Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Vision Keepers Walking for Native Americans and the Earth by Doug Alderson Vision Keepers: Walking for Native Americans and the Earth by Doug Alderson. The Vision Keepers. Doug relays a message of compassion and hope and builds a bridge of friendship and understanding between native and non-native people. "The sun dancers practiced long into the night. I slept on a small rise overlooking the encampment, the rhythm and music of the drums and singing reverberating in my head. It seemed to rekindle something deep inside. Somehow, I knew the Cheyenne and the sun dance. It is the kind of knowing that is difficult to wrap words around, like a vague memory or smell from early childhood. At the same time, I felt like a white duckling in a flock of brown geese. I looked different, acted different, and perhaps thought and dreamed differently. Why had I come?" We are all seekers. Some find their path on pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple in India or the Haji Ali mausoleum as they embark on a journey to Mecca; others find God at the burial site of St. James in the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Author and environmentalist Doug Alderson meets the Great Spirit through the ancient spiritual practice of walking. The Vision Keepers is the compelling true story of a seeker who, under the guidance of Bear Heart, a Muskogee Creek Indian and Medicine Man, finds unity with our nation’s native people and reconnects with the earth through profound and mysterious means. At a time when our global community is in great conflict, we can learn much from Native Americans. The Vision Keepers not only recounts the story of one man’s experience with native people and their spirituality, but it offers unique insight into the struggles of an entire culture, personal reconciliation, world peace, and preservation of the Earth and its ancient wisdom. Follow Doug’s journey from coast to coast across the United States as he leads a group walk to support Native American rights and environmental protection, and then across the American Southeast to follow the Trail of Tears in reverse. Meet the legendary "little people" of Muskogee. Attend a Lakota ceremony that had not been observed for decades. Feel the magic of the Cheyenne Sun Dance. Finally, heed the warnings of wise elders—from the Cheyenne, Navajo, and Hopi, to the Cherokee, Sioux and Creek tribes—as they tell of the "earth changes" we now know to be of man’s own design. What others are saying: "Every step of Vision Keepers is a prayer. We will all benefit from this book as Doug Alderson shows us the sacred path of the elders." Marcellus Bear Heart Williams Muskogee Nation-Creek Tribe; author of The Wind Is My Mother "Doug Alderson serves as an excellent role model for the younger generation of Native and non-Native people across the continent. His initiation into Native American religion, spirituality, and environmental affairs combined with the numerous experiences he encountered while completing the arduous Long Walks makes a profound statement: Visions can become a reality." Medicine Grizzlybear Lake Author of Native Healer: Initiation into an Ancient Art "Those of us who walked with Alderson in the eighties were forever changed. Read the tales of this passionate visionary to fill your heart and open your soul to your deepest calling. Thank you Doug for sharing your gentle strength and wise council with the world!" Hall Brill Walker in 1984-85, author of Investing with Your Values: Making Money and Making a Difference. The Vision Keepers. Many people from all walks of life participated in the Walk for the Earth, which is the focus of my new book, The Vision Keepers: Walking for Native Americans and the Earth. I remain in contact with many of these people. They are close friends. During my book tour through the Pacific Northwest and along the East Coast of the US, I plan to interview my walk friends, asking how the walks affected them and what they are doing today. I think you’ll find them to be as warm and inspirational as I do. Wednesday, May 2, 2007. WaHeLut Indian School. I spoke to John's class at the WaHeLut Indian school on Monday. The school was named for a Nisqually warrior and medicine man who resisted white settlement and whose power is said to have flowed from thunder and lightning. John's nine fifth graders were friendly, lively and interested in the walks. Afterwards, the class took outside to their school sweat lodge along the Nisqually River. One girl said she had participated in a sweat ceremony the day before. Another student said he received his Indian name in a sweat ceremony. All of them had participated in a sweat ceremony at one time or another and they knew the main purposes of the ceremony--the purification of mind, body and spirit. The school itself was immaculate, with totem poles adorning the front entrance and life-sized carvings of what was described as welcoming figures in the main entranceway. A large mural and dugout canoe depicted traditional life along the river. I met the principal and assistant principal and felt very welcome. That evening, I joined John and his wife Susan in watching eight-year-old Keats Montrose play in a baseball game in the cold drizzle. I was convinced that the game would have been cancelled in normally drier climates. Just after Keats made a clutch hit with bases loaded, the game