25th Australian Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Gathering Ceremony
Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, acknowledging the Gunditjmara people, will host a ceremony for four days near Nelson, Vic.
Dates: 23-26th October 2025 (Camp Day 22nd October)
Location: Lightbody Rd, Nelson, Vic. 13km before Nelson on the Portland side).
From Portland take Portland/Nelson Rd C192. Travel 56km and turn left into Lightbody Rd. Travel approx 2 kms.
Turn right and follow SUT signs and red ribbons.
- 22nd October: Camp day, you are welcome to arrive and get ready and comfortable on site to be ready to begin ceremony on the 23rd. You will be asked to honour a treaty between yourself, SUT and the Elders regarding conduct while on the land.
- 23rd October: The gathering ceremony will commence at sunrise, with ceremony to light the sacred fire, which will be the centre of the gathering.
- 26th October: The gathering ceremony will conclude in the afternoon, followed by a fundraiser auction.
- 27th October: Cleanup day, anyone able is invited to remain to help tidy and reset the site.
You are welcome to attend any part of the ceremony that your life and schedule allows. Many people join Gathering for the weekend, those who can will hold the fire until you arrive and after you depart.
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL UNITY GATHERING?
- WHY DO WE GATHER?
The Original Vision: To bring medicine to people through ceremony, to preserve and in some cases re-teach elements of the old ways of living. To enable the vision of Grandmother Iron Eagle and Black Elk which was for the reunification of all peoples, all colours, all religions, all classes. To work towards the sacred.
- WHO COMES TO GATHERING?
A Gathering is a community of people of all backgrounds, ages and cultures, who come together for four days of peace, prayer, learning and sharing knowledge. We are Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, plural. And remember – every single one of us comes from a tribal people.
- WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO AT GATHERING?
Gathering is a four day spiritual and prayer ceremony.
The spiritual center of our Gathering is an Arbour – a sacred circle where we come together around a fire. On the first day, we light the fire in ceremony, and it becomes The Fire, the focus and heart of our time together.
The Arbour and the Fire create a sacred space. We meet in the Arbour a few times a day, to offer positive uplifting words to the Fire and each other. People share teaching stories, bits of knowledge, an experience or event, a story, or a challenge conquered.
Respect for all is the only thing required when you speak as preaching, self-promotion, bullying or rudeness will not be tolerated.
Honouring the Water Ceremony:
Within Gathering a water ceremony will be held, please bring a small amount of water from your local area, a creek, river, dam, tap. We will mix these together for a special ‘Honouring the Water Ceremony.’
SUT gatherings have no formal charge so that no one is excluded by lack of money; however there are costs, so all donations are gratefully accepted with thanks.
Donations:
Please donate on Facebook, Spiritual Unity of the Tribes-Australia
Paypal:
https://paypal.me/SUTAustralia?locale.x=en_A
Bank Transfer: Bendigo Bank, Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, BSB:633-000 A/c No:1085 40493
All donations are tax deductible as we are a registered charity.
ACCOMMODATION:
Bush camping on the land. Quite hilly terrain.
- No electricity.
- No water.
- No showers.
Room for tents, campers, etc. Parking will be allocated away from the tent area. Caravans will be permitted in the van area.
The nearest offsite accommodation is at Nelson. They have accommodation for those wishing to stay off-site. It’s about a 25 minute drive to the gathering site from Nelson.
Consider carpooling to the gathering.
FOOD AND SUPPLIES
Shared Lunches:
Please bring a food donation for the community kitchen. Lunch is a shared meal, cooked from the kitchen donations. Bring food that does not require refrigeration. E.g. vegetables, fruit, rice, pasta.
Bring your own reusable cutlery, plates, cups, and bowls for shared meals.
Other Meals:
All other meals are the responsibility of the individual: you must bring enough food to feed yourself for the entire gathering.
The celebration meal on the Sunday night will be a ‘bring a plate’ and there may be some donated food leftover to use for this meal.
Water:
There is no water on site. It is imperative that everyone bring their own drinking and personal use water.
Other supplies: Folding chairs, sunscreen, water bottles, umbrellas, torches, groundsheets/tarps. Include solid footwear, rain gear and warm clothing, nights will be cold.
BE PREPARED
Remember this is a basic camping situation.
Bring everything you need for all types of weather, and every hour of the day and night.
