Greetings Family and Friends!

Here we are again, fast-approaching the Thanksgiving, one of the most festive and sacred times of the year to celebrate and remember all that we are grateful for in our lives. No matter what our individual circumstances may be, the Tree of Life reminds us to see the abundance that we are blessed with by Creator, and to share what we have as giveback! I would like to begin this letter by thanking you. Your generous donations have once again helped to sustain our beloved Dance For All People and bring to life the many exciting Projects sponsored by the NCPC. We couldn't have done this without you.

I have many exciting things to report concerning NCPC news, and I want to share some of the highlights with you...

Dance For All People Web site Debuts:

Over a year in the making, the new Dance For All People web site is now in its debut! Through your generosity, we now have a thoughtful and educational resource for all our dancers and their friends. There, you will find interesting in-depth articles written by elders on various facets of the Dance, and many how-to articles. You will also find a very extensive reading list, a calendar of Dances for the year, and wonderful articles on the Elders of our Dance. The web site is also intended to help the Dance grow, and to act as a catalyst to propel us into the next 20 years. See for yourself at:
http://danceforallpeople.com

Project Highlights 2011:

Winter Coat Drive 2011
The NCPC is again sponsoring its annual Winter Coat Drive for the Native People of the Fort Hall Reservation through the Community Access Program of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Winters in Idaho are no joke my friends, and many good-hearted Native people are very grateful for our generous efforts! Donated coats are needed in children to adult sizes with special emphasis on "tribal size"- XL to XXXL! All items must be clean and usable. Warm hats, gloves, blankets and mittens are also welcomed. Please tell friends and family in your community who you think would be interested in assisting with this endeavor! Visit the link above for shipping addresses and tax credit info.

Youth Scholarship Fund Project
NCPC is pleased to announce the tremendous success of this year's Youth Scholarship Fund Project for outstanding Native and Non-Native youth who have an interest in discovering the ways of Spirit. The NCPC sponsored Tyler Pounds of the Shawnee/Choctaw Tribe and J. Everic Dupuy of the Blackfoot Nation to spend time with Tribal Elders and to participate in Ceremony. If you know of any young person that would benefit from this Scholarship fund, please let us know what Dance or Tribal Ceremony they would like to attend. In order for our Dance For All People to continue to the next generation, we must mentor these young individuals- they are our future! If you would specifically like to fund the Scholarship Fund Project, please earmark your contribution.

Elder Housing Project
In order to better serve the Wolf Creek Elders of the Dance For All People and those with special needs, the NCPC has begun the Elder Housing Project to build several low-cost, low-maintenance cabins on the sanctuary land of Nomenus. Planning began this summer, and substantial completion is expected in 2012. NCPC is excited to partner with Nomenus in the effort to make the land more accessible to all throughout the year. Wolf Creek Dancers, let's put our heads and hearts together and figure out how we can make this a big success for our June Dance!

Dance For All People News:

Both our New England (September, at Camp Robin Hood, NH) and Montana (August in the Bitterroot Valley, MT) Dances were tremendous successes, filled with Spirit, and held in beautiful places with "Naraya Miracles" happening at each one! In early October, the Montana Dance bundle was transferred to Marci Ward, the new bundle keeper, in a beautiful ceremony attended by members of the Montana community and other guests. May the Spirit of the Dance guide her way! The final Dance For All People in the yearly cycle occurred in New York at a new place and time- in late October, at a site near Olivebridge, NY. It was a wonderful dance focused on the gift of water in an area where the power of water has so recently been felt. This Dance too was filled with gifts, good prayers and Spirit!

Other News:

• This summer in eastern Washington state for the second year was the wonderful "Campfire Confab 2" with Benson Lanford (Cherokee), a Native Elder who is a "living encyclopedia" on Native American art, culture and spiritual practices; also making a presentation was Favero Greenforest, an expert on the flora and fauna of the western states and traditional uses thereof. Participants had a weekend of formal teachings and informal "chat time".

• Sad to say, Kristine Chapman of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, a long-time dancer and my Executive Assistant is resigning after many years of heartfelt service to the NCPC. Thank you Kris for all that you have done!

New Development Director Announced:

We are happy to announce that Sizzle Moon Song is NCPC's first Development Director/Fundraising Coordinator. A long-time Naraya dancer whom many of you know, he has a long and distinguished career as a professional fundraiser, and we are happy to have him aboard to help us extend our reach! All the details and a letter from Sizzle here:
READ MORE >>

Now on Facebook:

We have a new Facebook presence! Your NCPC has embarked on an experiment of a non-profit page that gives a summary of our purpose, projects, elders, advisors and the Dance For All People. It also gives us the ability to communicate with individuals "one-on-one" and to post teachings, have discussion groups and present videos about tribal history and culture of the Great Basin Native people that we assist in the perpetuation of their proud cultures. If you are on Facebook check in and "Like" us!

Of course none of these Dances, Projects or events could take place without the extra effort by each sponsoring community and the base funding provided by your NCPC. Please remember that if you choose to earmark funds for a specific Dance or Project you can do so when you contribute to provide an extra source of funding where you most desire. These are just some of the many projects that your NCPC has been active in the past six months. Look back on these and know that as individuals, we really do have opportunities to create changes for the good in this world! See all our NCPC Projects.

My dear Friends and Family, even in this time of change many folks are stepping up and sharing what they have in these challenging times for causes that are worthwhile. When you choose a few, such as the NCPC— they become a "cause of the heart", and it becomes a practical, palpable way of helping and sending out good things, prayers and the workings of Spirit into the world! During the traditional seasons of giving and sharing thankfulness it is a perfect time to send a contribution (whether large or small) to your NCPC. It will be appreciated for all of our relations in this world!

May your holidays be good ones, filled with family warmth and Spirit!

In Spirit with you all,
Clyde M. Hall
Executive and Cultural Director
NCPC