ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ Memorial

Ꭷ This monument, removes today, was a ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ memorial to the ᎠᏣᎳᎩ Brigadier General of the ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ Army, Stand Waite ᏚᏙᎥ, and was erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy with the stated purpose of commemorating the soldiers that died in the civil war. This was done after the ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ Square, where the memorial was removed,  was annexed by the State of Oklahoma. I applaud the ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯ for exercising his legal right to remove the memorial. 

When it comes to history and the reasons as to why the ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ was caught up in that war were indeed complicated. The treaty of 1866 carved out restitution for the ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ military actions in cooperation with the ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ with deep gouges in ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ land base and autonomy.  This, despite the fact that the ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ had its own civil war at this time with the backdrop of the ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ Civil war as the setting and stage. I’m afraid neither the ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ side nor the ᏧᏴᏢ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ side of the ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ aspect were about states rights. The ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ was fighting for survival and that meant different things to those involved. The ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ civil war was over the states’ rights to have slavery, the ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ was thrown into it. Some ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ fought to have slaves some ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ fought to free them but for many the issue of slavery was only part of why they fought. 

In my ᏑᏓᏁᎵ, we say we were descended from the ᎠᏂᏃᏓᏢ, ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ. We also say we were from the ᎠᏂᎩᏚᏩᎩ ᎤᎾᏙᏢᏒᎢ, ᏧᏴᏢ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ. The truth is I’m mixed. Most of us ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ are, and so is our history. It’s complicated. 

The statue isn’t. It’s a memorial to a ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ leader erected by outsiders that were ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ sympathizers, in the civil rights era. This was to push a ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ supremacist ideology. Nothing for ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ. It’s purpose isn’t to preserve history, only to manipulate the sentiments of those that pass by in favor of one ideology over the other. And to declare to all people, ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦᎠᏂᎬᎿᎨ alike, that the ᏧᎦᏃᏮ was still here and plans to flex its muscle however it can. 

True history examines multiple aspects and doesn’t glorify an ideology. 

It’s likely the removal of this statue has already renewed more interest in history than its erection ever did. It was not erected to educate but to obscure history and glorify an ideology with the a symbolism that flexes ᏧᎦᏃᏮ ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎬ sympathies onto ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ land. ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏴ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎠᏂᎬᎿᎨᎢ ᏓᏅᏅ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏗᏳ

Ꭷ ᎢᏥᏴᏫᏯ ᏫᏨᏲᎵᎦ violence is on my mind. I know people say violence isn’t effective. Sadly it is. I don’t like it but it has always been used by colonial systems, but I argue both sides about its “rightness”. Just because violence is wrong, scary, and obviously dangerous, does not mean that it is ineffective. We have a teaching called ᏚᏳᎪᏛ “duyugtv” and that can be translated as the truth, justice, or the way. It is often called the “white path”, because it is the path of peace.

The red path is the path of blood. It is the idea that to restore justice, we will spill blood. This is dirty and wrong, but it is better than watching innocents die. War is always wrong. Violence is never good, but standing idle while others are attacked is arguably worse.

There is a consequence to the red path, but it must always be paid with honor, and without denial of wrong doing, or excuses. Colonial systems do not have this responsible aspect. They hid behind “rights”, legality, and what is considered justified to excuse their actions. Often the justification came after the choices made.

If we make choices based on anything but ᏚᏳᎪᏛ, we must be willing to accept the consequences. That means the consequences of inaction as well. ᎣᏏᏳ
ᎠᏴ ᏩᏕ ᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏴᏫ ᎠᏂᏫᎾ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏛᎯᏍᏛ

Ꭷ ᏂᎦᏓᏊ

I realize up front I must disclose my bias. I am a barely identifiable, mixed blood Cherokee man that believes in gerontocracy. I cannot speak for Indigenous, or Native, people in general, as we are all different. By the same token, I cannot speak for Cherokees because we are also incredibly diverse. My views are my own but have been informed by our traditional teachings- ᎠᏂᎩᏚᏩᎩ ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ ᏕᏥᏍᏓᏩᏗᏒ

Like many people, when I saw the shortened clip after the Native Peoples’ March in DC last Saturday, I was heartbroken. I was not enraged, just hurt. I, like most Native people, recognized Nate Phillips’s experience and related to it, what looked like contempt and arrogance on the young man’s face under that MAGA cap. It was social media. We should have been more cautious with the response. Even though it was a social media video that seemed to have started the backlash to the incident, it seems that in the backlash to social media, mainstream media has not done much better. 

I immediately began to think of ways we could make the situation better for everyone. Our children need better educations. We should not indoctrinate them to a specific political spectrum but educate them to think critically about what it means to be a good citizen in today’s world. Various perspectives should be discussed with historical and social context and critically examined. Children should be guided and not lead to be myopic. 

I’m friends with angry Natives. Sometimes, I am an angry Native. When I see “MAGA,” I also see “let’s return to a time that we have heard about, a time when minorities had much less access to wealth, resources, education and power, when our grandparents were stripped of our languages, and our parents were forced to negotiate the choice between identity and survival”. I grew up in a time that was good to be Indian. I was made to feel honored by my heritage, but I have learned this is a newer paradigm and the older America was not so great for far too many people. It’s better now and I appreciate that. To make it great again, begs the question of how to do that. For some it could be nothing but the best of intentions, but for others it could be less, a return to the challenging times of my elders and ancestors. Based on the actions of some, many of us fear the latter. 

The boys should not have been subjected to the verbal assaults shown in the extended videos or the backlash from social media. They were indeed wearing inflammatory clothing and that is an act. Maybe they were coached or didn’t know better but wearing something that, to so many, represents a time of oppression and racism is a conscious act to communicate their position. It could at the very least inspire negative reactions, and in some areas put the wearer in danger. I don’t think anyone should be accosted for what they choose to wear. I also don’t think children should walk around DC with politically inflammatory rhetoric, for their own sake, especially at school sanctioned events. They should be sheltered from that level of discourse in representation of their school. 

When an elder of any background approaches me for any reason, I show respect. To me, respect is a behavior, not just a feeling. It didn’t used to be just a Native thing. It was a universal thing. Now we are taught to respect those that respect us. Our older generations were taught that respect is a given to elders. It is clear Mr. Phillips believed he was stepping into a potentially charged situation wherein a large group of young men were in a verbal altercation with a smaller group of minorities.

In effort to diffuse the situation, through an intervention of sorts, he stepped between them using our oldest form of reconciliation, a song. This may have been misunderstood by the young men and they may have had better intentions than it first appeared, but they did not react the way many of us would have expected. Some, however pointed out that they would have done the same. However, I challenge them to think of the situation in reverse. If an elder European American had begun to sing to a group of African American young men and those young men then stepped up in the same way the European American boys did, the issue may have ended with more conflict than a viral video. 

