The Blessing of the Four Directions at Walt Disney WorldBy Thomas SmithSomething unique happens this time of year at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge--a ceremony performed in the lobby called the Blessing of the Four Directions.
As you may know, November is Native American Heritage Month and every year visiting interpreters James Hansen (Black Wolf) and Anita Hansen (Quick Silver) perform a short ceremony, symbolically driving out negative energy and purifying the resort for the year ahead.Note: Follow the link to see a video of the blessing. This may be the same ceremony we did in
Prayer Ceremony at Ballona Wetlands.
Disney's Wilderness LodgeDisney's Wilderness Lodge is a full-service Disney Deluxe Resort hotel with 727 Guest rooms. Inspired by the Great American Northwest National Park lodges from the turn of the 20th century, this architecturally grand Resort honors American craftsmanship and artistry, and celebrates the majesty of the unspoiled wilderness.
Taking inspiration from the early 1900s—a time when the spirit of the American pioneer soared—and cues from Native American cultures, the theme of being in harmony with nature winds through Disney's Wilderness Lodge—inside and out. Authentic decor and genuine artifacts pay homage to ancient Native American cultures and the pioneering spirit of early American explorers.Comment: For more on the subject, see
Disneyland: Where Seldom Is Heard a Discouraging Word.
Below: Paying homage to Native cultures, or trivializing them?
A perfect place for Disney to sell merchandise related to its "Hiawatha" cartoon.... if they did. I suspect that they do not, and that is a good thing.
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