"I extend a warm welcome to all who want to get in on some serenity and peace of mind...love and light."
--Sihang Rhea Mora aka Tate' Tanka
FAMILY IN LAKOTALAND
A week ago Monday night, as I was packing for the weeklong capoeira event on Pine Ridge, I received an email on my Blackberry (you know I LOVE my Blackberry) from a long time member of our kung fu / capoeira family in northern California. She tracked me down after she saw our capoeira flyer at the SuAnne Boys & Girls Club. This is SiHang Rhea Mora, a blackbelt of Sifu Bill Owens, my grandfather in kung fu.
SiHang Rhea relocated to the Pine Ridge Reservation in 2000 and has been living on her family's land at their ranch raising horses and German shepards. She teaches martial arts in South Dakota and she brought a gaggle of youngsters to our first capoeira classes at the SuAnne Boys & Girls Club. That a member of our family was already up in South Dakota doing the kind of work I had intended to was the sweetest of divine nods to our intentions of contributing and impacting the lives of the Lakota kids...I also had to laugh that of course, Sifu Bill had an invisible hand in this project; he has always been a very magical presence in my life, always ahead of his time and a true sage.
We got out to her ranch about 4 times during our trip and soaked up her wonderful energy, the loving pack of dogs' antics, and even did some horse riding in the goregeous rolling hills of Slim Buttes. As I write this I am catching the scent of the fresh sage we picked on her land that is drying in my apartment and now that I am back in LA with its helicopters, car horns, and smog, that gentle scent transports me.
SiHang Rhea is a wonderful spirit. She has the practical common sense, no fuss adaptibility and ingenious creativity that is the hallmark of a Sifu Bill Owens' blackbelt/instructor. And a wild sense of humor! Being around her is like being back on the training floor of Cascos Martial Arts Academy in East Oakland, California with Sifu Bill. It warms my heart so. She also has an incredible gift for holistic healing and communication. As a Lakota she was the perfect ambassador to us on this trip. Spending time with her was a blessing and there was clearly a divine hand in this trip happening. In our efforts to share capoeira with the Lakota children it is clearly apparent that these kids need consistent help and SiHang Rhea became a necessary anchor on Lakotaland to keep us active and prevalent. It is my intention to return often to give the kids the best I can offer of myself and now that will be so much more available and easy.
A MAGICAL MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY
SiHang is working on opening an academy of martial arts on her ranch and she has had a building donated to her to act as the facility. It will include a training floor and other rooms for massage therapy, healing and business. She needs financial backing to carry out her vision and to bring her expertise as a martial arts instructor and community leader to fruition. I will soon be receiving her business plan and Sifu Paula and I have already begun to help her bring this much needed school into existence. If you are interested in being a part of this visionary development for the Lakota people let me know.
BED & BREAKFAST...LAKOTA STYLE
What I also want to share with you is that SiHang also has a vision of using some of her ranch as a bed & breakfast for people wanting to visit South Dakota and enjoy the rural magic of the Slim Buttes area. She envisions atleast three authentic tipi dwellings, outdoor showers, horseback riding, scenic hikes with loyal German shepard companions, picking fresh sage and sleeping under some of the most breath taking stellar night skys you have ever seen. This bed & breakfast will also be the site of a spiritual / martial arts retreat during the Summer season. The Mora ranch will be open for bed & breakfast and retreats during the Spring through Fall seasons. Learn and experience the deep humanitarian, healing, and spiritual insights of the Lakota as you relax in South Dakota...IT'S THE BOMB!!!
Many of you are asking me about how the capoeira junket went and are offering and excited to be a part of the next trip. It will amaze you, I promise and our connection now with the Lakota people is strongly hooked in. I know the next time I go up I may just be kickin it in a tipi, playing berimbau while I watch a hawk circle above and romping with an awesome German shepard...you should too!!
Axe' Axe' Axe'
P.S. Pictures of Sihang, the ranch, horses and pups coming soon...
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