Information courtesy of The C.G. Jung Center
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Traditional Circle is a presentation by Al Parker (aka. Hoyendahonh) member of the Heron Clan of the Tonawanda Seneca. The event will take place at:
408 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY
The event will take place Friday, April 20th starting at 8pm. For non-members and members the entrance fee is $10, students $8. For further questions call 716-854-7457.
The circle is an important symbol in Haudenosaunee culture and appears in many places from tribal councils to art. As it did for Carl Jung with the mandala, it stands for wholeness. Al will describe the various ways the Haudenosaunee circle appears in traditional culture and how the value placed on wholeness is made apparent in each instance by the circle.
This presentation also will reveal other Seneca traditions that bear resemblances to Jung's psychology, such as the Great Spirit that inhabits the natural world, our Mother Earth, dreams and visions and the prominent place of women and the feminine in Haudenosaunee secular and spiritual life. And, too, Al will tell us about the collective psyche, referred to as "being of one mind", and the related governmental process of finding consensus.
"In the exchange between Carl Jung and Sioux traditions, then, we can find new sources of insight, vigorous comparisons and synthetic opportunities, all of which should be considered vital to a continuing exploration of our world." - Sioux author, Vine Deloria Jr., CG Jung and the Sioux Traditions.
Native American culture in general was a major influence in the development of Carl Jung's psychology. Join us as we learn about Haudenosaunee traditions and see for ourselves what it was that made such an impact on Jung's thinking. Al will allot ample time after his talk to answer questions and for audience discussion of these fascinating correspondences.
Alvin Parker is an enrolled member of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation of the Heron Clan. Born in Gowanda, N.Y. and raised in Buffalo, Al has long been a voice for equity, inclusion, respect, and justice in his community with a special emphasis on quality education. A retired Marine and Instructor with General Motors, he recently received a second award from the City of Buffalo as a Native American Role Model. He is also a past recipient of the Community Leadership Award. A former board member of the National Federation for Just Communities and current board member at Old Fort Niagara, Al is a keynote speaker nationally. Additionally, he has worked tirelessly in the fight against using Native American names and imagery as sports mascots. Mr. Parker has been a leader in the effort to preserve and promote his Native language and culture where he has served as a teacher, archaeological monitor, actor/reenactor, model, musician, and Native historian. Al and his wife live in Buffalo, New York where they have raised five children.