The following are responses to the statment concerning the exploitation of Lakota ceremonies. Anyone is free to submit a response to this statement provided you include explicit permission to post the statement to the internet. Each response must be individually processed by the web masters so please be patient if this process takes a little time. We ask that people be respectful in their responses and address the issues and not individual persons. Responses to the Statement:
War Against Exploiters of Lakota SpiritualityDue to the size of the responses I have divided them into smaller sections. You may read the most recent responses below in reverse chronlogy (newest to oldest).
- Current Page (scroll down) from June 6, 2005 to Present
- from April 21, 2003 to June 6, 2005
- from May 11, 2002 to February 1, 2003
- from August 26, 2000 to May 10, 2001
- from November 6, 1999 to August 26, 2000
- from April 26, 1999 to October 23, 1999
- from October 15, 1998 to March 28, 1999
- from April 13, 1998 to October 15, 1998
- from November 1, 1997 to April 12, 1998
- from May 11, 1997 to October 31, 1997
- from February 9, 1997 to May 10, 1997
- from November 17, 1996 to February 6, 1997
- from February 6, 1996 to November 11th 1996
From: spiro knave nine spiroknavenine@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005
You have permision to print,
- Karl Vincent Langstramm
Responding to the Statement: "War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality"
I don't consider myself any exploiter of Lakota Spirituality, a non-Indian "wannabe," hucksters, cultists, commercial profiteers nor self-styled "New Age shaman" nor any of their followers.
But I've gone to a lot of traditional Lakota sweat lodge ceremonies and other sweat lodge ceremonies of American Indians with individuals who run those sweats insisting their specific ways are essential for a spiritual sweat lodge ceremony, many of which I can appreciate, while a lot I find full of superstitions.
I don't attend those kind of sweat lodges anymore. I did at one time. At one time I was dragged to them as a child and felt obliged to attend. Now I don't care anymore. I don't enjoy them anymore. I don't need to follow anyone I don't feel like. I'm strongly considering building and running a sweatlodge of my own someday.
They got these people there they think sweat lodge participants must look up to as "spiritual leaders" where someone is a so called "medicine man" and someone is a "sun dancer".
They got some real weird control issues about when the participants are suppose to take a drink of water, where the "pipe carriers" can sit, and how I'm suppose to pray and sing.
They try and tell the participants about who is suppose to be our "spiritual leaders" when its none of their business.
They can tell me about how "their ancestors" would never let me get spiritual unless I wait for the medicine man to take a drink of water or take a bite to eat, but those "medicine men" don't deserve that kind of authority over anyone who doesn't need it anymore than the U.S., Mexican, Canadian, or European governments ever deserved to ban a lot of American Indian ceremonies and force Christianity , in spite of their Laws that are suppose to honor religious freedom.
If I were to have a sweat lodge of my own on my own property,
some traditional Lakota elders might consider
this Sweat Lodge a ceremony of a heretic:
Where:
The person "running the sweat lodge" is just a facilitator and host that arranges an itinery for a consensus of participants to safely worship or derive health benefits of participating respectfully.
Everyone is equal at the lodge, especially sweating in the dark.
There is no elite heirarchy of sundancers nor vision questers, nor "medicine men", nor elders, nor pipe carriers, nor shamans there. There is no special reverence to someone with self inflicted mutilation scars.
No one waits for a so called "medicine man" or spiritual leader's permission to take a drink of water.
No one passes a communal ladel around with a communal bucket to drink water out of risking contagious germs.
Everyone is free to bring their own Nalgene or other water bottles full of their beverage of choice, except intoxicants, with all the ice they want to put in it, if they so desire. Drink freely whenever you are thirsty. No one should control when you feel the need to be re-hydrated.
Women are welcome on their moon (menstral cycle) as long as they are clean and wear sanitary napkins that won't cause them to bleed in the lodge. I'm not a medical Doctor just an amateur one client gynecologist at best, but some women have suggested there are health risks of excessive bleeding from the heat while on their periods. The women would decide what is appropriate for them.
If there's some health risk like that, I guess I'd put it in the liability waiver notice for them to choose what they do at their own risk.
Likewise, men's testicles could melt off and cook all the sperm away so we end up shooting blanks for months and years, putting us in pain. Who knows what prolonged risks could happen to us guys too?
In either case, there's been women and men surviving in hot climates since for a very long time. Some people are more adaptible than others.
