An interview with Ms. Shirley Alphonse, spiritual leader-healer of the T'Sou-ke Nation

Ms. Shirley Alphonse visited Japan in June 2009 for cultural exchange with the Japanese people and
to share T'Sou-ke tribe and Shinto ceremonies. She spoke and performed the T'Sou-ke smudge
ritual on the University of Tokyo main campus and also at Tanashi Shrine in Tokyo.
The following interview took place via e-mail after her around-the-clock
schedule during her visit to Japan had ended.

Please tell us in detail about your role as a healer in your community.

My role in the community is spiritual leader-healer. I do all the prayers for all the events concerning the T'Sou-ke Nation. I visit the homes, as was done in former times, without appointment times, as time allows. The people understand and accept this arrangement. I sit with the family when there is a death. I say prayers with the family and assist them in the decision making for the funeral arrangements. The funeral is held on the fourth day. A vigil is held in the evening before, which I preside at - if the family wishes. I also do the funeral the next day; otherwise I arrange to have a priest preside. I also do graveside burials, prayers, singing, blessings. I go to the homes to do cleansing and blessing of the entire house and have a prayer circle with the family. I sit with individual members to help them through grief or trauma by listening to them, and in the sharing I provide flower essences according to the need. The essences are supplied in dropper bottles. I do smudge circles for community gatherings. Cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and juniper are used in a shell specifically for this, and I use an eagle feather in a brushing motion to clear the aura.

In a religious sense, we Buddhists believe that everything, both animate and inanimate, is a manifestation of the great life force of the universe. Does your tradition share this concept of life?

Yes, we believe that all has life, that all holds energy and is a witness to whatever takes place.

Is ancestor veneration part of your culture? If so, how do T'Sou-ke religious rites, especially prayer, venerate ancestors?

We acknowledge ancestors in prayer to thank them for helping us and for giving us the teachings for us to follow. There is a ritual of Burning after a funeral. A complete meal is prepared early on the morning of the funeral - complete meals also for two to four members of the family on the other side. Specific family members are called separately to come to the table to be with and support their newly deceased family member. In the middle of the table, food is set especially for the ancestors. The table where the meals are set faces east. During the Burning there is silence and keeping still - praying in silence. After the Burning is complete, an area beside it is prepared to burn four complete sets of clothing for the newly deceased and any of his or her favorite belongings. The sets of clothes are hung on a pole over a fire, and the sets are burned one by one. There is always an old one/ ancestor who comes to help, that is, being there as support for the newly deceased. A blanket is offered to them in the Burning to say thank you. After the Burning, messages are shared with the family that were received at that time.

Prayer is often interpreted as an act of supplication to God. We often pray to God or the Buddha for health, good fortune, and other benefits that bring happiness, rather than offering praise or thanksgiving to the Divine, which is another definition of prayer. How does your tradition interpret prayer?

Talking to the Creator - making connection to the Creator by acknowledging the Creator with our hands lifted in the gesture of the Hych-guh, "thank you" - being still and quiet in reverence. We acknowledge that all has life and we are all connected - to be grateful always.

Nowadays it is said that many people feel isolated, often because of unemployment or breaches with family members. Does the T'Sou-ke Nation share this phenomenon with other modern societies?

Yes, we do have the same problem - unemployment was a huge issue with the decline of the logging and fishing industries. Now that we have the Solar Energy Project, there are employment opportunities available for the T'Sou-ke band members, and it is looking positive. We are a small community and there are family issues. I do my best to help families by being a liaison and being mutual.

Can religion, which is supposed to unite people and link them to the divine, help alleviate the sufferings of alienation?

Yes, I definitely believe that religion can unite people and alleviate the sufferings of alienation. Our religion is our teachings. The care and kindness and generosity of our people are phenomenal, especially in a crisis. Also, in a time of a person walking a dark and isolated road, the family gathers and has a table for that person, meaning a family meal shared. They gather to encourage and give guidance from a caring heart. The member is blanketed to let the person know that he or she is loved and supported and honored and to uplift his or her spirit.

The T'Sou-ke Nation has a great tradition of respecting nature. The environmental crisis is one of the most serious problems we face today and is believed to have been caused by human activities. How do you cultivate a reverence for nature besides offering environmental education in schools?

By having the children witness and take part in the ceremonies and rituals, and by explaining to them the importance of respect - the actions we take. The actions we take all have an effect on the well-being of ourselves and Mother Earth.