The Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society
The Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society
was founded in 1986 by Harley SwiftDeer Reagan
(Elder's Name of Thunder Strikes) for the purpose of gathering, translating
and teaching the Wheels and Keys of the Sweet Medicine SunDance (SMSD) Path
of Turtle Island. Mandated and guided by the Twisted Hairs Metis Medicine
Society Council of Elders, the Deer Tribe also provides
training and guidance
for apprentices working the "gateway" process of personal growth and spiritual
awakening in this Path.
SwiftDeer and the Deer Tribe are
modern day representatives of an ancient lineage of sacred knowledge of
universal laws, ceremonial alchemy, healing
techniques, alignment and communication with the elements of nature, magick, controlled
dreaming, spiritual awakening and determination.
Like the arcane mystery schools
of the Sufi, the Druidic and Celtic, the Tibetan, and other Great Power
traditions, the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path has evolved over thousands
of years.
Who are the Twisted Hairs of Turtle Island?
For many ancient peoples hair symbolizes
knowledge. "Twisted Hairs" refers to those who take knowledge from many
sources and weave it together, synthesizing and formulating "braids of
truth." Over the centuries these "braids" are tried and tested.
Those that are found to be valid and in alignment with sacred law are retained
and added to the ever growing body of knowledge. Those that do not
hold up under such rigor are discarded. So it has been for millenia
within these ancient traditions of learning and journeying toward human
enlightenment.
Originally
established in 1250 B.C. as the Rattlesnake School of Turtle Island, the
Twisted Hairs Metis Medicine Society Council of Elders is a body of shamans,
medicine men and women, sorcerers and magicians from many tribes throughout
North, Central and South America, who have traveled and studied beyond
their traditional tribal boundaries and evolved to levels of great learning,
wisdom, power and knowledge. Turtle Island is called the Southwest
Power, one of the Eight Great Powers of
knowledge and wisdom on the planet.
At times throughout history the
magickal mystery schools were forced to take their teachings and knowledge
"underground" for safekeeping because they were being misused by others
for personal power and domination or perverted by religious hierarchies.
This happened here on Turtle Island following the Spanish conquest by Cortes,
Pizarro, and others, as well as the invasion of Europeans onto the North
American continent.
In 1975, hearing the call of Grandmother
Earth and seeing both the need and the readiness within the collective,
the Elders of the Council decided to again release the first of many Wheels
and Keys of this Sweet Medicine SunDance Path so that these teachings would
be available to anyone seeking personal growth and spiritual awakening.
The Council designated SwiftDeer as one of the Carriers of the Shields
of Knowledge of this Path.
Wheels of Sacred Knowledge
The Wheels and Keys
of the Sweet
Medicine SunDance Path are presented as tools to help heal Grandmother
Earth, encouraging people to reconnect with her. This can establish a balance
of female and male energies and eliminate dogma and ignorance which keeps
people in patterns of struggle and disempowerment.
It is only through ignorance that
we surrender our freedom. These teachings, therefore, are dedicated to
the preservation of individual autonomous freedom for all peoples to live
and maintain life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, harmony, humor,
health and hope.
Harley SwiftDeer, co-founder of the Deer Tribe
SwiftDeer has led a very full and
adventuresome life. He served in Vietnam and, in
1994, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in honor
of his contribution within that field. He also pursued studies in psychology,
philosophy and religion. All of this rich experience and study is integrated
into SwiftDeer's style and content of how he carries the Sweet Medicine
SunDance Wheels and Keys.
His primary teacher in the Sweet
Medicine SunDance Path was the late Grandfather Tom "Two Bears" Wilson,
Navajo Medicine Man and President of the Navajo/Dineh Native American Church.
In July of 1992, SwiftDeer was seated
and sealed as a Twisted Hairs elder on the Council. His primary responsibility
is to introduce whatever teachings the Council deems necessary for people
to wake up and step into sobriety.
