Margaret Behan
Encyclopedia
Margaret Behan is a Native American
spiritual elder who is Arapahoe-Cheyenne and a fifth generation of the Sand Creek Massacre
. Through her work as an indigenous elder stateswoman, Margaret has gained international recognition through her work as part of the Council of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
ceremony was arranged before her conception. Peyote was always seen as a healing medicine to her and her family.
due to the properties of the clay there.
ceremonies, Margaret was able to become free of her addiction.
As a result of this experience, Margaret has trained to be a Licensed Substance abuse
Counselor and led retreats for children and co-dependants of alcoholics to help other First Nation people that had found themselves in a similar position.
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world.
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
and related edict
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' culture when new lands have been discovered. The Grandmothers have visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees still yet to be revoked.
Margaret was invited to join the council through, she feels, being known through her work with addiction.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
spiritual elder who is Arapahoe-Cheyenne and a fifth generation of the Sand Creek Massacre
Sand Creek Massacre
As conflict between Indians and white settlers and soldiers in Colorado continued, many of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, including bands under Cheyenne chiefs Black Kettle and White Antelope, were resigned to negotiate peace. The chiefs had sought to maintain peace in spite of pressures from whites...
. Through her work as an indigenous elder stateswoman, Margaret has gained international recognition through her work as part of the Council of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
Early years
Margaret claims that she was prayed for and a peyotePeyote
Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
ceremony was arranged before her conception. Peyote was always seen as a healing medicine to her and her family.
Family life
When Margaret had children, peyote was important for her children too. After her son suffered from a high heart rate her grandfather and uncles conducted another ceremony and cured him. Margaret claims that heart specialists were amazed as they had never seen such a change.Work as an artist
The mother of Paul Quintana, Margaret's mother-in-law at the time, noticed how well Margaret worked on a pair of beaded moccasins and suggested that she might want to work in clay. Margaret felt so confident in her new career as an artist that she resigned from her job in 1982 and took up her new artistic career full time. Later moving to Taos, New MexicoTaos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
due to the properties of the clay there.
Addiction work
Margaret suffered from alcohol addiction as a young woman. She feels that she drank in order to 'fit in' with her friends. With the aid of addiction clinics, and more of her grandfather's peyotePeyote
Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
ceremonies, Margaret was able to become free of her addiction.
As a result of this experience, Margaret has trained to be a Licensed Substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
Counselor and led retreats for children and co-dependants of alcoholics to help other First Nation people that had found themselves in a similar position.
The Cheyenne Elders Council
Margaret is the President and founder of The Cheyenne Elders Council. This charity was founded in 2008 and has the mission to, "Heal Our Own Oppression."The International Council of 13 Grandmothers
In 2004, Margaret was approached by The Center for Sacred Studies to serve on the International Council of 13 Indigenous GrandmothersInternational Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world.
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
and related edict
Edict
An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are currently the only persons who still issue edicts.-Notable edicts:...
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' culture when new lands have been discovered. The Grandmothers have visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees still yet to be revoked.
Margaret was invited to join the council through, she feels, being known through her work with addiction.