The songs they sang may have been glee songs or school spirit chants, but those chants were misappropriated from the indigenous Māori people from New Zealand. The Haka that they were imitating is something quite spectacular and unique to the Māori and the Māori question anyone who performs it without sanction. I have been honored to learn at the knees of their elders. The tomahawk chop and mock war whoops were racially insensitive at best, and provocative at worst. 

The Elder, Mr. Phillips, may have been attempting to step up and take responsibility to diffuse the situation, as he suggested. If not, his actions would be hard to interpret in any other way. He was not mocking the young men or accosting them with verbal attacks or angry words. He used a form of correction that diverts attention away from the conflict. This is a time tested and honored way to address conflict. He stepped out and sang to diffuse the situation. A tradition that brings our people together and bolsters good feelings among those assembled. Apparently, it worked because when he finished, it was over. The AIM flag song is not sacred to some, but it could be considered spiritual and he should be commended for singing the song to dispel the conflict, even if he had to walk out of his way to do it. He was non-threatening. 

The young men may have made mistakes by some interpretations but ultimately as minors, the adults that should have been leading them to make better decisions failed, both, them and us. I can’t defend the actions of the young men but i want to divert the focus. We need better education and dialogue to help prevent this sort of incident and not escalate it. I believe it is an elder’s responsibility to correct and direct and adults should follow that lead. That’s why this long letter is a plea to make changes. Reach out to our Native communities and other minorities for guest speakers and curriculum guidance. If folks don’t like what we say, we should still learn to understand why we say it. I’m listening to my European American friends and I am learning. In fact, I have been my whole life. It has been impressed upon me to listen to the majority, understand it, learn it and even become it. I will not do the latter. It has also been my job to explain why we are different and why our perspective matters. That is tiresome, too. It is worth it though. We must take the time to learn from one another and learn about one another, from each other’s perspectives. If the narratives and ideas are in conflict, hear them out. Understanding will overcome with patience, time and effort. 

For my Native friends and relatives, it is time to step up and be teachers. I know it’s a heavy burden and we should not have to beg to be valued and for our voices to be heard. It is emotional labor of the colonized to educate the masses about our lives, but our elders have already given so much. We can now play our role. If it’s too heavy of a burden, pass it on to another who can bare it. Just like Nate Phillips stepped up to diffuse the situation, we are being called to do the same. Our motives will be questioned, and we will be vilified but the future generations will benefit from our interventions. It’s time to step up so our elders can teach us, not with demands and anger, but with patience and grace. Not because it is owed but because we have that power. 

Let’s not cry for the destruction of those that are ignorant, misguided or confused. Let’s educate our children and their’s, alike. Each Nation has been given teachings and it is time to share them and apply them equally, and with rigor. We should not be selective with the blessings of our teachings. If we are going to expect better behavior, we need to provide them with what we value and expect. The best way to teach is by example. They are asking for a better way and if we have it, we are better off by sharing it. Maybe enough will listen to cause change. 

For those of you who don’t understand Indians or Indigenous people and what we do, please don’t react to us with distain and incredulous mockery. Understand that some of us are so lost and changed by five centuries of confusion and chaos that we cannot give a unified and comprehensive answer, but we have wise ones among us. We have elders who have kept our ways, and young people we hold accountable to keep them alive- ways of respect, dignity, and responsibility. ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏦᏤᎵᎢ spheres:

1. ᏏᏴᏫ ᏧᏤᎵ - ᏄᏍᏓ, ideas, and ᎪᎱᏍᏗ improved upon, fruits of labor, grown or collected and in private possession with an intention to keep private or ᎤᏕᎵᎦ. Eg ᏅᏬᏘ, ᏗᎬᏙᏗ, clothing, weapons, and recipes.

2. ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ - personal ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ  released to the ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ but not released to the public; and ᏄᏍᏓ, ideas, and ᎪᎱᏍᏗ improved upon, fruits of labor grown or collected, with an open intention to re-distribute. Eg subsistence and building materials, ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ, ᎦᎵᏦᏕ ᏗᏓᏁᎳ, furnishing, ᏧᎾᏦᏙᏗ, ᏗᎦᎾᏝᎢ, and ᎠᏂᏴᏫ.

3. ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ - private or ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ released to the public, and resources in a tribally held area. Eg ᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ, wild plants, and other resources in a geographical area, ceremonial ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏓ, ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ, and sacred or ceremonial objects.

4. ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ ᏦᏤᎵ - all ᏦᏤᎵᎢ or resources not bound to ᏏᏴᏫ, ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ, or ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ. Eg ᎠᎹ, ᎤᏃᎴ, ᏗᎧᎾᏩᏛᏍᏗ, ᎢᏯᏛᏁᏗ, and ᏧᏃᎯᏳᎢ.

When we release things to the ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ alone it is ᏗᏓᏁᎵᎢ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ, when we release things to ᏍᎦᏚᎩ it is ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ, and when we release things to the public, it is ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ ᏦᏤᎵᎢ. The transition from one sphere to the next suggests a respectful request to declare its source to acknowledge reciprocity and transfer ownership. 

ᎪᎱᏍᏗ abandoned or placed on the ᎦᏙᎯ were considered ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ to the next sphere without recourse for reciprocity or acknowledgment. Otherwise, ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ released must be declared as such must be acknowledged by both spheres, ᏏᏴᏫ or ᏚᎾᏓᏡᎩᎢ. 

ᏑᏓᏁᎵᎢ and ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ are held by ᏗᏂᎦᏘᏱ, all in those spheres have ᎢᎦᏗᎭ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎦ, but not equal access to ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ, and consensus within those spheres is needed to release it to another sphere, ᏏᏴᏫ, or ᎤᎾᏓᏡᎩᎢ. Sharing is permitted, but no changes or improvements are allowed by those sharing in that sphere. 

ᏏᏴᏫ ᏧᎾᏤᎵᎢ requires no outside consent to release it, but once released it cannot be re-personalized. Shared ᎤᎾᏤᎵᎢ allows no changes or improvements be made by those sharing in that ᎤᎾᏤᎵᎢ. 

ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ

Whotzitz and Whazitz were all descended from the great Whatzitz Nation. That’s how it was until the Thmz came in and said “this land is great” and decided that it was the greatest land to take. 

The Thmz took the land and said Whatzitz can’t be. So the great Whatzitz Nation was broken, the Thmz took it away. That was okay because from the start the Whozits were there. The Whozits were Whatzitz but no one really cared. 