If you are driving and have room, and in the spirit of the gathering, please bring extra things such as chairs, tarps and blankets to share with elders or those flying in.
HISTORY OF SPIRITUAL UNITY
In 1989, in response to a vision given to a Pasqua grandmother Grandmother Ironeagle, three spiritual leaders put in place a mechanism to help address this problem.
Jim Walton, Ben Rhodd and Harvey Ironeagle (all respected medicine people) planned Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, a series of gatherings designed to bring people of all faiths and races together. Over four days and around a sacred fire these gatherings of people were addressed by the elders, by people with vision, by healers and by mothers. No politics were mentioned; just prayers, healings and a sharing of medicine to heal the people.
Spiritual Unity of the Tribes (SUT) has been brought to Australia at the request of Medicine People overseas, to help spread the healing that the world so desperately needs. It offers a safe community of people sharing a common belief – an acknowledgement of a higher power and intent and belief that through prayer change and healing can occur.
A Gathering will hold as its centre the honouring of spirit, the sanctity of the land and the wisdom of the elders. Gatherings are to be living demonstrations of the ancient values of truth, peace, non-violence and love.
LORE and PROTOCOL
All ceremonies will be under the guidance of the Gathering Council. This is a spiritual cultural gathering NOT a music festival.
NO: Personal camp fires (due to fire restrictions)
NO: Alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, chroming, firearms
NO: Politics, proselytizing (preaching or promoting other business or causes)
NO: Amplified Music
NO: Pets are allowed at the gathering, other than assistance animals.
The gathering is being held on private land, please respect the land and leave it as you found it.
TECHNOLOGY
Photographs: May only be taken in the general camp area and at the fire before or after the closing ceremony.
Mobiles phones: Should be switched off and only used for outgoing calls in camp if absolutely necessary.
SACRED FIRE
The fire in the Arbour is sacred. No rubbish, cigarette butts, crystals or personal objects should be placed on or near the fire. Only the fire keeper may put wood on the fire.
DRESS CODE
You are requested to exercise a sense of modesty in the way you dress while at the gathering. This is to demonstrate proper respect for the sacred fire, the elders and for those of all backgrounds and beliefs who may attend the gathering with you.
Other protocols will be explained during the gathering, but if you are unsure about any protocol, behavior or ceremony, please ask a member of the Gathering Council. We simply ask for all people to conduct themselves with respect for all, in a good way.
PARTICIPATION
In keeping with the spirit of the gatherings everyone is welcome at no formal charge, so no one is excluded by lack of money, however gatherings do cost so donations are needed and gratefully accepted.
Please consider bringing and supporting an elder or grandmother, or a young person from any family or nation.
This gathering depends on your support, both in attendance and participation. The gathering is not for spectators. Help us share the essence of living as told by the grandmothers.
Your help is necessary for a successful gathering.
Please sign up for tasks upon arrival:
• Meal preparation and clean up
• Assisting the Elders
• Fire Keeping: under the guidance of traditional fire keepers
• Clean up
• Set Up and Security: please contact the Gathering Council on
c3Bpcml0dWFsdW5pdHkyMDE3IHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20=
DONATIONS
Please donate here:
Paypal:
https://paypal.me/SUTAustralia?locale.x=en_A
Bank Transfer: Bendigo Bank, Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, BSB:633-000 A/c No:1085 40493
All donations are tax deductible as we are a registered charity.
If you can assist with any of the following needs of the gathering please consider donating or reaching out to the council -
Sponsor an Elder:
The Elders have indicated that they should speak, sharing their wisdom and knowledge with us. We would like to assist as many Elders as possible with their transportation and accommodation.
General Donations:
SUT gatherings have no formal charge so that no one is excluded by lack of money; however there are costs, so all donations are gratefully accepted with thanks.
Fundraising Auction:
Please bring something wonderful to donate to our auction, which will be held on Sunday after the closing ceremony. Books, craftwork, jewelry, art, etc. Advance notice is not required for Auction donations, unless it is a major piece which we could advertise in advance.
Bring cash, we have NO Eftpos
Membership of Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Inc Assoc:
Available at $33 per person per annum.
Transfer to our Bank account anytime here: Bendigo Bank, Spiritual Unity of the Tribes, BSB:633-000 A/c No:1085 40493 or contact the SUT Treasurer, John Palmer at
c3Bpcml0dWFsdW5pdHkyMDE3IHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20=
Also check out other Nonprofit events in Portland.