If someone feels comfortable being naked in a sweat lodge, its entirely your choice.
Pets, such as dogs and cats, are generally not welcome, but if its a clean well trained intelligent animal who won't urinate or defecate or have flatulnece in the lodge, what's the big deal? I mean seriously considering that a lot of human farting and human sweating, especially from those who had recent fire water relapse, is going to make the place stink a lot worse than an animal ever could.
Some have suggested there are health risks to the pets and that could be a liability waiver at the owner's own risk too advising them to consult a Veterinarian. That has to do with science and the habits of each individual animal, not because the animal is a curse to spirituality.
Actually, pet monkeys from tropical jungles might benefit from sweating the most.
Metal forceps are used to carry in the stones if there are no antlers available.
Any kind of metal jewelry is welcome for anyone who thinks they need it, though if it gets too hot, metal conducts heat. That has to do with science and not some spiritual concept about metal interfering with prayers.
It's all right to go ahead and walk clockwise or counter clockwise around the lodge or in front of the alter carefree as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone.
Anyone can throw water on the stones at any time provided they are considerate enough to ask if others find the ceremony getting too hot or too cold for some.
Sometimes a little pachouli and other incense is burned in addition to sage, sweet grass, and cedar.
There is no obligation to smoke a pipe nor is there any special merit if you think a pipe is sacred or not. You don't even have to touch a pipe. It's entirely your choice if you do or don't smoke. Besides, tobacco does nothing good for the human body anyways
If it gets too hot, politely and respectfully ask to leave and let everyone know you are leaving.
There'd be some kind of cedar boards or foundation like in a sauna so that no one has to crawl around in the mud and filthy mildewy old carpets.
-------
Does any soldier of your "War against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality" have a problem with someone's right to have that kind of a Sweat lodge ceremony of mine on my own propeety and feel spiritual by doing so?
Would it bother you if such a lodge became more popular and more people started feeling it was a part of their spiritual growth, than what a lot of what you think is considered "Lakota Spirituality" ? Provided we don't claim it's traditional "Lakota Spirituality"?
I wouldn't begin to claim its any specific kind of traditional tribal custom at all. Somehow I wonder if any of you traditionalists can agree on anything yourselves.
I might mention some of the good things about American Indian traditions that I keep in my heart as part of my own American INdian heritage and culture and some Indians I respect which inspired me to build the lodge and welcome American Indian songs and drumming and prayers, but I'd draw the line at calling it some kind of "Lakota Spirituality"
I might call it
"eclectic round sauna spirituality"
"roundhouse yurt steamy hot spirituality"
"sacred sultry hot spirituality"
"WoodentWannabe sacred Lakota Spirituality"
If you think that proposed lodge of mine on my own property is exploiting Lakota Spirituality and you want war with me than I can defend myself just as well, violently if necessary.
Heyoka Hua Mitakuye Oyasin!
From: farley eagle speaker wanblee4@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005
yes please [post].
thank you
wanblee
1876-Turtle Island
As the dust settled the smell of gun powder and flesh was overwelming. Lying in the shadows of dust and smoke was grandma Two moons. She just lost all her family to the us government soldiers in a early morning surprize attack on her village.
Her cousin two smokes found her. He knew she would eventually die of her injuries. Cousin, said grandma, some day these people will ask us for help, they will ask us to pray for them. they seem to losing faith in thier bible teachings of love and understanding. Then her life expired.
2000-Turtle Island
when the white man first came here he han nothing, all he had was a bible, now, we have the bible and they have everything...... 2005
My name is wanblee.. I was born in Canada and I grew up in the US. Attending public schools. I never knew I was Indian because my best friends were all white kids. We weerre close as young children but as we got older we things changed. I guess we realized that I was just a surviving darker person of the past history of the land. I still miss the love we shared as children. I not racist it goes againts my ancestors teachings,,kinda like the bible...to the white man.
I wonder what kind of world this would be if we all truly followed the true teachings. The last thing Jesus said before he died was..love on another.. he was the last messenger from god to the white people.
Some people interpert the bible for thier own benefit. EH!!!
Anyway's...............................
From: Carol Vermast carolvermast@planet.nl
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005
Dear people,
Exploitation of the Earth, our all mother, is going on for many, many centuries.
