1 Earth 1 Universe • Bandelier Park Experience
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico • Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Hundreds of ruins of Anasazi cliff houses and pueblo-style dwellings lay scattered across the Pajarito Plateau of northern New Mexico. The Pueblo people have lived in the American Southwest for many centuries. Archeologists think they are descended from nomadic hunting and gathering people who first came into the region 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

This excursion is an integral part of the 1 Earth 1 Universe Conference, a "professional development effort focused on science and different ways of knowing: It is also about building the capacity within the NASA research and E/PO community to accept Native science perspectives with the same validity [Native Americans] accord to Western scientific methodologies." The workshop. held at the Bishops Lodge in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is intended to increase our cultural competency and our knowledge of the history of western and native science.
The ruins of the village of Tyuonyl in Frijoles Canyon, which flourished around the late 1400s.
IfA Astronomer Paul Coleman in front of the entrance of the Bandelier National Monument park. These hollows in the sides of the mountainsides were created by volcanic activity eons ago. Gary standing in front of Big Kiva, a ceremonial room
Gary at the foot of the ladders that lead up 140 feet up to the ceremonial cave of Alcove House While climbing up, this is a view of some pinnacles looking west The view looking up toward the ceremonial cave Inside the Alcove House, a spectacular natural cave with a small Kiva, or ceremonial room that must be accessed by a ladder through a hole in the roof.
Panoramic view of the Frijoles Canyon from the roof of a ceremonial kiva within the Alcove House cave.
Musings from Gary's experience in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Oftentimes, we may be too intent on quantifying every aspect of life - that truth comes from unrelenting analysis of tangible fact. But truth may be derived in other ways. Is religion or cultural knowledge any less valid if it is not expressible in a mathematical equation?

Tuesday evening, while about to talk on my cellphone outside my room, I noticed that a skunk had walked up to me and stopped at my feet. I felt outside of myself at that time, as I did not react in a way I now think I may have otherwise. I did not recoil out of fear, nor did I strike it to regain territory or space. We both appeared to undertake mutual observations of each other. After a time, the skunk walked off, and I returned to make my phone call.

Wednesday was a new awakening. Rena's talk at Bandelier added another beautiful thread to the tapestry of understanding that is being woven before me. My experience in the park was one of a journey through my mind to revisit my childhood - to see the world through innocent, unclouded eyes. I bounded through the trails, absorbed the beauty, felt the textures, heard the voices of nature and smelled the grittiness of the earth beneath my feet. I was connecting, but yet unconnected. For as I was walking on the trail out of the park, I stooped down to pick up a pinecone to bring home with me. I was reminded at that point to "take nothing but footsteps, and leave nothing but footprints". I have learned much, but have much to learn.

Thursday, I am discovering a lot from many people as we share a dialog on respecting native ways of knowing and western science. I am homesick on this day of my birth, but find solace in talking to my family back home. Later, I am comforted by Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka, Belatrix, Betelguese, Rigel, Saiph, Sirius, Castor, Pollux, Aldeberan, ... old friends I had not seen since my departure from my homeland nearly a week ago. They look familiar, albeit higher in the sky than what I am used to. Saturn winks at me in Gemini.

Friday, the group experiences an early morning blessing that involved each of us individually depositing some tobacco into a fire, and turning about with our right hand held over our head. The group continues dialog and considers ways to continue what was begun this week...
Nancy Maryboy, Peg Steffen, Rose von Thater-Braan, Shari Asplund and Gary after the conference ended
Lloyd Pinkham about to begin the blessing of "giving, taking and sharing" with the conference attendees