Talon and Emmalene Morris have caught the Spirit of The Gathering. Amazing children like these are embracing The Gathering and helping promote the "The Three Sisters."

Register for Kidz Harvest Fest. Earn Boy Scout and Girl Scout badges attending The Gathering.

Berryvillle VA -- This is the first year for this Gathering of Authors & Illustrators, hosted by the Sanctuary on the Trail™ during The Gathering Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1.The Book Forum features writers and illustrators who play an integral role in agriculture, gourd art, farming, Native American culture/humanities, sustainable living, nature, plants, diversity, and much more.
    Authors and illustrators from across the region will rotate every hour or two selling and signing their works as well as carrying on dialogues with attendees. The Gathering is an opportunity to meet authors and illustrators in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.
     Two authors & illustrators booths are still open for this historic event. Please contact Rene’ at the Sanctuary on the Trail™ email [email protected]. Booth space if free. Tables and sound system is provided. Authors retain all sales of their merchandise for this educational celebration of agri-"Culture." Tax-deductible contributions to Sanctuary on the Trail™ are appreciated.
    The Gathering is open to the public Admission is $5. Ages 4 and under are free. The event features a Harvest Dance and Virginia Gourd Festival a well as Trading Post Vendors and Living History Exhibitors at the Clarke County Fairgrounds 890 West Main Street Berryville, VA 22611.
     Authors and illustrators interested in donating books to The Gathering auction or giveaways, please mail books to Sanctuary on the Trail PO Box 123 Bluemont VA 20135. Thank you.

     President Barack Obama reached out to Native youth, inviting them the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering this summer.
     In a video message (BELOW) delivered to the 32rd annual Gathering of Nations powwow in New Mexico, Obama said he was inspired by the youth he and First Lady Michelle Obama met during their visits.

White House released a Native youth report that outlined many of the challenges facing Native youth.

Obama is hoping that same spirit will return to the nation's capital on July 9, when his administration hosted the inaugural Native youth event. He urged powwow participants to join Generation Indigenous and engage their communities through the Youth Challenge.
     "We want young leaders to share their stories with our country and to have opportunities to turn their

talent and passion into strong leadership for the future of tribal nations and of America," Obama said his message to the powwow, the largest in North America.
      Applications were due May 8. The conference was open to Native youth ages 14-24 from "rural or urban communities," the White House said. The goal is to select some 800 Native youth to attend the gathering, whose theme is "Two Worlds, One Future: Defining Our Own Success." The event was held at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel.

     Fly-fishing skills in casting and fly-tying are taught to Disabled Veterans and Wounded Warriors through the Martinsburg VA Medical Center as part of the national Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing program (PHWFF).
     This program was started and is implemented by Winchester VA Trout Unlimited members working with Recreational Therapists at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center.

     The Gathering is featured in the Sept/Oct "Back to School" issue of the award winning Child Guide Magazine hitting the news stands soon. All thanks to The Gathering volunteer Jeanne Morton for writing the article, "The Gathering, Native American 101," and Cecilia "Cis" Rhyne editor & Angela Pelleman community mentors for suggesting the idea.
     The article appears on page 20 and is expected to draw hundreds of groups of children to The Gathering Kidz Harvest Fest on Friday, Oct. 30. Photos with the article are of local Native American Louis Campbell (taken by photographer Peter Thornton), and a young Indian boy carrying a gourd, courtesy of the Smithsonian.

     The Child Guide monthly magazine is for families in the quad-state area. Child Guide strives to provide families and educators with a free publication packed with good ideas and quality resources for raising happy, healthy children ... because we believe that being a loving guide for your child is the most important job in the world!

     The Child Guide is a first-rate family magazine  available for free at over 400 locations including elementary schools in seven districts, libraries in seven districts, hospitals, retail stores, child-care centers, doctors' and dentists' offices, gyms and recreation centers, etc.

Register for
Kidz Harvest Fest
One Day Only Offering Oct. 30
The Gathering
Clarke County Fairgrounds
890 West Main Street
Berryville, VA 22611

Sept. 12  10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Pre-Gathering Overview & Ticket Sales
Clermont Foundation/Clermont Farm
801 East Main Street
Berryville, VA 22611
All Ages

Sept. 17
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Harvest Series - Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum
Virginia Lovers' Gourd Society Demo
19 W Cork St, Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 722-2020
ages 6 - 12

Sept. 26
Drum Circle - Smithsonian Museum Day Feature
Clermont Farm
801 East Main Street
Berryville, VA 22611
All Ages

Oct. 17
8:00 am – 12:00 noon - Indian Fry bread
Clarke Co. Farmers Market Indian Fry Bread Tasting by Boyd's Nest Family Restaurant
Town parking lot, S.Church St.

Oct. 17 - Cultural Immersion Day
1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Barns of Rose Hill
95 Chalmers Court
Berryville, Va. 22611

Three Sisters Art Challenge Artist Reception
Regional Inspirations Displaying many artists expression of the Three Sisters of Corn, Beans & Squash. Also featuring gourd artist Mike Connolly; Native American Artist Stacey Littledeer; and nature artist Michael Timothy Davis Fine Art (see below).