New Age is just a name, another name to point out that all humans living on this Earth, reached a new period in Kosmic time.
Why feel exploited? Negativ emtions will kill the love we feel for everything that is around us. Indians in bloodline are not nessesciraly the same as the circle of spirits going through live and death.
Is the anger and hate feeding us? Is there a difference between the souls of people?
Do not search outside yourselfs but look inside......
Spiritualty is not behold for one group of people or one nation. Through out many thousands of years we fight each other. Why?
Mother Earth is crying, she's calling out to us, to all humans, to all people, to all living things on the earth. The signs are everywhere...for those who wants to see.........
Keep your eyes on the path, the path of honesty, of wisdom and inner power.
Unite, in stead of fight!!!!
Save Mother Earth and you'll save yourselfs and all your loved ones......and many many more......
Wisdom begins with the consciousnes of the mind.......
Rituals are for the people, knowledge is for the soul......
"Mitakuye oyasin"
With love, Carol Vermast van Beers
From: Keith Gatewood keithgatewood@webtv.net
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005
Please publish this,
I am only 1/8 Lakota but my Great grandmother who was full blood taught me the old ways the best she could before she died.Am I not Lakota because I'm not full blood?I would never pay a dime for my spirituality or any thing Wak'an.Nor would I trade or sell for it.
I whole heartedly agree to the war on plastic shamans and holy men for hire.Nothing disgusts me more.But I do not think that excluding non full bloods is the proper thing to do.
We of Lakota decent are very proud of our heritage.Granted there are some who flaunt it to an arrogant extreme like parading it through town on big signs but most of us are very quiet about it.My home is not decorated with "American Indian Motifs".My bundle is put away in it's proper place away from visitors eyes.Not even a dream catcher here.
I was taught the old ways and practice them to the best of my ability.Thank you for letting me share.
From: Patricia Alberson nightingale_paa@msn.com
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005
yes. permission to post
I am a white woman a mormon christian. I live in Jacksonville Fla.
I think no religion should be exploited.
We are all brothers and sisters of Heavenly Father , the great Creator.
I was told that I might have some of the Delaware blood if I do It was long ago.
when my Father James passed away the nurse that took care said that she was Lakota Sioux.
She had markings on her arms and said that she was a member of the Native american church.
I felt great love and respect for her. At the time of my fathers death we were spiritualy united.
She said that we were the only ones that realized it was my fathers time to go.
She said that i posessed a wonderful spirituality.
I feel that the Indians are truely blessed and would love to know how I could ever get adopted into one of the tribes .
Not for exploitation but for personal growth.
I feel a great love and spiritual conection with the american Indian.
There is a man in my church who is part american indian but practices nothing of his traditions.
I would love to hear from a native american.
My name is patricia alberson
posted anonymously with permission from author
Dear Elders,
I am a child of the creator. I am in touch with a loving caring creator or grandfather. I am in touch with a loving caring earth or grandmother. I am walking a path that respects all living beings because mitakuye oyasin. I respect the passion of the declaration of war against those who would exploit traditional Lakota ceremonies...but not against those who would attempt to walk the good red road to the best of their present ability.
Black Elk is one of my teacher's through his books because I haven't had the honor to meet him when he was human. In his vision he spoke of many different peoples coming together to walk a good red road. It is happening. The Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota were very fortunate to have been given the sacred ceremonies because they have paid a very high and excrutiating price to say the least. But the teachings of black elk speak of an abundant creator. I do not think the Creator blessed the Sioux with the ceremonies for them to be boxed up and limited to those that only a few bitter elders see fit to despence at their descretion. I do belive that if I am blessed with a path that gives me contentment and a relationship with the great mystery, that it is my obligation to walk it and lead by example. The Sioux do not own Spirit or Tunkashila (I know of several spellings).
The same rigidity I feel exists in these three (only three?) elders, is the same rigidity that has promoted the type of ignorance and fear that devestated people of the earth long before the devesation of the north american tribes. We are all related and all belong to the mother.....how can you claim ownership of ceremonies that celebrate the directions (here long before the earth)? ...or that celebrate the healing powers of unity (chanupa)? ...and purification through the elements (sweat lodges-by the way which were practiced in the celtic and nordic earth-based tribes long before columbus began raping the american earth-based tribes.) Stone-henge was an attempt to bring those who hunted the great plains of europe together with those who had decided to settle down and form stationary communities. we could learn from this together.
