Opening the 9th Gathering of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, Yu’pik Grandmother Rita Pitka Blumentian lit the central fire on the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage. At each of the Grandmothers Council, the Sacred Fire burns for 7 days and nights, having been lit with prayers and ashes from other Council Fires.
Grandmothers and elders will be offering prayers at the fire through Saturday. The fire site remains open to public, who are encouraged to approach with reverence and respect, until it expires on Wednesday, May 25.