When the Thmz first came to the Land of the Great they changed the name of the Whozitz to Whatzitz and that name then stuck. The Whozitz became Whatzitz on all paperwork. When the papers were gone the the Whozitz were the same but they had lost the name Whatzitz and the Thmz were to blame. 

After a time the Whozitz stood up and said we are the great Whotzit Nation and we will not ever give up, but we are more Whotzitz than Whatzitz ever was. The Thmz said “that’s fine” and backed down the hill but pointed out the Whazitz existed still. The rest of the Whazitz said “we are the real!” and thought Whazitz are real Whositz; better than even the Whotzitz ... at being the original Whotzitz they were... from two that were one became two turned to none. That my friends is really how all the Thmz won. 

ᎤᏍᏗ ᎦᏅᏅ

Ꭷ ᏑᏓᏁᎵ ᏥᎦᏛᏍᎬᎢ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏕᎦᏓᏠᏯᏍᏗ

I have some good thoughts I want to share with you. Many of you have heard about our white path (ᏚᏳᎪᏛ) sometimes called ᏧᏁᎦ ᏅᏃᎯ, it is the path of giving and honesty. It is honorable and good for many reasons and if followed to its completion it will bring many blessings in a person’s life. To think right and do right seeking no harm and no malice towards anyone. It is the path of healing and leads to great growth.

Now, take a moment and think back over the years of your life and about those that have hurt you, angered you or even annoyed you. Think of those people that you do not want to see and those you do not want to talk to and think about why that is. Did they attack you? Threaten you? Hurt you or worse, did they wrong someone you love and seek above all things to protect? Think on those people and their actions, the events that caused that separation. Now let it go. Let it fall away like water passing around you and through you. Let it, those feelings wash away. Let it go. It doesn’t serve you.

The white path is the path of recovering yourself from those events and situations that don’t serve you. You do not need to invite those people into your life or entertain a close relationship with them. They were a danger and we must still be wary of what has brought us here. However, put the anger and pain away, below your feet because it only gets in our way and trips us up.

There is a red path. It is righteous. Red is ᎩᎦᎨᎢ the color of blood (ᎩᎦ). It stands for true value true meaning because blood is most precious. When a war leader was chosen he was pledged as an uncle. He could direct and correct but it was his job to bring every warrior home. No casualties. If he lost one warrior he would not be asked to lead in that way again until he was able to make amends for that loss. The red path is dangerous because it means we are willing to shed blood for victory in a just cause. We are willing to spill the blood of others and ourselves because the need is that great. It is more wrong to stand by in the name of peace and watch innocents die than it is to take the life of another. That is why we are justified in taking the lives of plants and animals to feed ourselves and families. It is for something great and against no one. To stand against someone is not the red path but a purple one.

The purple path is about finding an opponent and going against them. It is not for victory in a just cause but for vengeance and retribution. It is not just an act of physical violence but an act of violence in the mind and heart. Words of malice and or actions that follow to oppose a perceived enemy is that purple path. Spiritual endeavors that target an opponent are of that same dark path but so are malicious words of gossip. Everyone makes mistakes. When we are threatened and loved ones are threatened, especially innocents we have a righteous anger but that anger should be directed to a righteous cause not against a baleful individual. When we seek that righteous cause in the best way we can those that seek to attack or oppose will be subdued but that is not the same as targeting an enemy.

This is something that has taken me years to understand. The white and red path go hand and hand but cannot be walked at the same time. When we spill blood physically or metaphorically we must then renew ourselves but if we are doing right then we will only strengthen ourselves and our community. If we allow ourselves to become malevolent we will all suffer. These thoughts are not in response to anyone or anything but as green corn draws near, these ideas of forgiveness and righteousness become important. In most cases those we hold hard feelings against are not even aware of it. Hate is like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die. Those feelings do not serve us and so it’s time to put them away, below our feet. Sometimes it takes days weeks or years to be rid of those feelings but in the end, the effort is more than worth it. Freedom is the result of this white path, this ᏚᏳᎪᏛ. ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏗᎧᏅᏗ

Ꭷ Only if we learn of it in depth, evaluate it, and find it lacking should we turn away from ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ ᎢᏍᎩᏁᎸᎢ. It was tricked from us and pulled from beneath ᏦᎩᎳᏍᏕᏂ but ᏚᏳᎪᏛ is there and it’s ᎢᎦᏤᎵᎦ. We should encourage people to examine what is theirs before we give up on what our ᎠᏂᎦᏴᎵ and ᎠᏂᏬᏂᏍᎩ have to offer. 

ᏗᎨᎩᎦᏴᎵᎨ did not have the opportunity to make some of these choices but if they can see ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ for what it is and still cast it away, then let them. The rest of us ᎢᏗᎩᏚᏩᎩ will care for it as we always have. 

I sincerely believe that it has an inherent value that when understood ᏚᏳᎪᏛ will ring in our people’s hearts and provide them with something they can find nowhere else. It has an inherent value to our people. I want them to at least have the opportunity to assess and reject it before we write off the ᏧᎾᎴᏅᎯᏓ.

ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎪᏛ ᏥᎩ

Ꭷ

My beliefs are that ᏄᏍᏓ ᎦᎸᏉᏗ spiritual and ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏥᏄᎵᏍᏓ physical ᎠᏆᏓᏲᏢᏗ ᎠᏯ. The ᎤᏪᏯ we bathe in is infused with prayers to clean us both physically and spiritually. I was taught they are connected and one is manifested in the other, the ᎪᏛ Fire.

When we are born our ᎤᏓᏅᏙᎩ breath spirit has already descended down into ᎤᏒᎯᏱ and awaits our ᎥᎬᏱ ᎤᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ first breath. When ᎤᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ is strengthened and collected within the four days after ᎤᏕᏅᎢ, ᎤᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ is formalized with the anointing of this fortified internal ᎤᏓᏅᏙᎩ, invested through ᏄᏍᏗ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᏗ life experience, but consecrated in ᎠᎹ ᎤᏪᏓᏍᏗᏱ. The ᎤᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ is the spark and catalyst that ᎪᏛᏍᎪᎢ the fuel and adds further fuel to the ᎠᏓᏪᎳᎩᏍᎩ flame that is feeding on the source of ᏄᏍᏗ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ.

The ᏏᏅᏓ before ᎤᏕᏅᎢ, the ᎤᏓᏅᏙ heart, as the ᎠᏥᎸ of the ᎪᏛ, has been gestating as the fetus is formed by the ᎡᏥ’s own ᎤᏓᏅᏙᎢ, using her as a source and foundation for self. ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ

The ᎡᏙᏓ ads some strength of ᎠᏥᎸ to ᎪᏕᏍᏗ gestation in the womb but he also provides the core of the skeleton ᏗᎪᎸ that grows with the ᎤᏍᏗ until adulthood.  A foundation or hearth for the ᎪᏛ to dwell and shelter itself with inside and throughout, ᎪᏛᏗ.

