Peter Shorts: Chansasa (Red Willow-Dakota) is the name given to me. I am a helper from Thundercloud Clan under the Iron Circle Nation. My mother’s people are Mexican (Chichimecas) from Zacatecas, Mexico. My father’s people are the Iroquois of Virginia area, the Manahoac. My government name is Peter Shorts, LCSW. I am a ceremonial person in recovery traveling the Red Road as a sober person. Walking between two worlds of ancient wisdom and technology and the Western, colonized reality we all live in. I invite those who are seeking recovery to join the sacred hoop of all human beings to share a talking circle, and participate in what the Wellbriety Meetings have to offer.
A’ho mitakuye oyasin
Carl Rice: Hi, I’m Carl. I’ve been in recovery for 25 years. Now is an exciting time for people to be in recovery because addiction is one of the least understood afflictions, and there’s now a movement in our society to gain a better understanding of it.
Through the course of my journey I’ve attended countless meetings and done service work including pulling people out of the Tenderloin and Skid Row and acting as a sober companion, accompanying people to rehab. I’ve spent 7 years working with Marines in recovery and I’ve driven to remote places on the Navajo Nation, helping to set up meetings and delivering literature.
In 2020 I returned to the Joshua Tree Music Festival while also working through a potentially debilitating chronic illness, which meant that I had to navigate pain management—I’m now a pain management mentor. All of these experiences led me to the Wellbriety meetings.
This year for the festival, I’ve partnered with Peter Shorts, an amazing person and spiritual liaison and my trudging buddy since 2006, to bring these meetings to the festival.