I respect all paths and I am not arrogant enough to say who should or who should not reconnect with the creator by whatever means the creator leads that person to, whether it be the red road or any other belief system. There is a song of forgiveness in the lodge...why not try living that song outside of the lodge as well? Aho!
..Tolerance, Patience, Respect, Honor, Integrity, Humility, Honesty, Open-Mindedness, and LOVE.
A beautiful child of the creator a GREAT WONDERFUL MYSTERY!
From: kenneth daub coledaub@msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005
hau first off yes you may post this
now I have been reading these posting on here about wannabes and such well I do have a problem with that first off let me tell this to all the so called non certifiable ndns yes yuou have to be 1/16th blood to be put on the tribal rolls BUT all you have to have is one drop of native american blood in you to be a ndn as said by granpa foolscrow on pineridge rez but he said it long ago for he has crossed and in this happening I have defended a lot of so called wannabes who just want to live a spiritual way of life now do the christians say you have to be white to be a christian ok bad example but you see that is a religion that has denide anyone of self choice it states that you have to belkeive this and this or you will burn forever and the muslims they don’t say you have to be from mediteranian decent I have seen black men and white men and even a oriental man sitting down talking about allah so why have all of a sudden us us proud us brave us never surrendering native american refusing to share our culture and beleifs with others I know where a lot of my brothers and sisters are coming from the pain and hatred that our parents and there parents andour ancestors had to endure by no only the white man but also the black man I willl get to thast in a minute now when I read this story I agrred with it whole heartedly but when I got to reading all these post man I almost wanted to cry we have non native people who want to learn our ways and share in our spirituality but because of a few non ndns we shun them we look at them with the hatred our grandparents looked at there grandparents and we have all the right to or do we??????lets look at the facts ok there ancestors took the holy place and land and the game and put on a rez and took our children and beat them and branded government school tatoos on there bodies like cattle and when we spoke our language we were beat and locked in arooms and worst but the people I have read about on this page have donw none of that they seem to be treing to say sorry for the creator gave life to ina so she could give life to ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!of us now enough scolding my brothers and sisters now non ndns remember when you attend a lakota cermnoy that these ceremnoies have been around since the beginning of time we have no book that man has wrote we have no buildings that we go in and pray and we don’t just pray one day aweek we pray everyday and not just to the creator we pray and give thanx to all the animal nations we show respect to all the directions and we show respect and give thanx to ina or if you don’t speak lakota motherr earth I agree 100% with the article we need to keep people from dececrating our cermonies and stealing of culture but at the same time we cant turn our backs on people who turn to us for a new beginning and a new way to sopen them selve to spirituality I have seen the spirits do things that I am in aww of but I must go I have rambled on lonbg enough rermember it doesn’t matter what you are doing or if you are ndn or not if your heart is true and your intentions are good the spirits will be there to help
I agree 100%
From: Triciafloyd52@aol.com Triciafloyd52@aol.com
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005
yes [permission to post] I am not Lakota ,Nakota nor Dakota , I have never lived on a reservation , My mother is white, but I am fully behind you and your people in stopping the exploitation of Indian culture. In our area ,it is now 'cool' to be Indian ,and so everybody is. It wasn't like that when I was growing up.
We have the Red Hawk Native American Cultural Society here, which is an organization of many nations and few people. Our purpose is to inform and educate people of American Indian ways.,( not the white version) and to give mutual respect to all people. We do have an intertribal pow wow every year. Some members of our society are Lakota.
Your statements are bold. It is not only important to the Lakota but to all Indian people. How can we help you?
From: Brenda G. Kent wt211@victoria.tc.ca
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005
I'm not fond of racism...no matter who it comes from.
I don't believe that every white person should be judged on the basis of every other white person. I don't believe that white folks should be judged on what some white folks did in the past. I am not my skin colour..I am an individual. Respect is needed from all...not just some.
Anyone selling things as authentic Indian...and misrepresenting people or things etc...should be dealt with I agree. I'm not into culture theft personally...but I do believe there is a difference in the singular person searching for spirit and meaning in his/her life and someone who just plain and simply lies and steals. I've had so many NDN friends growing up and have also had a lot of racism thrown my way by NDN people. Does this make me label all NDNs are racist? no. I can only hope that people can get past the NDN=good whitey=bad mentality here. Shared respect....white for NDN...NDN for white etc. is what is needed. I will grieve with you for the people who have committed crimes against the Indian nations..but I will not take responsibility for it based on my skin colour.