When the ᎪᏛ is snuffed ᎤᏲᎱᏒᎢ Ꮎ, I believe all elements will return to ᎡᎶᎯ. All being attached to their ᏧᏂᏰᎸ, those things not passed on to our ᏚᎾᏓᏘᎾᎢ, are dissolved in time to ᎡᎶᎯ. The ᎤᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ, that spark borrowed from ᎢᎦᏓᏁᎳᏅᎯ, ᏅᏓ ᎢᎦ ᎡᎯ, returns to ᏗᎦᎸᎳᏗ through ᎤᏒᎯᏱ and manifests around the great celestial ᎪᏛ for the ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ to ᎤᎾᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎤᎾᎳᏍᎩᏍᏗ as radiance further collected as ᏏᏓᏁᎸ ᏍᎦᏚᎩ and ᏚᎾᏓᏘᎾᎢ as they themselves will ascend in due time to ᏗᎦᎸᎳᏗ. ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏕᏣᏓᏩᏛᎯᏙᎵᏍᎨᏍᏗ

Ꭷ 

ᎠᏉᎯᏳᎢ that there are variations on our “purpose” as ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏩ but we unlike the ᏥᏍᏆ ᎢᎾᎨ ᎦᏁᎯ ᎠᏣᏗ ᎠᎾᏓᎾᏏᏂᏙᎯ ᏥᏍᎪᏱ ᎠᎴ other animals, ᏗᏡᎬ and other plants have to discern our course. 

Despite that, we are given a nature from our mothers ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ, a gift of talent and opportunities to hone our skills. 

Our purpose is given by birth to a ᏏᏓᏁᎵ and ᏍᎦᏚᎩ and by experience to ᎣᎦᎵᎢ and the greater good, ᏚᏳᎪᏛ. 

Our nature is to search for ourselves, learn from one another and struggle for self worth by comparing ourselves to our peers. ᏕᏣᏓᏩᏛᎯᏙᎵᏍᎨᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏓᏁᎳᏅᎯ ᏕᏣᏓᎳᏏᎾᏕᏍᏗ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎢᎦᏁᎳᏅᎯ

Ꭷ ᎠᎩᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗᏱ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ

ᎪᏛ ᎠᏥᎸᎦᏴᎵ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ 

ᏅᏙ ᎢᎦ ᎡᎯ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ

ᏧᏂᏴᏫ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ ᎠᎴ 

ᏧᏁᏥ ᎠᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ

ᏗᎳᏍᎦᏟᏗ ᏗᏓᏏᏃ ᏓᏆᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ ᏃᏊᎴ ᏍᏆᏁᎳᏅᎭᏍᏊ

ᎢᎦᏓᏁᎳᏅᎭ ᎨᎮᏍᏗ

ᎩᎦᎨᎭ

Ꭷ If you find yourself in the ᎩᎦᎨᎢ ᏥᎦᏅᏅ everyday you are at ᏓᏄᏫ. You are either surrounded by enemies and need to find the solace of your ᏍᎦᏚᎩ or you are out of balance. ᎩᎦᎨᎢ ᏥᎦᏅᏅ is necessary but it is conflict ᎠᎴ ᎩᎦᎭ. You are burning yourself up without ᏅᏩᏙᎯᏯᏛ ᎢᎦᏘᎭ. ᏚᏳᎪᏛ needs a defender and the ᎩᎦᎨᎢ ᏣᎦᏅᏅ exists to correct and protect but it was not given to us as a way to live. Live in peace ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᏫᏥᏍᏓᏩᏚᎦ and ᏫᏥᏍᏓᏩᏚᎦ the ᏧᏁᎦ ᏥᎦᏅᏅ. 

Speaking with ᎣᏣᏝᏅᏢ from the plains people, individuals that had great grandfathers that fought against the ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ military and fathers that joined that military, I began to understand our own ᏗᎧᏃᎮᏓ better. Some of their own grandmothers were victims of ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ military depredations, why would they ever join the ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ military? Because it was expected and ᏗᎾᏟᎯ do what is asked of them. They were defending those at home, their own ᏏᏓᏁᎸ and ᏍᎦᏚᎩ and they received ᎠᏥᎸᏉᏗ in their ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏗᎾᏟᎯ societies for it. 

ᎠᏆᏅᏔᏛ there has been social coercion that amounts to brainwashing to support the United States government and the flag for which it stands but ultimately ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏗᎾᏟᎯ made the conscious choice to do what they did and it wasn’t for the same reasons as other populations. They knew that the majority of ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ wanted us to just move on and get over it, that people did not have our best interests in mind. It was likely that further resistance would lead to further genocide, so survival was the biggest factor and the ᎠᏥᎸᏉᏗ of serving their ᏍᎦᏚᎩ could also be found in that military service. It was better than unemployment, poverty and substance abuse. They had ᎠᏥᎸᏉᏗ in their actions. However, I don’t believe they ever forgot that we were not equals in this colonized land and they wanted us to live to see better days so they gave us the best chances they could by holding on to a hope that those sacrifices would provide us with opportunities that they did not have. I think highly of them and their choices and because of that I stand for them but I will not salute the ᎠᏲᏁᎦ ᎦᏓᏗ. 

To pledge allegiance to a ᎠᏲᏁᎦ ᎦᏓᏗ and the attempt to stomp out our nations, in favor of ᏌᏊ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎠᎹᏰᎵ ᏚᏙᎢᏍᏛ is not something I can do. Not because I’m against our ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏗᎾᏟᎯ but because I am for them. ᎦᏥᏯᎫᏍᏓᏁᎭ and all those that have sacrificed for our ᏍᎦᏚᎩ and ᏏᏓᏁᎸᎢ of any color or background. I may not take a knee but I understand those that do so because some thought they were fighting for a different nation than what we have and they show respect for those that died in the service for a better world by kneeling, because that nation is not here. They are in morning for the ideals that have been shattered by injustice and racism. ᎪᎵᎪ that and I stand for those that cannot stand and will not stand because of the weight in their hearts. Don’t ask me to pledge allegiance ᎢᏗᏙᎾ ᎨᎮᏍᏗ ᏌᏊ ᎢᎦᎵᎪᎯ ᎢᏗᏴᏫᏯᏠᏯᏍᏗ ᎨᎮᏍᏗ

ᎬᏯᎫᏍᏓᏁᎭ

Ꭷ We have no ᏌᏊ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎧᏁᏍᏗ for respect. 

