The Hoop Of Peace

Geared to young readers, but suitable for all ages, THE HOOP OF PEACE shows by drawings & photographs how the Indian hoop dance is performed. It begins with a fascinating story of how a Lakota Indian, Kevin Locke, who from childhood had dreamed of becoming a hoop dancer, learned the art & many of its secret tricks from one of his friends. It was lucky that he did as there are very few of the traditional hoop dancers left & this friend passed on soon afterward. The book provides fascinating insight into the hoop dance & how the hoop, a circle, symbolizes peace to the Lakota & that each circular pattern in Locke's hoop dance represents something from nature such as a butterfly, eagle, flower, sun & the moon. One Holy Man of the Lakota, Black Elk, had a vision years ago of a time in the future when the then broken hoop of the Lakota would be mended & interlocked with the hoops of many other nations, intertwined in one great circle representing the hoop of mankind. He depicts this world hoop, where the sacred tree blossoms anew in multi-colored splendor.