Blessings
Bren
ps. Yes you can publish this.
From: George Doyle seoirse@adelphia.net
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004
Please do post this.
I say all of this in charity and am not yelling. So when reading, please remember I said this even though I am honest aboout things I'm upset about.
I have read the declaration a few years ago and just found this site while doing some research. What I want to address isn't as much the dellaration directly, but a certain other kind of exploitation. The exploitation against Christianity. First I will say that I agree with some of what the declaration says. There arer many charlatins out there and new ager and neo pagan people misusing Lakota and other Indian traditions. I believe it is wrong. I also believe that a number of Indians don't understand "white" people as well as they think either but are as quick to judge us as whites have judged Indians. But I speak generally, because there are always exceptions, an sometimes the bad ones are the exception rather than the rule. What I really want to say now, is not only to some Indians but to some Celts and others who are of European descent who say they are shamans.
I am a Celt, but I am not a shaman. I'm a Catholic Christian who is weary with the all too often accusation of Christianity being about repression and control, and lacking in true spirituality and deep meaning. If some don't want to embrace the Christian Faith that is there choice, and they are free to do as they please. But don't make excuses for your choice by making such statements about Christianity. Many of the usual things said about Christianity by neo pagans and shamans etc. are simply false and half truths at best. Yes there are fake Christians who go to Church one day a week and thats it. But there are also fakers in every religion.
Sadly Many leave Christianity or never give it a chnace because some how thye've coem to the conclusion that it lacks deep meaningful spiritual expereince. I can understand why people would get such an impression since many in the media does all it can to make it look as bad as possible. But read the lives of the saints and see what deeply spiritual men and women who follow the Lord Jesus Christ have done. Read their thoughts which they have written down and shared for anyone to see if they but look. Consider the early Celtic saints like St. Brendan and St. Aidan and St. Ciaran, and the deep mystical lives they lived, others like the very mystical St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila both from Spain. St. Therese the Little Flower and many, many others. The true Christian Faith is deeply spiritual and lacking in no good thing; it does not want for something meaningful.
But in all of the negative things said about the Church, and I have heard it, there are more lies than truth. Yes there has been corruption, so please don't bother throwing out accusations. I have heard it and am not afraid to talk about it. But if someone would want to pick out times in history when men have not acted according to their Faith, then I would quickly remind them that no one on earth is completely innocent. Not Europeans, not Indians, not black people nor hispanic nor Jewish nor Arab nor Asian nor anyone at all. Every nation on earth has had a hand in the evil that has taken place, and it does no end of good to continue pointing fingers and carrying chips on their shoulders. I could carry a few rather sizable chips my self, but with my scoliosis, it's better for me to let it go and not make my ailment any worse. The world needs reconciliation and that won't happen without forgiveness.
But what can unite us? The one thing so many are afraid to admit, because they fear they will lose who they are culturally, or whatever ever else it is they fear they would lose. It is Jesus Christ alone Who can unite the tribes of humanity, because He is the One Who came down from Heaven to die and atone for the sins of all, so that all may be one in Him. He Who is Love. Many quote that true Lakota saying which means, "All my relations".
Indeed we are all creatures of God, Who is the Creator of all things. And He sent His Son Jesus Christ to reconcile us to the Father. There is a great mystery in this, and it is not the patriarchal thing some accuse it to be.
Nor does it hurt any culture to believe it. Indians do not have to stop being Indians, Celts do not have to stop being Celts and so on. In fact, I am aware of Indians of different tribes who embrace the Christian Faith and are fully Indian culturally. They don't feel that following Jesus Christ takes away from their being Indian at all. If anything, following Jesus, helps us to become more who we truly are, and were created to be. Has anyone stopped to consider that when they reject Christ fearing that this will hurt their culture, that they might be resisting the will of the Creator Who sent Jesus at a certain stage in human spiritual development, when His Presense is finally needed to reconcile the tribes of man?
Have all cultures remained static for thousands of years, or have their not been some changes along the way that altered or changed direcitons the spiritual walk of a people? New ceremonies introduced? Old ones no longer required by the Creator? Why should the coming of Jesus into the wolrd be thought of as different in this way? It is different, but because of its magnificence. The Creator didn't send a messenger this time. He came Himself.
