Blue Deer Center

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Blue Deer Center Blue Deer Center is a Sacred place, rooted in nature; offering transformation and healing. We are all children of God. It is not ours to take.

Authentic Wisdom Traditions

About Elders

"The teachings are for all, not just for Indians...The white people never wanted to learn before...Now they have a different understanding, and they do want to learn. The tradition is open to anyone who wants to learn. But who really wants to learn?"

ā€”Don Jose Matsuwa, Huichol, 1989

The Non-Indigenous Connection with Indigenous People
You might be wondering what all these ā€œwhite folksā€ are doing teaching at a Center that promotes the honoring and preservation of indigenous traditions. We understand the serious problem of cultural appropriation of indigenous practices, the theft of traditions that are not our own, for personal possession or to place feathers in our caps. As you will see from the stories of our elders and teachers, our work within a culture that lives mostly outside indigenous traditions follows a respectful approach to indigenous wisdom. We can request the sharing of that wisdom, but we must be prepared to hear and accept, ā€œNoā€ if an elder does not wish to share. We can ask to receive teachings, but we must be prepared to fulfill conditions of acceptance in exchange for those teachings. Many indigenous elders envision a reconnection with our non-traditional culture as a crucial step toward the survival of humanity in the world. They find themselves between two different worlds, with one foot in their indigenous homelands and the other in our western consumer culture. From this place, they have the advantage of being able to impart traditional wisdom to our non-traditional culture, and perhaps change our present course. Malidoma SomĆ©, for example, was declared by his ancestors before birth to serve as just such a ā€œbridgeā€. Others amongst our teachers, like Eliot Cowan (read a recent interview in Indian Country Today and a letter to the Huichol people in Sacred Fire Magazine) and Colin Campbell, were ā€œcalledā€ into their work by the traditions they now practice. The creation of programs at the Blue Deer Center follows strict criteria in determining both the authenticity of the work to be offered, as well as the ongoing relationships the teachers maintain with their traditions. Only in this way, in complete respect and humility to the ancestral lineages of wisdom keepers, can we grow together in this work.

After a rainy day yesterday with the remnants of a hurricane moving through, the cupola is up and the Fire Pavilion is m...
10/12/2026

After a rainy day yesterday with the remnants of a hurricane moving through, the cupola is up and the Fire Pavilion is moving toward completion!

The Timber Framers Guild Teachers & Volunteers have arrived at Blue Deer Center! https://mailchi.mp/bluedeer/tfg-arrived...
10/04/2026

The Timber Framers Guild Teachers & Volunteers have arrived at Blue Deer Center! https://mailchi.mp/bluedeer/tfg-arrived

The spirit on the land is strong!

The retaining wall and foundation are now complete, the site is ready, and the timber framers are measuring, calculating, planning, and preparing for the building the Pavilion

The birth of the fire pavilion is happening now.

Over the coming days, weā€™ll keep sharing the progress as the Fire Pavilion rises.

This is an extraordinary journey.

https://bluedeer.org/donate

The Labor Has Begunā€¦šŸ”„ - https://mailchi.mp/bluedeer/labor-has-begunHere the earth is being prepared for the 40-foot Fire...
09/25/2026

The Labor Has Begunā€¦šŸ”„ - https://mailchi.mp/bluedeer/labor-has-begun

Here the earth is being prepared for the 40-foot Fire Pavilion. Excavation, concrete footings, reinforcing steel, drainage, grading, and a beautiful half-moon retaining wall will create a strong and lasting foundation for what is to come.

Every footing poured, every stone placed, and every part of the site prepared moves us closer to the moment when the Fire Pavilion is born and becomes the spiritual heart of Blue Deer Center.

https://bluedeer.org/donate

Address

1155 County Highway 6
Margaretville, NY
12455

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+18455863225

Website

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