BIPOC RITES: TENDING THE ALTAR OF OUR ANCESTORS

“I didn’t know that I needed the medicine that Wild Mountain provides until I got here and experienced the land and the community. The type of healing that Rites can open up is vital and timely.  I connected with my ancestors in a sacred way and am so grateful.”  -Simon 

This 7-day program is open to all who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)—also called People of the Global Majority. It is a space to rekindle, stoke, and offer devotion to our relationships with the land, the more-than-human world, our ancestors, and ourselves. From this grounding, we can more authentically contribute to our communities, rooted in who we are, our people, and the lands that hold us.

Each day we will gather in Council (a sitting circle) before going out for solo time on the land. These two pieces, time alone, and time together, allows the full spectrum of our inner and outer landscapes to be explored and celebrated. 

Modern earth-based rites of passage rarely center the experiences of BIPOC communities, though our cultures often hold the most recent ties to earth-based ways. Many of us come from lineages uprooted through slavery, colonization, globalization, diaspora and assimilation—whether in recent or far-reaching histories. This program offers the opportunity to seed anew or revitalize your connection with your ancestors, tending their altars and rooting them in the landscape—while holding the ongoing realities of settler colonialism.

This program is for those both familiar with and completely new to earth-based rites. Together we will create a temporary community, exploring our relationships with nature, with self, with the more-than-human world, and with our ancestors. Through somatic resiliency work, daily solo walks on the land, council, altar-building, self-generated ceremony, shared meals, and the Four Shields of Human Nature, you will be supported in reclaiming, healing, empowering, and celebrating these vital relationships.

“This experience was beyond anything I could have imagined. [It] felt magical…making friends and learning how to be playful in presence.  I feel I’ve made lifelong friendships and am leaving feeling very clear in my direction and purpose.  From the bottom of my heart - Thank you.”  - Mei-Ling 

July 10-18 2027

● Arrival: 4pm on Saturday, July 10, 2027 

● Departure/End: Sunday July 18, 2027 by 11am (earlier is OK)

● Pre-Gathering Meetings: Three 1.5 hr Zoom sessions.  Deposit unlocks access 

Pre-Gathering Meetings

While the above dates are when we meet in person at Wild Mountain, there will be several Zoom gatherings in the months before to support preparation and the process of moving out of prior routines.  We believe preparing before the journey is essential to deepening the experience by beginning to cultivate community, reflect on what is transforming in your life, set intentions for this program, and take care of all the logistics required to tend to physical needs. 

Once you commit to this program with a deposit, the journey begins!  These gatherings are an important way to prepare yourself and the community for a transformational time on the land together.

Guides

You can learn about us on the ABOUT US page. We look forward to connecting!

Chip Mitchell

Kim Moriyama

Tender Harris

Practical Preparations

This program is a camping-based event, meaning you will be sleeping in a tent at nearly 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, with temperatures ranging from mid 40s at night to high 80s during the day. Wild Mountain offers fresh drinking water, outdoor showers, and a simple outdoor kitchen. We encourage shared meals and collective cooking, so please bring food to contribute.

Most days will include time in Council, so bring a comfortable chair if you’d like (we can provide one if needed). Pack layers for a variety of weather conditions. A full equipment list will be sent upon registration, and extra gear is available—please reach out if you need support.

Covid Protocol

All participants are asked to take a Covid test within 48 hours of the program. Please contact us with any questions.

Deposit

To secure your spot and participate in the pre-gathering calls, a nontransferable and nonrefundable deposit of $200 is required by May 28th 2027, along with registration forms. If the deposit is a barrier, or if you need support for travel costs, please contact us.

Donation-Based Contribution

Our intention is to make this program accessible while sustaining our team of BIPOC Guides and Assistants. It costs approximately $800-$1200 per participant to run this program.  

Beyond the deposit, please give what you are able, recognizing the time, energy, and resources that go into this offering. Those able to contribute more make it possible for others to join.

All proceeds go directly to supporting future BIPOC participants in programs and Guide Training. 

If you need additional support, please reach out about our BIPOC Access Fund.

Registration & Questions

To register, join the waitlist, or ask questions, please email our team at: tendingthealtar@wildmountainretreats.org