Three Elders Meet at Burning Man

Something unexpected and beautiful happened at Burning Man this year. That happens quite a lot at burns, but this one felt particularly special.

Dean met two South American Indigenous elders: Don Sebastián Pauccar Flores, a Q’ero elder and Pampamisayoc from Peru, and Panchita Calfín, a Mapuche-Lafkenche elder and Lawentuchefe, a traditional medicine woman from Patagonia, Chile.

There was a deep connection between the three, and what started as one meeting turned into several gatherings throughout the week. None of this had been planned beforehand, and by the end, they were already talking about meeting again next year.

How they met

The Fire Circle art project brought Don Sebastian and Panchita to the playa. They asked if Dean would come and bless the piece on the Saturday before the event.

That was where the three first met. They shared stories, wisdom, songs and blessings, and clearly wanted to spend more time together.

The Temple opening

They next met at the Temple opening on Sunday night, where they shared songs, wisdom, and blessings with the burner community. It was a chance for more of us to be part of what had started at the Fire Circle.

Visiting Dean’s teepee

Later in the week, we arranged a gathering at Dean’s teepee to share food and exchange gifts. The elders continued their conversations and shared blessings, giving the three of them time to get to know each other better.

Those of us there had the chance to listen and learn as they shared with each other and with us. It was special to see that connection deepen and a friendship develop, something none of us expected at the start of the week.

Dean’s talk at Center Camp

Next, we went to Dean’s scheduled talk at Center Camp. This was Dean’s time to speak, but he decided to share it with his new friends, Don Sebastián and Panchita.

Together, they shared wisdom and blessings, and the talk became a much broader, deeper and stronger message than any of us had expected. Dean’s decision to share his talk was a powerful example of Radical Inclusion, one of Burning Man’s principles.

Watch the YouTube video shared above to hear what they had to say. It’s well worth your time.

Dinner and the Hand Game

On Saturday, at the end of the week, we ate together at Camp Mystic. Thanks to the camp for hosting Don Sebastián and Panchita. During the evening, Dean decided to share the Hand Game with us.

This was the first time I’d learned about this traditional Indigenous game, which has a long history in the Great Basin. Teams guess where small bones are hidden in the other players’ hands, with songs and rhythm accompanying the game. It was great to learn about it from Dean and get to play together.

For me, what made this so special was that none of these gatherings had been planned beyond the original invitation. Three elders met, connected, and wanted more time together, so we arranged gatherings as the week went on.

I asked our new friends if they planned to come back to Burning Man. They said yes; they would be back next year and would bring more elders. ❤️