A Message From the Elders - Wisdom Weavers of the World
It all began with a vision.
In 2017, as the Earth's temperature continued to rise, Ilarion Merculieff, “Kuuyux,” Alaskan Unangan traditional and environmental leader, received a message from spirit to gather 13 Elders from all four directions around the world to council on two questions: "How do you see the current state of the Earth...and what do we need to do?"
Through four sacred days and nights on the fertile island of Kauai, diverse ancient teachings collided. Daily councils, ceremonies, and discussions revealed the presence of outstanding overlapping themes amongst every cultural heritage… and yet, profoundly, each Elder held a different piece of the puzzle.
And like the emergence of light after a long, dark night of the soul, a unified message for humanity was born….Drop into your heart.
This is the message of the Wisdom Weavers of the World. Journey with us to uncover the meaning for yourself and add your voice to our ever-evolving collective story.
Ilarion “Larry” Kuuyux Merculieff is the visionary behind Wisdom Weavers, the project founder, and ongoing key speaker. Raised in a traditional Unangan (Aleut) way and received his Unangan name “Kuuyux” at age 4. The name is given to one person in each lifetime amongst his people. Kuuyux means an arm extending out from the body, a carrier of ancient knowledge into modern times, a messenger. Today he is living the legacy of his name.
George Pletnikoff, Unangan elder, has a degree in biology and a deep connection to spirit in both Indigenous and Christian ways. (George was an active orthodox priest for 12 years.
Shay Sloan Clarke - Executive Director, Global Center for Indigenous Leadership & Lifeways (GCILL) - has many years of experience in Indigenous Cultures, both from her training in Rites of Passage work and years of experience doing cultural conservation work. A community steward committed to nurturing communities and communities of practice, Shay is practitioner of rites of passage, circle practices, inquiry/emergence, and a fierce advocate for cultural reclamation and renewal for collective liberation. A life-long learner, Shay has especially learned from Indigenous Peoples, people of color and white people committed to healing and reimagining social fields. She is co-editor of the book Protecting Wild Nature on Native Lands and co-author of the report “Cross-Cultural Protocols in Rites of Passage: Guiding Principles, Themes and Inquiry.” Most recently, she served as co-director of The Ojai Foundation, stewarding the organization through fire recovery, evolving communal practices and reimagining its future. After hours, Shay can be found enjoying wild waters or playing with her son, Kian.
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Shay Sloan Clarke
Executive Director, Global Center for Indigenous Leadership & Lifeways (GCILL)Shay was invited to serve as the Interim Executive Director of Wisdom Weavers of the World. Shay is a community steward committed to nurturing communities and communities of practice.
https://www.wisdomweavers.world/
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