Daniel's Story

The Sundance ceremony was a new and exciting experience for me that filled me with love and enlightened my spirit with so much understanding for Indigenous people and their traditional ways and values.

From the first day I arrived I was so honored to have been chosen among a small group to attend and help prepare the land for this very special ceremony.

Each morning, we would wake up while the sun was just peaking over the horizon and could see the beautiful mountain tops glowing through the multi-colors of the morning sky.

I would start the day helping the fire keeper and finding chores to do in preparation for the new day. In the mornings, I would head over to the kitchen to help prepare breakfast for all in attendance. There was so much to do, and I kept busy with whatever I could do to help. I was so happy to be allowed to be part of this and so welcomed by my new friends that it filled my heart with love and left me with a smile on face for the entirety of my stay.

As the day moved on, many wonderful teachings of the traditional ways were shared with me. This, I will carry with me for the rest of my life. More than the tools I’ve learnt for a life of sobriety, a new way of life has now been shared with me. I’ve have made new friends I never knew existed and left with a new feeling of family.

I’m thankful to those who were so accepting of me, and I am forever grateful for the time, freely given, to show me another way. Thank you, Simon House, for the amazing opportunities you provide us towards our healing journey.