Corbin Harney

Two recent updates on Corbin
Updated 1/19/07

It was an intense weekend and very good one with Corbin and Patricia. Corbin is blessed to have Patricia in his life now helping him out.

The first day I was there he was doing well and in great spirits. 2 guys came
in to interview him with a video camera as I set mine up to so we can have
a copy of the interview.It was a good day.

The next day Corbin was in alot of pain. The next 2 days he felt allttle better but is not getting much sleep. His right foot is very swollen. Every day Patricia takes him for a ride into town which he looks forward to. He uses a walker to get around just a bit.

Corbin is still on and has not lost his sense of humor, though he is frustrated that its been six months already of not feeling well.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to go right now.

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From the Beauty Way Thanks Giving Food and Supply Run Report

On the way home we stopped at Corbin Harney's healing center near Tecopa California. I have been hearing ominous rumblings of the condition of Corbin’s health of late. I have known the Shoshone spiritual leader for more than twenty years. With strength, courage, and persistence this powerhouse of a man has lead the charge against nuclear weapons testing by the U.S. and British governments on his peoples ancestral homelands. I have traveled many miles with him, prayed, sweated, sung, laughed, cried, and been arrested with him. He has been the inspiration of many of my songs.

Earlier this year in August Corbin was scheduled to be at Bechtel corporate headquarters in San Francisco for the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When we got the message that he had to cancel I knew something was really wrong. The Shundahai Newsletter recently confirmed that western medical doctors have diagnosed him with prostate cancer which has spread into his bones. On top of that the healing center just lost it's main grant. Furthermore, even though the governor of Nevada and the D.O.E. frequently call Corbin for expert Shoshone advice and to engage his services to perform proper reburials when they accidentally dig up someone's grave, Corbin is not recognized as Shoshone by the BIA and therefore cannot receive financial help for his medical costs. The man is eighty six years old as far as I can tell. English is his second language. He is not very good at asking for help for himself. He has been fighting for all of us and "all life on this Mother Earth" for decades. He has blessed us generously by sharing his wisdom, ceremonies, and knowledge of the Nature Way, regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, or cultural background.

We arrived at Poo Ha Bah (the name of his healing center, which in English translates to "doctor water") around midnight. At about four thirty a.m. I was sitting on a rock by the parking lot putting on my boots when I heard the door to the little trailer open. He didn't seem to know I was watching from the darkness as he muttered something to himself, making his way down the steps. Pushing his walker, he clump clumped his way to the Subaru, got in and drove up to the area where he performs Sunrise Ceremony. Soon there was a small but cheerful fire burning and the steady heartbeat of his drum announced that he had once again made ready to greet the sun. That beat and the deep resonance of his voice have permeated my soul, sustaining me through my hard times. I will never miss a chance to attend sunrise ceremony no matter how tired I may be. The sun blasted the sky with glorious color as we danced around the fire in a circle, holding hands. Corbin sat in a chair, drumming and singing in his native tongue.

I want everyone to know that although he is feeling a little shaky and off balance, frustrated at times by his foggy memory, and though he is in pain and not taking pain killers, his sense of humor and timing remain fully intact. You can line up all the comedians in Las Vegas, for my money I'll take Corbin Harney as the best sit down
comedian around. Soon we were all laughing and sharing breakfast.

We left for the rest of the trip over the mountains to our home in the foothills of the Sierras later that afternoon. It has taken me awhile to process and write this essay. As I am finishing it I am planning to go back to Poo Ha Bah next week to bring more firewood and help repair the solar water pumping system. It is time to rally around Corbin Harney. If you have attended one of his ceremonies, heard him speak, read his book, If you support his life's work, or have been touched by him in any way and you feel moved to help or connect, NOW IS THE TIME!

Shundahai Network is collecting statements to be read to Corbin, if you feel like sending him a short message you can go to Corbin Harney.

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To send money or contact him by mail: PO Box 187 Tecopa Ca 92389.