AMERICAN INDIAN TO LEAD SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS : THE FACTS.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer True happiness. For many juggling life's daily challenges, it's difficult to find. But shed your status, expectations and superficial needs, and you'll be surprised at what lay underneath, says Thunder Bear Tatu. ``A lot of people are trying to be happy doing what they were raised to do - make money, own things - but that's just a death cycle. It doesn't work,'' said Tatu, 59, a Mohawk. ``These people are missing the fun of life. You don't need things to be happy. Sure, it's nice to have toys. But you can't take those toys with you in the end.'' How to find the inner path to happiness is what Tatu said he will discuss tonight during his free public lecture in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , titled ``Walking in Balance.'' The presentation will be the first in this year's educational series sponsored by Redbird redbird: see cardinal. , a nonprofit group that strives to bridge the gap between native and nonnative American Indian American Indian or Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. cultures. Founded in 1992 by Corina Roberts of Simi Valley, the 500-member group has spread north to Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. and south to San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . The group also supports humanitarian efforts. Members collect and ship clothing to reservations and families in need. In April, Redbird will host the ``Children of Many Colors'' powwow powwow American Indian ceremony or gathering of various kinds. Powwows originally were healing ceremonies, but the word could also refer to exuberant celebrations, with dancing and singing, of success in hunting or victory in battle. at Moorpark College Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134 acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. to raise money for children's charities. Each year, Redbird also sponsors the Robert Porter Memorial Scholarship. The $1,040 award is split each year between two native or nonnative American Indian high school seniors. Ultimately, members try to help others understand how American Indians look at life, said Redbird vice president Michael Willis. ``A lot of people are starting to realize that just having the material world to depend on doesn't fulfill them,'' said Willis, a Simi Valley chiropractor chiropractor a practitioner in chiropractic. chiropractor A health professional trained in chiropractic; chiropractors do not perform surgery or prescribe drugs; of 50,000 licensed chiropractors in the US, many practice 'straight' chiropractic, ie who is part Cherokee. As host of tonight's lecture at the Simi Hills Chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. Center, Willis hopes Tatu's presentation will help others find inner happiness. ``People are beginning to search for their own spirituality - many who have begun that journey realize that the indigenous people of this continent have a link with the natural world that most of us don't see,'' Willis said. ``Just by hosting these events, we're offering an opportunity for people to be connected with their inner self.'' It was only a decade ago when Tatu discovered his true American Indian roots. Before then, the father, truck driver and motorcycle enthusiast said he was lost in his search for the meaning of life. Raised Catholic, he turned to the Koran, Confucius, Buddhism and Taoism. He was once an atheist. And later an ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. Christian minister. ``It would only work for a short period of time, then it didn't work anymore,'' said Tatu of his applied practices. ``But deep inside I always knew there was something - some deeper meaning to life.'' So he turned to native spiritual leaders and holy men who helped him find his way. ``Native American spirituality is 24 hours a day - not just every Sunday,'' Tatu said. ``The American Indian culture is about spiritual beliefs, not religious beliefs. It's about being honest and honorable. It's about not being ashamed to meet my ancestors if I die today.'' Tatu explained that ``Walking in Balance'' is about meshing everyday life with three essential elements - mental, physical and spiritual wellness. Walking this disciplined path isn't easy, but can be enlightening. ``It's a lot of hard work and it's very lonely at times,'' Tatu said. ``Now, I wish I learned all this when I was 18. Like me, almost everyone is trying to find happiness. That's what life's all about.'' WHAT: ``Walking in Balance,'' a presentation by Thunder Bear Tatu of the Mohawk American Indian tribe WHEN: Tonight, 7:30 WHERE: Simi Hills Chiropractic Center, 2755 Alamo Alamo Eighteenth-century mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a historic siege of a small group of Texans by a Mexican army (1836) during the Texas war for independence from Mexico. St., Suite 100 COST: Free, though a donation is suggested INFORMATION: (805) 527-4767 CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (Color only in Conejo edition) Michael Willis says his organization, Redbird, tries to help others understand how American Indians look at life. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News |
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