We can say ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎯ, ᎪᎯᏳᎯ ᎣᏍᏓ ᏥᏰᎸ or any other specific idea but they are all feelings, and respect is an action at its core. English is blurry, the messy edges of English make epistemology a hard thing to tack down but ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ is a concrete foundation to lash the very corners of ᎡᎶᎯ down. 

When I support you ᎬᏯᎫᏍᏓᏁᎭ is my respect. 

Things that I hold in high regard, sacred ᎦᎸᏉᏗᏳ I treat as ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏗᏳ and that is with respect. 

To notice and take note of, to have a perspective of - ᎠᏆᎦᏙᏍᏗ, something to take respect of.... 

This is respect to me. What I seek and find ᎠᎩᏩᏛᏗ is what I offer, respectfully ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏕᏘ. 

These things I hold most gingerly ᏕᏥᎢᏙᎭ, are illuminated and made clear ᏗᎬᎾᎨᏍᎬᎢ and given by ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯ are opened and shared with respect. 

ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎢᎦᏘᎭ

Ꭷ Karma is not a ᏣᎳᎩ ᎧᏁᏍᏗ it is Sanskrit. It refers to the dross we carry from this life to the next when we do not follow our Dharma, another Sanskrit word, duty. 

It does not refer to the idea that the universe keeps score and makes things even in this life. It is not justice Ꮭ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᏱᎩ, not how it is used in the west. It is not the idea of what goes around comes around. It is tied to an ancient eastern mysticism.  

It is not ᎦᏚᏩ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ. 

Our way is not about divine retribution but balance ᎢᎦᏘᎭ ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏗᏍᏊ. We are of the same life ᏕᎦᏓᏠᏯᏍᏗ ᎢᏕᎮᏍᏗ, so what happens to you happens to me.  ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏖᏗ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎠᏆᏛᏁᏗ ᏓᏆᏚᎵᎭ I endeavor to think right and do right. ᏧᏁᎦ ᏗᎦᏅᏅ ᏫᏥᏍᏓᏩᏕᏍᎪᎢ I follow the white path and even though I misstep from time to time, ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ ᏓᏆᎳᏍᎨᏍᏗ I will follow our teachings. 

That doesn't protect me from all trouble and every challenge. It just gives me a firm footing and clear vantage point to find the way. Bad things happen to good people and bad people get away with terrible things but we are one another's keeper ᏕᎦᏓᎨᏳᏎᏍᏗ and that means ᎢᎦᏓᏁᎳᏅᎯ we must be one another's provider. ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᎢᎦᏛᏁᏗ the justice is what we must provide. Right is what we must do. 

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏅᏙ

Ꭷ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏙᎩ ᏥᏰᎸᎢ

Ꭷ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔ ᎠᎩᏰᎸᎢ

Ꭽ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏙ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏖᏢᎢ

Ꭷ ᎯᎠ ᏄᏍᏓ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔ

Now my mind my body

Now my feeling my being

Now my heart my thought

Now this thing I know

ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ

Ꭷ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏧᎦᎾᏮ ᎠᏁᎮᎢ ᎠᏎᏛ ᎢᎦᎵᎪᎯ

About 13 years ago some of them came up and met with our elders. They spoke Nawatl and Mayan and we spoke ᏣᎳᎩ. 

It was clearly shown that where there stories of us ended ours began. They were more than cousins they are brothers and sisters. ᏧᎦᎾᏮ ᏥᎦᎴᏂᏍᎡᎢ that is where it started. They ᏏᏓᏁᎵ let's start treating them that way. 

ᎢᏗᏴᏫᏯ ᎢᎦᎵᎨᏎᏀᏗ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ

She is what we do, how we do it and why we do it. 
She is what we think, believe, value, how we behave and why it is so.
She is the collective property of our people and her origins are in our ancestors' echoes.

When she was healthy, she had no limits, but she recedes - as she has been openly derided, opposed and punished.  She is slipping and stumbling along the trail, loosing traction and tripping. 

Is all that we do her?
She is everything, but her hair didn't used to look like that, she didn't laugh so loud and I don't understand her words.  I don't recognize her.  Maybe it's not her.  Without her, I am not me.

If we don't choose her, we choose another, by default.

ᏕᎦᏅᏖᏍᎦ

Ꭷ one has to learn about  situations of injustice, from as many sides as possible ᏕᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎦ 

We must go through the ᎤᎵᏏᎩ go through ᎤᏒ ᎡᎯ.  Go through the pain, anger and morning and seek understanding. 

ᏗᎧᎳᎬᎢ ᎢᏗᏢᎢ  the sun will come up. 

Set the ᎩᎦᎭ ᎠᏓᏏ aside, ᎭᏫᏂ ᎢᏗᏢ ᏗᏣᎳᏍᎨᏂ not to be forgotten but out of the way because we can't let those tragedies get in the way of what we find to be right and true. We cannot stumble over it as we wander about in ᎤᎵᏏᎩ....

ᏃᏊᏥᎩ we must seek to defend those still suffering and prevent perpetrators from committing those injustices ᎠᏎᎭ ᎢᎦᏛᏁᏗ

ᎡᎵᏍᏓ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᏫᏗᏍᏓᏩᏚᎦ 

In being pro-active we will become empowered. We can't stop at the search for justice but we must seek ways to make positive changes for the potential imprecators as well as victims of injustice. There will eventually be a balance struck in that our work must benefit all involved. ᎢᎦᎵᎪᏒᎢ

When agreements are made in good faith, both sides are entitled to the fulfillment of that contract. It is sad when we must advocate for our own rights. In a ᎦᏚᏩ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ we should not have to do so. However, in such cases that one side wants to abdicate their responsibilities, it becomes necessary to be able to stand up for yourself and others when it is needed ᎦᏣᏃᏍᏓ ᎢᏳᏛᏁᏗ

Entitlement should exist. 

Reparations are different. 

I think that reparations should only come as a result of an agreed upon social contract. If a person wrongs another in full understanding of the agreed upon potential consequences, and then if reparations are a part of those consequences, then the wronged should be entitled to that restitution - as previously agreed upon. This is simple and right.  ᏥᏳᎪᏛ ᏅᏃᎯ a straight path.  

If restitution is promised as amends to past grievances, then the aggrieved are entitled to said restitution. I believe that the aggrieved could petition for restitution, but they are not inherently entitled by virtue of being wronged - unless the agreement, even social contract, provides for that justice. 

However, if oppressors continue to oppress without thought of ᏚᏳᎪᏛ or reparation for wrongs, revolution is the natural outcome and new atrocities will be committed - not justified, but realized ᏍᎩᏊ ᏫᏂᎦᎵᏍᏓ

'conquered' is a relative term. 