was stopped when the rain intensified and players were visibly shivering, along with spectators such as the one from Florida. Now, I am staying with friends in Port Townsend, Washington. We had a neighborhood gathering last night, discussing the walks and other subjects. Overall, Port Townsend is an environmentally friendly community with a large group of people working to reduce their energy useage and "carbon footprint" in an effort to check the advance of global warming. Today, we hope to do some kayaking in Puget Sound. Vision Keepers: Walking for Native Americans and the Earth by Doug Alderson. Doug Alderson's Writing & Photography. Recent Happenings. Florida's Rivers: A Celebration of Over 40 of the Sunshine State's Dynamic Waterways, an all-color hardback by Doug and the culmination of 20 years of exploring the state's rivers, will be released by Pineapple Press September 1st, 2021. The month before, Pineapple Press will release the second edition of Doug's Traveling Florida's Seminole Trail: A Complete Guide to Seminole Indian Historic and Cultural Sites. The revised edition of Doug's novel Seminole Freedom, a gripping story of black Seminoles, has also been recently released. Pineapple Press has released the second edition of A New Guide to Old Florida Attractions: From Mermaids to Singing Towers ! The first edition won a first-place royal palm literary award for published travel book by the Florida Writers Association and received accolades from the group for being one of the top five published books of 2017. It received positive press coverage in the St. Augustine Record, the Lakeland Ledge r, Tallahassee Democrat, Naples Florida Weekly and several other newspapers and online websites. Many people use the full-color guide to plan vacations! See Doug's November, 2020 Boynton Beach Library presentation about Old Florida attractions! Read an excerpt from the book on the Florida Rambler website. In 2020, Lyons Press published Doug's America's Alligator: A Popular History of Our Most Celebrated Reptile . Tom Palmer of The Ledger in Winter Haven called it "a great read no matter what you think you already know. This is a book worth including in any Florida library." Philip K. Jason, writing in the Southern Literary Review , said, "The appeal of this book does not rest only on its effective storytelling and educative power. The illustrations, photographic and otherwise, are dazzling and contribute much to the overall impact of the book." Watch an entertaining interview with Doug about the book on Author Jam with Dr. Shelley Plumb. Read an excerpt from chapter 7 on the Florida Rambler website. Watch Doug's presentation about the book to the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park. Doug enjoyed speaking at the 2019 International Trails Symposium in Syracuse, New York and at the 2020 Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Academy in Fort Walton Beach. In January, 2019, Doug provided information and a lead quote for a Florida travel article in the Boston Globe . Doug helps to coordinate the highly successful Apalachicola RiverTrek, highlighting the plight of the Apalachicola River and Bay and raising funds for Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Doug and co-leader Georgia Ackerman were featured on the Canoe & Kayak Magazine website. Support RiverTrek! Read the Tallahassee Democrat feature article Doug wrote about the 2020 RiverTrek. Since publishing his first free-lance magazine article at age eighteen, Doug Alderson's articles and photographs have been featured in Wildlife Conservation, American Forests, Sea Kayaker, Sierra, Mother Earth News, Native Peoples, Shaman's Drum, Campus Life, America, The Old Farmer's Almanac, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Florida Naturalist, Florida Sportsman, Paddler's Guide, Florida Wildlife, AT Journeys, Rails to Trails, New Age Travel and several others. He has 14 published books (see below) and has won several state and national writing awards for his books, short stories, and magazine features. He is also an adventurer, having hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, coordinated a group walk across the United States, backpacked through Europe, and mapped a 1,500-mile sea kayaking trail around Florida. Doug has been a featured speaker at symposiums, writer's conferences and book fairs, including the Miami Book Fair International. He has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times , National Geographic website, Boston Globe , and Adventure Kayak magazine for his writing and trail work. Paddle Florida presented Doug their inaugural Environmental Service Award in 2015 "for conspicuous commitment, unflagging dedication and love of Florida's natural environment." Florida's Rivers: A Celebration of Over 40 of the Sunshine State's Dynamic Waterways is an all-color hardback that features the best of Florida's rivers, from mighty rivers such as the Apalachicola and Suwannee to crystalline spring-fed streams to mysterious swamp-fed blackwater streams. A must for outdoor enthusiasts and a great gift book! America's Alligator: A Popular History of Our Most Celebrated Reptile examines the colorful and sometimes conflicted relationship our species has had with the American alligator, from Native American mythology to alligator wrestling to modern alligator attractions. Alligator-related songs, movies, literature and even tales of