Aug 27, 2010 By Meg Thompson for The 2 min read

“Relief for cancer” will be the goal of a traditional American Indian gathering in the Millioke Meadows area of Nemacolin Resort & Spa in Farmington this weekend. The public is invited to take part in the festivities and healing prayers of the traveling powwow Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.

“Let’s set aside everything and come with one thought that this cancer is something we are all fighting equally, and it crosses culture, race, gender, lifestyles, color. It’s a curse and a blessing that we can come together and have that thing that we all can look at and say regardless of our differences and difficulties this is something we all need to put our energy into,” said Nathan Phillips, founder and spiritual adviser of Native Youth Alliance, a nonprofit organization for preserving American Indian culture.

Five years ago, Phillips’ daughter, Alethea May, who was age 5 at the time, had a vision for a place of healing for people who are ill. The vision grew into the Heritage of Healing project, promoting wellness and providing cancer prevention education.

Later, Phillips’ wife, Shoshana, was diagnosed with cancer.

“We are just humble Indian people who are inflicted with it and doing it the best way we know how. Share some food, shake hands and wish each other well,” Phillips said of the gathering.

More activities are planned on Sunday.

The event is free, but a free will offering will be accepted.

For more information, call Nathan and Shoshana Phillips at 734-323-0762.