I would not argue that ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ in general, or ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ in specific were conquering heroes on our ends, but despite the fact that we were colonized, some of us did escape militarily crippling conquests. We have been worn down in other ways. 

There are more than a few ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ  that have grown into prosperous Nations despite tragic historical incidents. ᎢᎦᏓ ᎣᏥᏴᏫᏯ never lost a military victory but by use of political and social coercion were lead to a state of submission to the greater population.  ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏂᏐᎢ ᎣᏥᏴᏫᏯ were soundly defeated by military and political means. ᎠᏂᏥᏈᏍᏗ were wiped away altogether, but those of us that have survived are still here and are persistent in our goals. Ꮟ ᎣᏤᏙᎭ We aren't done yet, we will not just survive, but we will thrive ᎣᏥᎦᏚᏩᎩ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎤᏅᏥᎭ

Ꭷ ᏥᏨᏂᏤᎢ

Snow covers us like a protective blanket. It gives us peace and reminds us there is a time for rest. Some things can only be learned when there is ᎤᏅᏥᎭ. 

ᏅᏬᏘᎭᏃ that ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏓ tells used all things are sacred. It says it most assuredly ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏓ ᏕᎦᏓᏰᎸᏎᏍᏓ and it applies to all things. We also know that some things are more ᎦᎸᏉᏗ than others. Specifically people are sacred. We are to liken ourselves to that in each other. ᏕᎦᏓᎸᏉᏕᏍᏗ 

ᎠᏂᏴᏫ are spiritual things. Our people know that. It must guide us like a sense, a sense that isn't desperate from the other four. It is tied to our knowledge through personal and group experience ᎢᎦᏅᏔ and ᎢᎦᏓᏅᏔ our feelings. 

We know that those things can go awry. We can loose focus. That is why we must ᏕᎦᏓᎢᏤᎲᏍᏗᏍᎨᏍᏗ periodically renew ourselves. We must always challenge ourselves to grow. ᏕᎦᏓᏅᎾᎦᎳᏬᏍᎨᏍᏗ. But without our ᏅᏬᏘ we will not be let where we need to be. ᏍᏆᏘᏂᏎᏍᏗ ᏍᎩᏯᏁᎳᏅᎯ

Help one another in that. ᏕᎦᏓᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ ᎢᎨᎮᏍᏗ and we will be providers for one another ᎢᎦᏓᏁᎳᏅᎯ ᏱᎩᏍᏕᎳ 

ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎠᎹ ᎡᏓᏍᏗᏱ

go to the running water before the birds start to sing in the morning. approaching singing an ancient song I don't understand four times. standing by the water in meditation until the sun shines on the tips of the trees. My meditation uses tobacco. 

One pinch for my mind

One pinch for yours

One for the union of the two and 

One for the power of that union. 

One pinch for the air all around us we breath, a living air, the breath of life. 

One for the water below my feet that connects me to all that came before, the ancient ones. 

One for the ancient white fire, the sacred red coals, behind the sun and within our hearts. 

And One for the earth, the soil and to our mothers. United. 

One pinch to the color blue, the blue veined one intelligent and resourceful as you stand in the north

One for the golden skinned one, the one of wisdom to understand as you stand in the west. 

One to the black skinned one, compassionate and impassioned by life, as you stand in the south. 

One to the rust skinned one, guardian and watcher, as you stand in the east. 

As for myself and you as well we have just become united with all and anything. 

wading into the spring fed stream and facing upstream to the east. mumbling a prayer as the sun peak her crown above the horizon and droning out an invocation to the four corners of the world and to the provider, we have spoken to you and you have spoken. Starting in the east and circling to the north crying out in the four directions. 

When returning to the east singing of the uniting of the heavens and the earth as we have found what we have been searching for. We have become one with the one most up above. 

I am the sun I wash over all below.... Nothing will overcome..... I am washing. I raise the water above my head four times and sing the same song again and again and again raising the water above my heart and crown four times each time. 

Another thanksgiving salutation and saying from the four couriers of the earth they are carrying their very souls, we are lifting them to the first heaven.... Then the second.... Then the third.... Then the fourth, my hands trace the path to the seventh heaven. My words follow and the water is lifted up again and again. When my left hand is at its zenith crying out long and hard till my fingers are numb and my toes hurt and my head spins then in a deep breath whooping. Plunge seven times to the east. 

When walking away, I don't look back. leaving it all behind.

Fleas Biting: The "Baby Veronica" Case and the Abuse of Adoption

Fleas Biting: The "Baby Veronica" Case and the Abuse of Adoption

ᏚᏳᎪᏛ ᏍᏓᏳ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᏗ ᎠᏎᏛ ᎾᏂᏯ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᏕᎦᏠᏯᏍᏗ ᎠᎾᏗᏍᎪᎢ

ᏃᏊᎴ ᎯᎠᎾ ᎠᎨᏳᏣ ᏣᎳᎩᎭ ᎡᎶᎯ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎬᏗ ᏚᏙᎠ ᎠᏂᎧᏫ ᏧᏴᏫ ᏍᎩᎾ ᎠᎨᏳᏣ ᎤᏙᏓ ᎤᏤᎵ ᎠᎴ ᎾᏂᏯ ᎢᏗᏣᎳᎩ ᎢᎦᏤᎵᎦ ᎠᏎᏃ ᏂᎦᎥ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᎦᏤᎵᎦ I pray that as a human race we become worthy of her and precious children like her. Right now, I am saddened ᎠᎴ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ ᏓᏤᏝᎢ ᎤᏚᎩ ᎠᏋᏎᏍᏗ ᏙᎯᏳᎢ ᏫᏓᏤᏝᎢ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ ᎠᏉᎯᏳᎢ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᏗᎩᏴᏫ ᏗᎩᏝᏅᎩᏓ ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏓᏤᏝ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ

Ꭷ I believe the future must be our focus. ᎠᏉᎯᏳᎢ It certainly is mine. The goals of my community and loved ones guide my hands, feet, mind and heart. However I'm afraid the "past vs the future" is a false dichotomy. 

The heritage, histories and oral traditions of our people ᎢᏯᎾᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ have laid the foundation and framed our world views. What makes me who I am are my individual choices within the context of my community and tribal society. ᎦᏚᏩ ᏫᏥᎦᏘ I freely choose from the mainstream and flow with the modern world but I do my best to follow in the footsteps of my people. To do that, the past is my guide. ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ Not just the history books but the oral traditions and personal experiences of my loved ones and community members are what guide my hopes and dreams for the future, and I am ecstatic about what we will do. ᏓᏤᏝ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ

ᎢᏨᏯᎴᎵᏤᎭ I appreciate the support of all of you that posted or liked my thoughts above. I will focus on the future and move forward but I'm afraid our toughest battles are ahead but even if we loose a few we will not give up. Our greatest victories are ahead of us as well. 

