Sacred connection

WHAT: SUNY Adirondack welcomes Larry Yazzie and Patti Two Ravens in separate events honoring indigenous heritage.

DETAILS: World-champion fancy dancer Larry Yazzie performed at the college in November 2021 and Patti Two Ravens, keeper of Mother Moose Drum, performed in October 2022.

When Lindsay Farrar was hired as a multicultural specialist at SUNY Adirondack, the counselor knew she had to do a little research.

“I spent time learning what was already going on at the college regarding multiculturalism, and I discovered most was focused on race — particularly black vs. white,” Farrar said. “I analyzed what we were offering and what we were lacking, then got busy where I could make a difference.”

That included welcoming Patti Two

Ravens to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in 2022. Patti Two Ravens is Metis (Native/European) and drum keeper of Mother Moose Drum, a 36-inch-by-17-inch 14-sided mother drum.

She has facilitated drum and healing circles for years.

“In relation to counseling and healing, connecting to the sacred is a natural fit,” Farrar said. “Before people went to therapy, they drummed, they danced, they sang, they were strengthened by their community.”

Patti Two Ravens led drum circles celebrating culture, offering healing for women who are victims of violence (native women suffer significantly higher rates of victimization than white women) and providing a spiritual experience for all participants.

Larry Yazzie, a world-champion fancy dancer, helped SUNY Adirondack celebrate Indigenous Peoples Month in 2021 by performing on campus. Yazzie is a Native American (Mesk- waki/Dine Tribe) who has performed all over the world, including in Russia, Finland, Norway, France, Romania, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala.

“My artistry allows me to share and educate about my beautiful culture,” Yazzie said. “The stories and traditions are passed on through song and dance, which is another way for keeping our culture alive.”

Farrar knows the importance of celebrating heritage.

“A lot of history is told from the perspective of colonial settlers, white men, and that’s not true,” Farrar said. “It is a topic we have more growth and learning to do, and our students are naturally curious and open to learning about things. I want to bring forth something authentic and meaningful to share with the wider community.”