Afternoon - Dennis Banks
Dennis Banks Icon Series and Discussion
Afternoon Matinee "A Good Day to Die"

Pot Luck Dinner

Dark Water Rising Live Rocky Soul Concert
Award Winning Native American Indian Group

Friday, Oct. 30

Grounds Open at 9:00 am

14th Annual
Virginia Gourd Festival
9:00 am - 5:00 p.m.

• Gourd Classes
• Gourd Vendors
• Buy Gourds & Gourd Supplies
• Sign Up for Classes Early

Kidz Harvest Fest *
School Day at "The Gathering"
* An RSVP Event

Traders Post
9:00 am - 6:00 p.m.

Living History Exhibitors
11:00 am - 4:00 p.m.

Grounds Close
to Public at 6:00 pm
with exception of overnight
campers and vendors

Saturday, October 31

Grounds Open at 9:00 am

14th Annual
Virginia Gourd Festival
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Gourd Classes
• Twilight Auction
• Gourd Vendors
• Buy Gourds & Gourd Supplies
• "Native American" Gourd Competition
• "The Bling's the Thing" Gourd Competition
• Sign Up for Classes Early

Trader's Village
9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Native American
Harvest Dance
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

"Bring in the Harvest" Dance

• Colors with Honor Guard
• Military Veteran
• & Uniformed Services Tribute
• Grand Entry (12:00 noon)
• Dancing, Drums & Singing
• Candy Dance for Children
• Raffles
• Multicultural Thanksgiving
• Last Dance

Traders Post
9:00 am - 6:00 p.m.

Living History Exhibitors
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Twilight Auction
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 pm

"Trick-or-Treat" Trot
NOT OPEN to the Public
for Kids Attending the Gathering
Hamster Dance
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Sunday, November 1

Grounds Open at 9:00 am

14th Annual
Virginia Gourd Festival
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

• Gourd Classes
• Gourd Vendors
• Buy Gourds & Gourd Supplies
• "Native American" Gourd Competition
• Winner Announced 12:00 noon
• "The Bling's the Thing" Gourd Competition
• Winner Announced 12:00 noon
• Sign Up for Classes Early

Traders Post
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Native American
Harvest Dance
12:00 am - 4:00 pm

"Bring in the Harvest" Dance

• Colors with Honor Guard
• Military Veteran
• & Uniformed Services Tribute
• Grand Entry (1:00 pm)
• Dancing, Drums & Singing
• Candy Dance for Children
• Raffles
• Multicultural Thanksgiving
• Last Dance

Living History Exhibitors
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

 

Berryville VA - Soil is the earth’s living skin, supporting a complex ecosystem below and essential to human life above. Healthy soil is the foundation for agriculture, and helps clean the water we drink and the air we breathe.
    Whether you are a farmer or a backyard gardener, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you understand how to protect and improve the function of your soil.

Berryville VA -- Attend The Gathering of Authors and meet author Philip Burnham as he presents his new Native American biography, "Song of Dewey Beard: Last Survivor of the Little Bighorn."
     Philip will present his book during a special Book Forum at The Gathering on Saturday, Oct. 31. Stay tuned to www.HarvestGathering.org for specific times and other author listings.
    The event also features author Dennis Banks co-founder of the American Indian Movement, traditional Native American Harvest Dance, Virginia Gourd Festival, Kidz Harvest Fest and much more.
    The Gathering is being held Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds located at 890 West Main Street in Berryville Va. 22611.

MEET THE AUTHOR
    Philip Burnham is a Term Assistant Professor with the Department of English at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

ABOUT THE BOOK
     Beard was not only a witness to two major battles against the Lakota; he also traveled with William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West show, worked as a Hollywood Indian, and witnessed the grand transformation of the Black Hills into a tourism mecca. Beard spent most of his later life fighting to reclaim his homeland and acting as “old Dewey Beard,” a living relic of the “old West” for the tourists.

The Sanctuary on the Trail™ is hosting a Book Forum during The Gathering on Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1. This is the first year for this Gathering of Authors. The Book Forum features writers who play an integral role in agriculture, gourd art, farming, Native American culture/humanities, sustainable living, nature, plants, diversity, and much more.
    Authors from across the region will rotate every hour or two selling and signing their works as well as carrying on dialogues with attendees about their books.
    The Gathering is an opportunity to meet authors in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.
  

     Authors interested in being part of this historic events and allowing attendees to peruse your newest releases, please contact Rene’ at the Sanctuary on the Trail™ email [email protected]. Booth space if free. Tables and sound system if provided. Authors retain all sales of their merchandise for this educational celebration of agri-culture.
    The Gathering is open to the public Admission is $5. Ages 4 and under are free. The event features a Harvest Dance and Virginia Gourd Festival a well as Trading Post Vendors and Living History Exhibitors at the Clarke County Fairgrounds 890 West Main Street Berryville, VA 22611.
     Authors interested in donating books to the auction or giveaways, please mail books to Sanctuary on the Trail PO Box 123 Bluemont VA 20135.