I'm not talking about ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ vs ᎠᏂᏲᏁᎦ or any sort of insurrection, our battles will be to maintain the foundations of our tribal identities, and they will be in the hearts and minds of our loved ones and in the power and money of politics. We must ensure that our ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ ᏕᎦᏚᎯ ᎤᏂᏃᎮᏓ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ are strengthened and revitalized to a greater extent with each passing generation. In the past this has not happened and it is not happening now but in the future it must and it will because we do not give up. ᎾᏑᎳᎪᎬᎾ ᏂᏧᎳᎭ ᎢᏓᎢᏎᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᏆᏗᏍᎬᎾ ᏂᎦᏯᎢᏐ ᏂᎪᎯᎳ ᎡᎭ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ

ᎣᏏᏳ 

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏔᎵ ᏱᎩ ᎢᏯᏓᏅᏖᏘ

CDIB Cards were created by the BIA. Most ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ (ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ were one of the exceptions) did not have a membership role until recently. They already knew who was or was not in their tribe. There were no "benefits" outside ᏧᏂᏴᏫ or ᏍᎦᏚᎩ given "benefits".

When ᏗᎧᎸᎬ ᎠᏁᎲᎢ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ made treaties with the colonial powers, we exchanged land for various things including trade goods, supplies or military assistance. Community leaders needed a running count of their populations because that's how the colonial powers kept tabs for paperwork.

For ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ, one of our last treaties (but not the last by any means) was the treaty of ᎠᏤ ᎢᏦᏛ. It was that paperwork that enabled the ᏕᎨᏥᎢᎸᏍᏔᏂ in 1838. Those Eastern immigrants to Indian Territory were slated to receive annuities and provisions both on the trip and after ᏗᎨᏥᎢᎸᏎᎢ. Head counts were necessary, and so that system was maintained to receive the governmental annuities and other "benefits" as promised. We didn't want to share that with outsiders and the government did not want to pay us any more than necessary, so both sides clung to the lists of members.

Even at the time of allotment, when our land was split up among our ᎠᏂᎨᎳ, we needed a list if people to receive land. The ᎠᏂᏒᏃᏱ knew that and tried (but largely failed) to avoid enrollment. Tribal citizens reviewed individual allotments and that was the last roll for ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ (the Dawes roll).

Simultaneously, ᏭᏕᎵᎬ ᎠᏁᎲᎢ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ were forced on reservations and received annuities as well; so they needed head counts but the Feds realized that they also needed a way out of their fiduciary responsibility - so they decided, those of less than 1/4 Degree of Indian Blood would not be legally ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ. They thought that we would all either breed out or develop genetically poor populations through inbreeding. In the long term, the Blood Quantum system would take care of the "Indian problem".

ᎣᏥᏣᎳᎩ don't have the blood quantum issue legally because our system superseded the government's plans, but the roll numbers themselves are jealously guarded by the penny pinchers and bean counters. The Feds still give us money but not by head count alone, there are other parts to the equation. The number of citizens is a factor but the number of citizens that are eligible (via income guidelines) within a tribes jurisdictional boundaries are what determines most federal monies. So, even without blood quantum limits, the Feds have found a way to limit us. We are one step closer to mainstream status every day.

If we cannot justify our differences with ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ (ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ, ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ, ᎢᏯᏛᏁᏗ, ᏧᏬᎯᏳᎢ) then how can we claim to be ᎣᏥᏴᏫᏯ? The blood quantum system is a weak (and non scientific) leg to stand on but we don't really have that anyways - not among ᏂᎦᏓ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ. So they have us fighting loosing battles on all sides.

Their goal is to escape the "Indian problem" but we are actively aiding in our demise. However, if we maintain (regain?) our ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ - this includes our ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᏗᎦᏚᎯᏃ, then we will always be ᎣᏥᎦᏚᏩᎩ even if the Feds disappear. We can recognize our own and it has no thing to do with cards or blood quantum. - 2 ᎢᏯᏓᏅᏖᏘ

ᎠᏯᏊ

Ꭷ ᎠᏯ is me but it is internal. ᎠᏯᏊ is the me I know. ᏂᎯ is you, but that is the me I don't know. ᏂᎯᎾ is the you I am curious about; it is also the me that I know about, but I don't know it. That is the me that interacts with you and the you that interacts with me.

I also have a body - ᎠᎩᏰᎸ, but it is just an image ᏥᏰᎸ. I only know it through my mind ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏙᎩ, but that is just a feeling ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏔ in my heart ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏙ. It is the same part I "kind" of know ᎠᏆᏅᏔ you through - ᏂᎯᎾ but not really directly. I believe something ᎪᎱᏍᏗ is out there but ᎠᏯᏊ doesn't really interact with it so it is just ᏂᎯᎾ and those are just ideas, so not something ᏝᎪᎱᏍᏗ but ᏄᏍᏓ which is defiantly not nothing.

I can't even know myself with certainty but ᎠᏯᏊ is all I have so I use it to know ᎪᎱᏍᏗ about ᏂᎯ.

ᏍᎩᏯᏁᎳᏅᎯ ᎠᏯᏊ ᏂᎯᎾ ᎩᎾᎵᎪᏒᎢ
ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᎠᏕᏲᎯ

Ꭷ ᎭᏛᏓᏍᏓ

whispers whisper in hissing sibilant syllables. A lilted tone, confusing, quiet cacophony too quiet to discern, to soft to know. An itching, breathlessness squirms inside seeking to understand. Her voice is hypnotic, unsettling and numbing, with caressing secrets that don't translate.

ᎠᏓᏪᎳᎩᏍᎦ

focused concentration snapped and popped, the dancing figure, swaying and twirling tears your mind from musing mutters, vision muting the elusive meanings you almost heard. You can't catch the eye, it flickers and flashes. A sharp connection twists into a glance away. Her face is luminescent. Drawn in you realize your too close and must turn away. Just to breath.

A spinning motion too swift to the eyes and throbbing, elusive to the thoughts and heart ᏧᎦᏒᏍᏗ ᎠᏥᏅᏍᏗ silently, subtly directs and commands, velvet wrapped steel. Ephemeral in nature but exponentially it consumes and drowns out all else, but just for a moment. Just a long heartbeat second.