alligators in the White House are all included. The book is in full color! A New Guide to Old Florida Attractions (2nd edition) takes readers on an unforgettable journey across the Sunshine State, exploring the history of Florida tourism and featuring nearly 50 attractions still open to the public. Discover what Florida's golden age of tourism was, and still is, all about― magical, beautiful and fun! This 200-page book is in full color. Spooky Stories from the Swamp: Tales from the Florida Back Country is a re-issue of Doug's Ghost Orchid Ghost book with five new stories. These are family friendly spine-tingling tales that convey both Florida history and an appreciation for our great swamps. Wild Florida Adventures covers journeys on both land and water with useful how-to information at the end of each chapter. From kayaking the length of the Florida Keys to searching for record-sized trees in a huge swamp to meeting the famous naked man of the Santa Fe River, this complementary sequel to Wild Florida Waters takes readers into Florida's unique places. The book won a 2014 first place royal palm literary award in the travel book category from the Florida Writers Association. Conor Mihel of Canoe & Kayak Magazine calls it "a compelling glimpse of Florida." Simon's Wondrous Garden and Other Stories chronicles the life of an Atlanta attorney who begins having paranormal experiences after a car accident. Reaching back to his farm roots, he is inspired to turn his manicured suburban yard into an odorous vegetable garden, provoking the wrath of his wife and neighbors. What follows is both humorous and profound. Traveling Florida's Seminole Trail is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to Florida's historic and cultural sites that directly relate to Seminole Indians. The span of Seminole history covered in the book ranges from William Bartram's visits to Seminole villages in the early 1770s to the tragic Seminole wars to contemporary Seminole attractions. Wild Florida Waters: Exploring the Sunshine State by Kayak and Canoe places Florida's unsurpassed beauty and abundant wildlife in the forefront, from the mangrove labyrinth of the Ten Thousand Islands to the springfed Ichetucknee River. It includes an exciting dose of paddling adventures along with useful how-to information. Available on Amazon and at select retailers! It received second place awards from the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and Florida Writers Association. Doug read from his book on the WFSU television show Dimensions. Donna Meredith reviewed the book in the Southern Literary Review . Seminole Freedom is a full-length novel based on true historical events. Following the life of Jenny as she grows into womanhood and endures the long and bitter Seminole wars, this tale of hardship, bravery and freedom explores the little known role of Black Seminoles in the shaping of American history. Also available on Kindle. Encounters with Florida's Endangered Wildlife (University Press of Florida, 2010) features chapters tracking panthers, black bears, whooping cranes, manatees, sea turtles, even ivory-billed woodpeckers. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about wild Florida. Now available on Kindle! Through Time and National Parks : Doug sets out to retrace his grandparents' 1939 western journey with a burning question: are the panoramic landscapes, especially those found in our national parks, as relevant and captivating today as they were more than 75 years ago? Also available on Kindle. The Ghostly Ghost Tour of St. Augustine and Other Tales from Florida's Coast : Where else but Florida can you find a greater treasure-trove of tales filled with pirates, shipwrecked sailors, ghostly sea captains and lost tribes of Native Americans? Also available on Kindle and audio. New Dawn for the Kissimmee River: Orlando to Lake Okeechobee by Kayak uses a 12-day expedition to highlight the ongoing restoration of the Kissimmee River. It was first place awards from both the Florida Writers Association and Florida Outdoor Writers Association. The Vision Keepers: Walking For Native Americans and the Earth , which covers Doug's walks and experiences with Native American people, was released in April of 2007 by Quest Books of Wheaton, Illinois. It has recently been translated into Russian. Doug's first book, Waters Less Traveled: Exploring Florida's Big Bend Coast chronicles a 9-day sea kayaking adventure along a Gulf Coast wilderness. Salty characters, colorful history and amusing tales are all included. The book was the runner up for Best Travel Book of 2006 by the North American Travel Journalists Association. Doug is a proud member in these organizations: Florida Writers Association, Florida Authors and Publishers Association, Tallahassee Writers Association, Florida Paddling Trails Association, Sierra Club, Florida Trail Association and Apalachicola Riverkeeper. 