Group marks summer solstice

By Elise Franco

Members of Unity Church Centre said a summer solstice program has helped them better identify with their American Indian roots.

GIRARD — Some members of a local church are rediscovering their American Indian heritage, and others are learning about it for the first time.

To kick off the summer solstice, which is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, members of the Unity Church Centre in Girard organized a two-day American Indian cultural celebration that ran Friday evening and all day Saturday at the church on Naylor-Lloyd Road.

Jack Nichols, co-organizer and church member, said the program began to take shape about three years ago during a film festival that focused on American Indian traditions.

He said one of those traditions is recognizing the summer solstice.

“The summer solstice is an important time in the year for Native Americans, with the sun coming to the highest point in the Northern Hemisphere,” he said. “The sun plays an important role in their lives.”

Nichols said the program was inspired by another church member, Grace Williams, who has strong ties to her American Indian heritage.

“Grace is the one who gets credit for pulling this off,” he said. “Her inspiration has led us to do something like this.”

Nichols said between 50 and 60 people attended the program, and he hopes to see it expand in years to come.

“I’d like it to continue this way,” he said. “Maybe some Native Americans can come here and learn even more about their culture.”

He said it was designed to be as traditional as possible and featured several topical films, discussions about the American Indian culture and how it fits into today’s society, music, a drumming performance and a sacred walk around the Medicine Wheel.

The Medicine Wheel is an American Indian symbol of the universe or God, said church member Roger Juntunen, of Hubbard. Juntunen said the wheel is formed with stones in the shape of a cross inside a circle. Each stone represents a different element, such as Earth Mother, Father Sun or Grandmother Moon.

“It means medicine, as in something good ... good for the soul,” he said. “

Juntunen said Unity Church built its own medicine wheel last year after a tree in the center of the front lawn died.

“As far as I know, there’s nothing else like this in the area,” he said. “There are a lot more of them out West.”

Church member Suzzi Henderson of Southington said she participated in a ceremonial drumming performance during Saturday afternoon’s portion of the program.

She said she joined the church last year after learning of the program.

“A newsletter I saw said they were going to have a get-together to, blend and understand each others cultures,” she said.

Henderson, who said she is part Seneca and part Chippewa, as well as Irish, said the program’s first year was a success.

Nichols agreed and said he hopes more people will want to learn about and embrace their American Indian heritage.

“There are a lot of people who have at least some Native American blood in them,” he said. “Until recently many didn’t want to identify with that background.”

efranco@vindy.com