in combination with words to help participants journey deeper into the Spirit World and safely return. Sometimes I will do a drum healing afterward for those who want one, but this is spontaneous if/when it ever happens and I do not consider it a part of the journey exercise.
Workshops and Lectures offered by Rick McBride
Newsletter
Navigation Links
