Kindred Spirits - The Choctaw-Irish Bond Lives On
The story begins in 1831, when the Choctaw people were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in Mississippi.
A few years later, Choctaws learned of people starving in Ireland. Only sixteen years had passed since the Choctaws had faced hunger and death on the first Trail of Tears and a great empathy was felt when they heard such a similar tale coming from across the ocean.
Individual Choctaws collected and donated $170 in 1847 to assist the Irish people.
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Footage and Photos provided by Brian Martin
Credits
Director: Payton G. Guthrie
Producers: Ronni Pierce
Editor: Whitney Lautner
Audio Technician: Joseph Jefferson
Kindred Spirits sculpture in Bailick Park in Midleton, Ireland.
Kindred Spirits commemorates 1847 donation by the Native American Choctaw People to Irish famine relief during the Great Hunger, despite the Choctaw themselves living in hardship and poverty and having recently endured the Trail of Tears. While records of the exact amount of the donation vary, the figure usually given is US$170 (about $4,400 in 2016 dollars, though some methods indicate it could have been as high as $20,000 in 2015 dollars.).
The sculpture consists of nine 20-foot (6.1 m) stainless steel eagle feathers arranged in a circle, no two feathers being identical, forming a bowl shape to represent a gift of a bowl of food. It was created by Alex Pentek at the Sculpture Factory in Cork, Ireland, with assistance from students of the Crawford College of Art and Design, and installed in Bailick Park in 2015. The memorial was commissioned by Midleton Town Council, and was officially unveiled and dedicated in June 2017 by Chief Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., and Councillor Seamus McGrath, County Mayor of Cork, accompanied by a 20-strong delegation from the Choctaw Nation.
The accompanying song is Choctaw Nation by Damien Dempsey and appears on the album Shots (2005).
Choctaw Ireland
Amazing!! Officially our 100th video!!
This place, monument, work of art is a stunning tribute.
My music reference was in no way a direct reference to the Choctaw Tribe, rather a song, one of many that mention Choctaw.
The song Choctaw Bingo is written and performed by the artist James McMurtry who we were lucky to see a couple of years back while he was playing at Stickyz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack in the heart of downtown Little Rock.
Native American Choctaw Monument - Midleton
Native American Choctaw Monument in Midleton, Cork.
Filmed with a DJI Mavic Air drone.
Sculpture by Alex Pentek in recognition of support provided to Irish people from the Choctaw Indian
Choctaw Indians helped Irish in Great Famine
Father Jim O’Donnell spoke in front of the Celtic Cross in Cleveland’s Flats that commemorates those who died in the Irish Potato Famine. In his sermon at the 15th Annual Irish Famine Memorial Mass Fr. O’Donnell told how the Choctaw Indians, who had just survived the Trail of Tears, helped the Irish people with the few funds that they had.
Awaken Kindred Spirits Drum Ceremony, Midleton Arts Festival
A short retrospective with testimonials of Awaken Kindred Spirits Drum Ceremony Sunday 14th May 2017. Held during the Midleton Arts festival in Bailick Park, Midleton around the Kindred Spirits monument built by Alex Pentek to honour the Chocktaw Nation people who donated money to Ireland during the great hunger. The bowl like shape the feathers form is an ideal space for a drum circle.
Thank you to participants who gave wonderful comments after the event.
Choctaw Native American Monument
IN 1847, THE Native American Choctaw people collected money for the Irish famine, despite living in conditions of starvation and poverty themselves.
Irish and Choctaw Kindred Spirits unite in Oklahoma
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited the Choctaw Nation on March 12, 2018.
The visit reciprocated a trip members of the Choctaw Nation made in 2017 for the official unveiling of Kindred Spirits, a monument dedicated to the Choctaws for the act of kindness they showed the Irish more than 150 years ago.
Featured speakers:
Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Lillie Roberts of the School of Choctaw Language
Video filmed, written and edited by Brittany Harlow
Photos taken in Fermoy and Dublin by Brittany Harlow
Photos of Kindred Spirits dedication taken by Deidre Elrod/Choctaw Nation
Photo of Irish Oak presentation taken by Lisa Reed/Choctaw Nation
Standalone photo of Kindred Spirits taken by Brian Martin
Choctaw Flute played by Choctaw Musician Presley Byington
Irish Ballad performed by Ireland Declan Harber
Chocktaw,s kindness to Ireland.Famine 1847:
Irish tv interview with Chocktaw Native..
Choctaw Native American Monument (English)
Version française :
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DISCLAIMER: The other person in this video was my travelling partner. Due to many unfortunate events happened between us prior to November 2018, he is no longer a concern to me and a part of my journey. Anything you see between us on this video is a past event and it only happened in the past which does not reflect my current life. See the video New Chapter in Life from the following link for further explanation:
Midleton Arts Festival Kindred Spirits Drum Ceremony
Kindred Spirits drum ceremony at Bailick Park, Bailick Rd, Midelton.
Sunday May 14 @ 5.PM 2017
Google map
Thank you to Brian Martin of Drone Ireland - Ireland by Air, for sculpture footage. See his other beautiful films here
Thankyou to Éamonn Cagney for the drum track:
Wake Up by Rithim
In 2015 Alex Pentek was commissioned by Midleton town council to create a sculpture to honour the kindness of the Choctaws as an acknowledgement of their donations 170 years ago of $170 to the Irish people during the Famine of 1847. Millions were dying and the Chocktaw gave generously the money which today would equivalent to €5000.
We invite you down to Bailick Park, Midleton on Sunday May 14 at 5pm to the Kindred Spirits Sculpture. Come and learn the story behind the sculpture, what it represents, and why it was erected.
With drumming led by Eamonn Cagney, we will be awakening kindred spirits by creating a huge circle of rhythm.
Find yourself transported to a place beyond your daily worries. Take the path to the river and down to the shore, where the silver eagle feathers planted in the dark earth wait to soar around the globe. A festival event for peace, light and truth.
awen: Irish Choctaw Blessing - Gaelic Music Buidhseachd Na Cridhekit (Fianna Protecting the Groves)
Dawning of the day
Commemorative event in Midleton, Co Cork to Mark the official opening of the Famine monument in June 2017 to honour the Choctaw Tribes donation to the Irish famine despite having only just suffered on their own ‘Trail of Tears’. Incredible show of human solidarity. A member of our committee took the footage of this beautiful piece of bag piping by we think Youghal Pipe Band? Too beautiful not to share.
Honoring The People of The Choctaw Nation
I have kept a deep appreciation for The People of The Choctaw Nation with me for many years after I learnt of what their ancestors did during the time of the Irish famine.
When I heard about this deed of generosity I felt a deep sense of kinship that remained with me. I was drawn to share my appreciation so I made a short video.
One reason was to draw attention to this beautiful act for those who aren't aware of it, so that perhaps they can look into it for themselves and be inspired.
The second reason was to attempt to convey my own appreciation for The People of The Choctaw Nation and their ancestors.
I have been deeply moved by this humanitarian, loving action and it didn't make sense to keep how I felt within me.
Thank you beautiful people. I honor your Spirit.
Irish Famine Memorial
Danny Spewak visits the Irish Famine Memorial in this week's Unique Places.
Nationwide RTE Choctaw Nation
Waylon Gary White Deer is an artist, writer and member of the Choctaw nation, a Native American tribe which has a connection to Ireland stretching back over hundreds of years.
Our own Damien Dempsey was inspired by this connection and has a very special thank you for the Choctaw Nation.
We were there to capture them meeting for the very first time
Choctaw Nation Headquarters Visit
The Silver Crown -Transition Back To Natural Grey Hair
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