2020 Public Appearances. Wildlife Viewing & Nature Tourism Academy, Ft. Walton Beach, Feb. 20 Northwest Florida Ecotourism Summit, Panama City, Feb. 25 Tallahassee City Hall poetry reading, March 4 Midtown Reader virtual event, Tallahassee, April 23, 6 p.m. Florida Trail Association virtual event, May 12, 7 p.m. MacIntosh Books (Sanibel) virtual event, May 28, 6 p.m. Story & Song Bookstore (Amelia Island) virtual event, June 4, 2 p.m. Perry Florida Library alligator book program, June 29, 5:30 p.m. Apalachee Canoe and Kayak Club online alligator program, August 19 Lifelong Learning alligator book online class, Tallahassee Senior Center, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Sept. 10, Sumter County Library online alligator book program, 1 p.m., Sept. 18 Boynton Beach Library online alligator book program, 11 a.m., Sept. 23 Facebook Live event about alligator book with Dr. Shelley Plumb, 7 p.m., Oct. 7 East Lake Library, Palm Harbor online spooky storytelling, 6 p.m., Oct. 20 Charlotte Co. Library, online spooky storytelling, 3 p.m., Oct. 29 Boynton Beach Library Old FL Attractions online program, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. Charlotte Co. Library, alligator book online program, 3 p.m., Nov. 19 Sumter County Library, Old FL Attractions online program, 2 p.m., Dec. 4 Friends of Wakulla Springs online alligator book program, 7 p.m., Dec. 10 FL Scenic Highways Program online talk, noon, Dec. 16. 2021 Public Appearances. 1st Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches, online talk, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 10 Tallahassee Writer's Association online program, 6:30 p.m., April 8 Apalachee Canoe and Kayak Club online program, 7 p.m., June 16 Florida Trail Association online program, Apalachee Chapter, 7 p.m., July 13 Roddenberry Library, Cairo, GA, "America's Alligator," 7 p.m., July 16 Big Bend Sierra Club, Tallahassee, "Florida's Rivers," 6:30 p.m., September 9 Boynton Beach Library, "Florida's Rivers," 11 a.m. online program, September 23 Perry Florida Library, "Florida's Rivers," 5:30 p.m., September 27 Florida Trail Association, Apalachee Chapter, "Florida's Rivers," 7 p.m., October 12 Apalachee Audubon, Tallahassee, "Florida's Rivers," 7 p.m., October 21. Doug enjoys doing book signings, PowerPoint programs and guiding groups in the outdoors. For events outside of the Tallahassee area, an honorarium is requested to cover travel expenses. Contact Doug for a complete list of programs he offers, [email protected]. Doug is an accomplished photographer specializing in nature photos. He is interested in sharing the timeless beauty of land and water with his audience. A few of his photos are shown below. You can view more of Florida's landscapes, plants and animals here . His photos are also featured in a gallery on the 1000 Friends of Florida website. Doug won contest categories in the 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 National Recreation Trails photo contests. Douglas Alderson. Doug Alderson published his first magazine article at age 18 and he has been writing and taking professional photographs ever since. His articles and photographs have been featured in Wildlife Conservation, American Forests, Sierra, Mother Earth News, Campus Life, America, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Florida Naturalist, Florida Sportsman, Tallahassee Magazine, Florida Wildlife , and several others. In 1978, he won first place in a national travel-writing contest for college students. In 2003, Doug received a first-place national writing award from the Association of Conservation Information for a three-part article on the Everglades system. He is the former associate editor of Florida Wildlife magazine and editor of A Florida Wildlife Anthology: 1947-2003. His chapter on the St. Marks River is part of the Between Two Rivers anthology, published by the Red Hills Writers Project in 2004. Doug has also worked as a lobbyist for several environmental groups and as a naturalist for the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science. In between jobs, he has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, coordinated a walk across the United States from coast to coast, and backpacked across Europe. Doug is currently the field director for the Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail, a planned sea-kayaking trail around the entire state being coordinated by Florida's Office of Greenways and Trails. He is a member of the Heart of the Earth environmental council and he serves as a ceremonial leader at the White Earth Muskogee Creek Tribal Town. Suggested Reading on Native American Spirituality. One of my subscribers asked for a suggested reading list to help gain more insight into Native American spirituality and I am happy to oblige. I have one caveat, however: Indigenous spirituality cannot truly be understood intellectually. It is based in the heart and the body and communicating with the natural world. I strongly recommend following the practices I share in my posts, particularly those that involve communication with nature. The reading will be a nice supplement to that. This is a list of some of my favorites: Blogs. www.WhiteBison.org – log onto the Meditations tab to subscribe to their daily Elder Meditations. Excellent. Non-Fiction. “Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota” by Wallace Black Elk and William S. Lyon. “The Vision Keepers: Walking for Native Americans and the Earth” by Doug Alderson. Good insight into Native American ceremonies and the modern day struggles of Native Americans with alcoholism, poverty and attempting to preserve their traditional values. Fiction. These books are entertaining while sharing authentic glimpses into Native American life. “Winona’s Web: A Novel of Discovery” by Priscilla Cogan [this was a favorite of Bear Heart’s due to it’s accurate depiction of Native American philosophy and ceremony]