Tribal sounds resonate with local residents
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

About 70 people enjoyed an experimental evening of peace and power, blending Native American practices with mindful exercises led by Dennis Merritt Jones, director of OneSpirit Center for Conscious Living in Simi Valley, and Mike Willis, a Native American chiropractor who resides in Newbury Park.

The event took place last month at Tierra Rejada Ranch.

Participants particularly enjoyed the drumming circle sessions during the three-hour ceremony, which also included a purification ritual, native dancing and meditation.

Drumming circles are an important symbol to Native American people. They are mainly used in powwows. They draw people closer to one another because they unite people, said organizers.

Sandi Webb, who never attended such a ceremony before, said she loved the event. "I'm so glad my friend dragged me to it," she said.

"I love American Indian drums and flute because it's so pretty," said the Simi Valley resident who plans to do this again.

Willis, who led the native ceremonies, is a member of the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations. When he's not guiding others spiritually, he's helping them to heal physically at his chiropractic office in Simi Valley, he said.

There is a connection between emotional well-being and physical health, he said.

Willis has given powwows for years. He's a Vietnam veteran and dances in the name of his brother soldiers who fell during that war, said Jones.

All Native American dancers dedicated themselves to a cause or purpose; it gives it a deeper sense of meaning, he said.

"Native American traditions really resonate to us because they connect with nature and mother earth and the presence of the Great Spirit, which we think of as God," Jones said.

OneSpirit draws spirituality from just about every source of teaching that deals directly with the Spirit or God's presence, he said.

"For us it's more about spiri

uality than it is religion. My job

s to give people an experience of what it feels like to be in the presence of God, and drumming gets you into the presence," he

aid, indicating about half of the attendees at the event were not members of his center.

The center has hosted special activities at the ranch for many years because it is spiritual and has a distinctive, sacred feel, said Jones.