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Grandfather Leon Secatero, Headman, Canoncito Band of Navajo,
SEED Advisory Council Member, Passes Sunday, September 28, 2008
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Leon Secatero
We pray to you with our ta'dadiin
To honor you and your lifelong legacy
Your heart is the beating drum that connects us to
our sacred songs
our mother earth
and our father sky.
Your visions resemble a mighty eagle that oversees
the well being of our people.
Your strength is a great bear that keeps us alive
and together
Your wisdom enlightens us like a sacred turtle
that can endure hardships.
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Your stories are beautiful rugs that our
grandmothers weave together to instill our Navajo identity.
Your leadership is the spear staff that inspires us to
lead our children to attain an education.
Your gift of knowledge will never be forgotten.
You have given us your prayers of hope among our people,
As we retrace our footsteps... we can someday
reconnect our families to our ancestral homelands.
You have created a beauty way path for us to follow.
This poem is for you, shi'zhe'e
As you continue on with your journey
To be with your mother, those in the spirit world, and our holy ones.
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We will miss you.
Si'ah naaghai bik'eh hozhoon
Hozho nahasdlii'
Hozho nahasdlii'
Hozho nahasdlii'
Hozho nahasdlii'
Shawn Secatero
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Obituary
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Remembrances
[If you would like to post a tribute to Grandfather Leon Secatero, please email your tribute to
gparry@seedgraduateinstitute.org.]
Grandfather Leon Secatero passed to the spirit world this Sunday afternoon. It is hard to write these words, and I apologize for not speaking in person to each and every person who reads this.
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He was such a remarkable man, the sweetest soul I have ever known. He worked tirelessly - well, that's not true - he did tire, but he worked endlessly, because his work has not ended, for peace, for harmony, for understanding amongst Indigenous peoples and all the five-fingered ones. He asked that we remember our original instructions of how to live on this planet - and that we put aside the negativity of the past five hundred years and walk together into the next five hundred years in peace. He was both a spiritual leader and a political leader for the Canoncito Band of Navajo. He is not replaceable, but I believe a little piece of what he has taught us continues to live within all of us. It is up to us to carry forward the mission Leon so bravely led. In February of 2007, he had a massive stroke, and went to the other side only to return with new knowledge of that realm and a renewed purpose to teach. Just this past Tuesday, he was on the Native America Calling radio show talking about the knowledge he gained on the other side. I saw him that Tuesday and on Friday and he spoke about the need to revitalize the core of knowledge and likened it to a purple crystal returning to white. He will be dearly missed.
Glenn Aparicio Parry
President
SEED Graduate Institute
I cherish the last time that I saw Leon at the dialogues. I am happy for
Leon that he is in the light now, that he rests, sad for us, that we will no
longer have access to our grandfather, our teacher, kindness incarnate. He
is so sorely needed at this time, but I am sure his work on our behalf has
not ended here. The strength and power of his kindness and gentleness lives
like a tiny seed in each of us and if we could soothe one person with that
tiny seed with one small gesture then we honour him. I am not that kind or
that gentle but I will look for my opportunity for kindness through these
days and that will be my flower to him.
Elizabeth Ferguson
Lethbridge, CANADA
It was 1:00am here in Germany when the news reached me. My husband, a friend
and I spontaneously went outside to our fireplace and
along with the smoke we sent thanks and good wishes for grandfather Leon to
mother Earth to comfort his Body, to grandfather moon to shine on the love
he gave and make it shine for ever, to father sun to warm up his way in
eternity, to all the four winds to spread out his words, and to the cosmos
to let him be in oneness from now on.
I am grateful that I had the chance to meet Leon in Albuquerque a couple of
weeks ago. And I will never forget the teachings he shared.
Waltraud Isenbügel
Fischerhude, GERMANY
Please pass on my thoughts and condolences to all, especially to his
family and kinfolk, at the services for Leon Secatero. It is always
sad when a brother or sister passes, but it is also important to
regard it as a commemorative moment and time because there is every
reason to honor and memorialize or celebrate a person who has always
been helpful to all. Mr. Secatero, who I also knew years ago when we were
boys at the Albuquerque Indian School, will always be present in the mountains,
hills, mesas, canyons, arroyos, and in the sky--and even, perhaps
especially, on the windy sandy days when we feel our homelands will always
be like that. But
they're not, of course; we know that too, just like Leon Secatero, did. He
will be part of the memory that holds us always dear to one another, those
living now, and those who have passed on. Rest well, I say to
him, rest now.
Simon Ortiz
Acoma, New Mexico
Honour and gratitude to Grandfather Leon for his person, his teachings
and his great kindness.
I sent reiki to him yesterday (October 9) from Stanton Drew
stone circles in SW United Kingdom.
When I met him early March 2007, following a healing
treatment delivered by Steven McFadden and me, there was an opportunity
to converse. He lit many connections in my thinking and awareness,
despite our meeting being so brief.
I am honouring his life daily in my home at the moment.
Sarah M
Bristol, UK
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Listen to Leon Secatero on the Native America Calling show, "What Happens When You Die?" The show aired Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Leon Secatero founded Spiritual Elders of Mother Earth. For more information on his work, please visit
www.spiritualelders.org.
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