North Georgia has a rich history of Native American culture, which has had a lasting impact on the historical and ecological development of the area. FIND Outdoors is so excited to celebrate the area’s rich history with Joe Candillo, who will be leading a presentation titled “The Reality of Native American Ceremony & Spirituality.”
Joe Candillo is a tribally enrolled citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe of Arizona (Federally recognized tribe). He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies with a concentration on Indigenous Studies, an MA in American Indian Studies, and an undergraduate degree in Anthropology. Dr. Candillo’s research background focuses on Native American spirituality, aboriginal North American environmental adaptation, and material culture traditions.
Today there are certainly many misconceptions about how Native Americans understood our metaphysical world in addition to how and why we conducted ceremonies associated with celebrating and practicing Native American spirituality. In this presentation the audience will be given an authentic emic perspective of Native American spirituality focusing on distinct concepts that seem to run within the spiritual practices of a number of Native American peoples. We will also touch on what is referred to as New-Age Spirituality and how many of these concepts originated from traditional Native America beliefs but became packaged and commercialized to cater to a pan Indian audience. It is important when studying Native American ceremonies and spiritual practices to understand how this fits into the living Native American community and the significance of these ceremonies in perpetuating an autonomous cultural persistence distinctly and diversely Native American.
This presentation will take place outdoors at Lake Winfield Scott Campground’s covered pavilion. Joe will be showcasing Native American spirituality through discussion and demonstration, as well as tools, art, and clothing Joe has made himself. This presentation will take place outdoors at Lake Winfield Scott Campground’s covered pavilion. Joe will be showcasing Native American spirituality through discussion and demonstration, as well as tools, art, and clothing Joe has made himself.
This project is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through funding from the Georgia General Assembly.
