It was nearly 6 years ago, when a family gazed out to the horizon and said "look at all that mother earth, let's go there and see what happens". They journeyed into the woods, pitched their tipi and prepared to give birth to a second child. Little was it known that it would also be the birth of a Tipi Village. Thinking it was public land, they were surprised when the land owners came and introduced themselves, with an invitation to stay. Over time, close friends pitched their lodges nearby. The web of footpaths began.
A child was born. The weather became warmer, the water drier and these folk headed for the high mountains, to a place again offered by the same landowners. Word spread quickly about the ‘tipi people’ in the woods and people began arriving from far and wide. A magnificent tipi, the Big Lodge, was manifested. The need for a clear common vision became apparent. A Manifesto was written.
We are a collective of families and single people, young and old dedicated to living on the ground, around the fire, migrating seasonally in dwellings we manifest with our hands and feet. We move in the spring and autumn from the high mountains of the Cascade-Siskiyous in Southern Oregon, to the valley below. Fetching wood and carrying water are daily practices. Children are born here, our blood and tears are in this soil, the echoes of our laughter are in these mountains, we hope to die here. Our priorities and inspiration are maintaining and cultivating a way of living that is spiritually and physically harmonious with the land, flora and fauna. Fauna including ourselves and our relationships and their names.
Tipi Village is an open community to all who are inspired to participate through the 'Big Lodge', the central common space (a 27' tipi). Overtime, a relationship is developed with the Big Lodge and thus the village. From this center, one can move towards creating a home.
After years of a relationship with the land-owner and this place, we have been offered an opportunity to purchase it. However, there is a wealthy neighbor who intends to buy it, have us removed and then sell the land to the national monument for preservation in exclusion of living, human relationship. The intention to conserve land is crucial in a time when land is being exploited. We support the monument, however we feel strongly that re-introducing humanity and wild, inside and outside, is a great benifit for humanity.
This 'property' is surrounded by thousands of acres of Monument land. We propose that 198 of them allow humans to inhabit. Species have become extinct and catastrophic fires burn millions of acres due to a lack of direct human relationship. Some call it 'tending the wild'. Basically, nature dies when culture dies. Tipi Village is living a new culture. Humans can live symbiotically with Mother Earth and live in wild places.
The prayer is to continue our relationship with this land. We have no interest in 'owning property' (how can we own that which holds us?) so we have come up with the Land Liberation Project. Land that is part of The Project will never again be sold and will belong to no 'one' individual. The natural resources will be protected and an open place for all who have the inspiration to live intimately with the elements, in tipis, will be maintained.
This message is a call for help. We have until the 1st of October, 2013 to raise $333,333. The funds raised will go towards the purchase of the summer land ($300,000), a conservation easement and other related costs (including indiegogo), not to mention it seems like a lucky number! If our goal is not reached by the time necessary, The Way Foundation will save the funds to liberate land elsewhere.
The Way Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit Oregon public benefit trust and is supporting the Land Liberation Project. For a tax-deductible donation please visit our blog www.LandLiberationProject.blogspot.com and contribute using the PayPal button.
In appreciation of your donation we are offering hand crafted gifts made by villagers. Along with the perk listed we are including an entry in our raffle to win a Rogue Dwellings Tipi, an adult tricycle, a professional massage and much more. Please see the side bar for more details (pictures coming soon). We realize that our gifts are simple. True philanthropy gives for the sake of giving. Our gifts are obviously not equivalent to the money donated. They are more a token of gratitude, an acknowledgement of the support. given. We are not interested in selling anything here. Your offering supports our offering to you and all who are moved to live this life-way.
This is where we call upon you to become we and participate in this project of unprecedented movement.
Please donate and together, we can free this land. Free ourselves.