ᎪᏛ ᏥᏳᎪᏛ

Comfort and warmth, in your chest, on your face and caressing your hands, her hands. The soothing scent of something close to the soul, slowly curling. It reaches out to you and you reach back with you heart, your spirit, she leads you, you lead them. One body, one mind, we, ᎢᎦᎵᎪᏒ

ᎠᏂᎩᎶᎯ

ᎦᎪ Ꮠ.... ᎠᏂᎩᎶ ᏓᏂᎪᏗᎠ ᎦᎪ ᎦᎪ Ꮠ

ᎠᏂᎩᎶᎯ ᎠᏁᏙ ᎦᏙᎨ ᏯᏆᏓᏅᏖᏝ
ᎩᎶ ᎤᏩᏌᏊ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏖᏝ
ᏥᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ
ᏥᏳ
ᎪᏛ
ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏙᎩ
ᎩᎾᎵᎪᏒᎯᏊ ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏖᏝ
ᎤᎿ ᏥᏲᎵᎦᏛ ᎡᏙ ᎥᏍᎩ ᎠᏆᏅᏔᏛ
ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏅᏩᏙᎯᏯᏛ ᎠᏂᏥᎾᏍᏗ

Ꭷ to rise as ᎢᏗᏴᏫᏯ we have to buy our land back. We don't have the military ability for ᏓᏄᏩ. However, if our people choose to live with the ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ, our modern ᏗᎾᏟᎯ will sacrifice their lives and time not being killed or killing others but being successful in the modern world.This is not to raise themselves up but to raise their ᏗᎦᏚᎯ and people; we can lift one another up and take back what is ours - generation by generation. We will slowly beat them at their own game and if we do it for the right reasons and don't sell one another out, our grandchildren can live in the way we deserve to live with our land, resources, traditions, life ways and language, ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ. 

Even though our traditions do include martial art forms and our men can be ready if military force becomes necessary, it is against our ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ to think in that direction. Also, we cannot support the resources for advanced technology as is, ᏧᎾᏓᏄᏩ outnumber and outgun us. We could survive, possibly, but if we strike first they will destroy our ᏗᎦᏚᎯ and ᏏᏓᏁᎳ. If we strengthen ourselves and reinforce our life ways or ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ then get attacked - we will have more support than our opponents.

I know our history and poverty really is depressing, but I know that if we try and unite with the target of violence in mind we will not have the fortitude to maintain ourselves. The machine of the military industrial complex controls ᎡᎶᎯ and the red necks around us wouldn't hesitate to open fire as is. We need to build ourselves up and focus on what ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯ has told us to do. I'm sure every tribe had different marching orders, but what I have been told is that each has a piece of the puzzle to complete and if we do so, then we will become their big brothers and save them and us.

Right now ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ become "successful" one at a time, leave thier ᏗᎦᏚᎯ and ᏏᏓᏁᎳ behind and "sell out". If we are resolute in our values and ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ those that are financially "successful" can Provide the support and resources we need to ensure our children are healthy and that we can teach our own our ways. We won't need to be educated and colonized as a part of their system. We can teach our own ᏗᏂᏲᏟ and rebuild the sacred places and ceremonies to practice our ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ and ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ. If we maintain our values, behaviors and beliefs we will be strong and possibly celebrated by the outside world. If they turn on us for taking care of our own, then we will defend ourselves. In the ᏗᎦᏚᎯ where I spend time we have barely enough intact people to maintain a defense for a month and if we start it, we will not survive.

There are ᎠᏂᎦᏴᎵ that have been told what we are to do. They say we must unite and focus on maintaining our ᏏᏓᏁᎳ and ᏗᎦᏚᎯ with ᎢᎩᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᏃ. They say we need our sacred sites and ceremonies and that we must unite around our ᎠᏥᎸᎦᏴᎵ. I believe that, but it isn't easy. The ᎠᏂᎦᏴᎵ say we must use what we are given to win over our own people then win over the ᎠᏂᎩᎶ. That sounds like a long and difficult road. It is daunting and the sheer effort to have hope is tiresome. The amount of change in our own ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ and the struggles that are needed are disconcerting and depressing.

There are like minded people in various tribes. I have been talking to some of them. They say the changes will be coming more and more quickly over the next decade. Talk to others one on one, each person talk to more and more and ᎾᏍᎩ ᏭᏂᎦᎵᏍᏓ. Slowly at first but with strength and integrity, it will build speed. We started preparing our ᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᎦᏘᏲ about ten years ago but it's slow going. Over the last few years it has started catching on. People are coming to the same conclusions. It’s time to bring back the peace makers ᏅᏩᏙᎯᏯᏛ ᎠᏂᏥᎾᏍᏗ.

The above is a response to a potential call for a militant resolution to colonialism, in response he then said "...the first step is for the Peacemaker to walk among the people again... ...to bring together the entirety of native peoples. This time however, there must be one from every nation working towards the same goal. A Peacemaker from all nations." ᎣᏏᏳ
ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ

ᏏᏴᏫ

Ꭷ ᏂᎦᏓᏊ

I have been accused of putting others first but I know I am very self centered. I do try and do for others and sometimes I get carried away and put my family or myself second. It's a hard balance in this modern world. My model is in need of an update, but the foundation is firm.

ᎢᎬᏱᎢ myself ᎠᏯ, that must be my priority to serve others.

ᏔᎵᏁᎢ my family ᏏᏓᏁᎳ, my immediate family that depend on me, that I depend on most outside myself.

ᏦᎢᏁᎢ my extended family ᏗᎩᏴᏫ, it was historically my clan and potentially at one time for my ancestors it came before my wife and children.

ᏅᎩᏁᎢ my community ᏗᎦᏚᎲᎢ, it was my ᎪᏛ or ᎠᏥᎸ the place where I would have lived, danced and lived my life. Now I see that as my grounds.

ᎯᏍᎩᏁᎢ my people ᎦᏥᏴᏫᏯ, my tribe or my nation. It was rooted in a shared ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ, ᎦᏓ ᎤᎾᏤᎵ, ᏧᏂᏴᏫ and ᏗᎧᏃᎮᏓ ᏗᎧᏃᏩᏛᏍᏗ.

ᏑᏓᎵᏁᎢ humanity ᏂᎦᏓ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ, no devision of race or gender, just humans that share ᎦᏓ, ᎠᎹ, ᎤᏃᎴ and ᎠᏥᎸ. At one time we were four different clans but that was once replace by ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᏧᏂᏴᏫ. Now most of us have gone back to the four original clans.

ᎦᎵᏉᎩᏁᎢ all living things ᎠᏅᏃᏓ.

These things are not cut and dry. To serve others I must serve myself and to serve myself I must serve all others. ᎣᏏᏳ

ᎠᏯ ᏩᏕ ᏥᎪᏪᎸᎦ