Learn About Our Center

The Land

Many years ago, in the broad valley of the Upper Delaware, near what is now called Margaretville, New York, several Mohawk and Oneida families made camp for summer hunting and gathering. It happened that a dispute over territory arose between the two groups, and soon afterwards the death of a warrior was discovered. Who was responsible? There were allegations and counter-allegations.

Our Mission

As political and economic systems grow more fragile, more violent, and less able to fulfill human needs… As plant and animal species sicken and vanish… As clean water and air become distant memories… As soil erodes… As fisheries collapse… As human overpopulation accelerates… As earth, sea, and weather rage in protest… As the ecosystem lurches toward breakdown…

The Blue Deer Center declares there is a way for human life to continue and flourish. It is to remember:

-The natural world is sacred. It is alive, aware, wise.

Authentic Wisdom Traditions

About Elders

"The teachings are for all, not just for Indians...The white people never wanted to learn before...Now they have a different understanding, and they do want to learn. We are all children of God. The tradition is open to anyone who wants to learn. But who really wants to learn?"

—Don Jose Matsuwa, Huichol, 1989

Letter from the Founder

The medicine woman kneeled before the fire at our Center, her feather bundle in her right hand, sacred flower water in her left, arms outstretched at her sides like wings. She bowed low, and lower, her forehead now resting on the earth. We were standing in a circle around Eda Zavala, who now slowly sat up. She anointed her heart with flower water and began to make whooshing and humming sounds. A tender ululating melody arose as she sang to the medicine plants of her forest, calling them again and again.