Frank Decontie   Robert Leverett   Feb 24, 2006 05:30 PST     Just a little background about the Frank tree that you'll be climbing. The fine tree is officially named after Frank Decontie, an Algonquin medicine man from Maniwaki, Canada, well known Native spiritual leader, and Native advisor to ENTS. Frank pased away in August 2001 of a heart condition. His passing was a great loss to the many.    Frank was an extraordinary human. He had many important life missions to help others. For many years he worked with Native people in prison and helped them in countless ways, getting positive behavioral results that western psychiatry only wishes it could emulate. He conducted healing lodges for people from all walks of life. People came from Europe and beyond to participate in Frank's lodges. I personally saw Frank work and on many occasions and I was constantly amazed at the results he got. I attended the fires for some of his sweat lodges. There are many stories that I could tell and I will share some over the coming months and at the climbing event.    Frank traveled regularly on missions of peace with the grand old man William Commanda, the spiritual leader of the Canadian Algonquins, the great canoe maker, sayer of the Algonquin prophecies, and one of the Sunbow Five peace keepers. Frank was William's primary assistant and his spiritual protector. Without Frank, William tended to fall prey to the influences of others who would take advantage of him - including the Canadian government. Frank was to inherit the role of keeper of the Algonquin Seven Fires Wampum Prophecy Belts - an eastern counterpart to those of the Hopi. Frank was a Native advisor to ENTS and visited MTSF several times. He was at the dedication of his tree. In 1993 he and William Command conducted a powerful ceremony at the cave near his tree. It was an event that changed my life and one of the main reasons that I have put so much energy into getting Mohawk Trail State Forest protected.    Our comrade, Will Blozan, met Frank Decontie in Oct of 1996. Frank participated in the first ENTS rendezvous held at Mass Audubon's Wilflife Sanctuary at Wachusett Meadow. Dave Stahle, The Lord of the Rings, was present. Dave presented a dynamite lecture at Wachusett Meadow. Later we all met at my house and that is where the idea of the ENTS website was born. It was to be Dave Stahle's personal gift to ENTS. We sat around my kitchen table. Frank and Sandra Decontie and Jani conducted Indian business in our den while we, the principal tree people, sat around the table and partook of spirits - albeit not of the kind that Frank conjured. I got a little on the happy side and a little louder than normal. From the den, Frank became concerned. Frank said to Jani, "Jani, is Bob having a problem. Is there something you haven't told me?" Jani laughed, heartily. No, it was just that Bob was being sociable. I drink so very little that the tiny bit of Jack Daniels that Dave had brought from Arkansas that I drank went straight to my head. Frank had never seen me touch a drop of alcohol. He was a great friend and protector of both Jani and me.    Frank Deconite was a great man and a noble spirit. His earthly journey was event-filled and rewarding, though in conventional ways, he had had a rough life. But, by the end of his earthly time, Frank's accomplishments had become many. Yet, through successes and failures, he never lost his humility. He could always joke about himself. He once said to me, "I was born poor and I will die poor." In terms of what so many humans value most, their material possessions, indeed, Frank was poor. But in terms of spiritual possessions, he was as rich as any person that I've ever known. It will be the greatest honor for me to be able to honor him again. Frank and Jani formed the Native American soul of ENTS. I believe they still do. Bob Frank Decontie   Edward Frank   Feb 27, 2006 15:01 PST  ENTS, A quick internet search found a number of interesting pieces on Frank Decontie. One of the more interesting was an interview given in the second link below. I plan to add his name to the page of ENTS people on the website. Ed Frank ---------------------------------------- Sacred Instructions This system is dedicated to the indigenous peoples of the world and to the enrichment it can bring to all people. ... by Spiritual Elder William Commanda and Frank Decontie. http://www.indigenouspeople.net/mother.htm "Seeing The Light Through The Heart Of An Indian: An Interview with Frank DeContie... .. Seeing The Light Through The Heart Of An Indian: An Interview with Frank DeContie. by Carol Bedrosian. I first met Frank DeContie and his wife Sandra at our very first ... http://www.nativevillage.org/Inspiration-/Sacred%20Instructions.htm NATIVE-L (July 1995): Sunbow 5 Journal - Day 1, 6/23/95 His nephew, Frank DeContie, carried his message to the people. ... FRANK DECONTIE of the Manawaki Reserve in Quebec, Canada, nephew of ... http://www.native-net.org/archive/nl/9507/0275.html A Spiritual Gathering .. Harvest Gathering in September '97, we met Frank and Sandra Decontie, traditional teachers and healers who came to ... and his dad) to help Frank with a Lodge that he was ... http://www.earthdrum.com/a_spiritual_gathering.htm   Home