A Four-Day Gathering in the Forest

 By Lori M. Edmonds

For many years I’ve attended primitive skills gatherings.  This year I encouraged my 21-year-old daughter to go to the MAPS Meet 2003 with me, hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group; she agreed provided her boyfriend would also join us.  And so, during the first week of June, Catrina, Jesus and I embarked on our journey, leaving behind our ringing telephones, computer correspondence, video games and all our other modern activities.  We headed for Catoctin Mountain of Maryland, where we were greeted first by the sound of rushing creeks and crickets as we ascended to our destination on that crisp (believe it or not) June evening. 

When we arrived at the camp, we were welcomed with a hearty and delicious dinner of homemade stew, fresh bread and salad.  After dinner, we hiked back to our bunkhouse, which we had to ourselves, and set up camp before returning to the dining hall to get acquainted with the other participants and to select our classes for the following day.  We had many class options, which covered a wide spectrum of interests; for example, there were workshops to practice wilderness navigation, primitive blacksmithing, shelter construction, fire making and skills of the scout.  There were also workshops to learn bone working, finger weaving, quill working, primitive pottery, medicinal and edible plant harvesting, or primitive cooking in a group-made primitive stone oven. 

We had a hard time deciding which workshops to sign up for.  Fortunately, most of the workshops were offered more than once.  Because one of Jesus’ favorite activities is fishing, he signed up for primitive fishing and trapping.  He also enrolled in tribal drumming, flint knapping, gourd craft, and dream catcher and medicine bag making.  Meanwhile, Catrina took consecutive classes in flint knapping and medicine bag making.  I took classes ranging from bird language to storytelling and tribal drumming.

As much as we loved our individual workshop classes, we all agreed that we were allured by the magical feeling at night when everyone gathered around the campfire after our delicious dinners.   Sam Vernon, a Chippewa-Cree elder, shared stories and wisdom from his tribe that stretched us to think beyond our modern attitudes and beliefs.  Snow Bear mesmerized us with his personal experiences and beautifully articulated Native-American folklore.  Many others delighted us with stories and adventures.  A 4-year-old boy named Osage even shared a couple of stories about the food chain.  I suppose that is what made it so magical—there was no tension in the air; there were no walls (either physical or metaphorical).  An environment existed that allowed even the youngest participant to step into the circle and share a story with a hundred others.

After story telling, Snow Bear got the drums, rattles and shakarees to stir up Nigerian and other aboriginal rhythms and everyone participated in whatever way he or she was so inclined—some grabbed an instrument, some danced, some youths (or youths at heart) scooped up a palm full of wet earth and used it as body paint.  One boy covered his body entirely!  Everyone was a million mental miles away from the modern rat race and it was only the end of the first full day.  Still to come was a down right fantastic pig roast, blanket trading sessions, and three more days to enjoy sharing with, and learning from, one another in the ultimate relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you are a primitive skills enthusiast or not, you’re sure to have a great experience at the MAPS Meet.  Already my daughter, her boyfriend and I have begun our countdown to next year’s event.  Fortunately, the MAPS Group offers day and weekend events throughout the year.  For information about MAPS Meet 2004 or other MAPS group activities, you can check out their web site at  www.mapsgroup.org. 

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