When people speak of the sacred hoop and how to mend it. Yes....indeed....
this is needed. But how can one hoop be mended, when people of many nations cannot find the center, where all meet as one? Is it really hard to believe that the God the Creator sent His Son Jesus Christ, Who is Himself One with the Creator and the same, the One Who stands at the center as head? And He to reconcile us all in Himself as One with Him and the Father?
I wish all Peace in Christ, in Faith and Hope and Charity.
George
Gach duine agaibh a baisteadh i gCríost, tá Críost curtha uime aige mar éide. Níl Giúdach ná Gréagach oraibh feasta, níl saor ná daor, fireann ná baineann; is aon sibh uile i gCríost Íosa. (Galataigh [Galatians] 3:27,28)
From: ovi hondru ovi@greenlightstudiosinc.com
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004
First of all you may have my permission to print these words,thank you.
It's been many years now,about 17,since I became involved and dedicated to the native americans creeds and understanding their beliefs and struggle for such a long time...in their own country!
I will not write here about the systematic genocide started long ago by those pretending to be...true 'americans' the wasicun who to this day still cary that chip on the shoulder,trying to forget the values and the spirituality of the american indian.The truth about his real life and culture.
Many years back,I came across 2 great books which I practically devoured:'Lame Deer seeker of visions' and 'Black Elk speaks'.I also read a book about Rolling Thunder.These very well documented books opened my eyes and it's not a single time since then that I cried feeling in my soul the stolen fate of the indian.
Like a strike of destiny,at that time I met a navajo indian,Vernon Bigman and since then we stayed very good friends. I knew other indians of different tribes descent thru him too.
I came to this land as an immigrant, a political refugee from a communist country.This land made of your blood and bones...welcomed me and for this I'll be forever in debt,not to the government but to you!
I do not have any kind of religion but I believe there is a God(Wakan Tanka)and your ways of thinking of Him and also His Creation are very much my own beliefs.
It's very sad that the cultural heritage is tarnished by impostors,but the real Wicasa Wakans still live thru the old and new generations who have the respect for their ancestors as all should have, and not make a show for profit out of it.
And it is fate too that directed me to this site.I will try to do all I can for the indian nations,not from charity but thru compassion and understanding,from the bottom of my heart,and you can count on me in your battle for truth in the name of peace and love.
Wakan Tanka Nici Un
LOVE&PEACE,
Ovi
Posted anonymously
Subject: my comment on the statement on Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality
When I read this, it placed me once again in a perplexed state. I have deep respect for the Lakota Spiritual Ways, and have struggled to balance what has come my way and what the tribes are fighting for.
I am a person, a woman, who suddenly began having experiences that led me to an elderly Lakota Medicine Man in 1996. I am white - with English/Irish/Hungarian ancestory. Prior to these experiences, I became acquainted with Cree people who would tell me I was Cree...I just didn't know it. When I went to the Lakota Medicine Man, and began having conversations with him, more things began to happen within me. I had spontaneous visions, and spontaneous recalls of ancient Lakota songs that I did not understand. I was not seeking "new age" experiences. I am a psychologist and educator, and the experiences defied explanation. The Lakota people I came to know at that time declared me an "old one", and told me that I must re-remember. I was teased and called "hopping eagle" when I was confused and dismayed. As I grew and began to accept what was happening to me, my Hunka sister gave me a Lakota name. I did not "buy" my name...it was given.
During this time in 1996-97 I was not spending large amounts of time doing or seeking Lakota ways. I was carrying out my day-to-day life, including teaching classes. I spent time at the Medicine Man's camp when I had time to do so.
The Medicine Man wanted to teach me medicine ways, and he showed me how to set a sweat fire, how to build a sweat lodge, how to listen to the stones to select them for the lodge. These things happened at a sacred site, a place where he had spent time each summer for 30 years...a place I respected as "Indian Only"....but was told by the Lakota's that befriended me to go anyway.
As I grew in understanding, I also grew in dismay. Although the "old one" that walks in my skin so longed for me to do the rituals, I made a decision that the People were not yet ready for "old one's in white skins". Interestingly, I too am offended by the shaman movements and the fake/pseudo Native Spirituality movement. During the time I was beginning to re-remember, I refused to sweat with the "upstarts" or "pseudo". I would sweat with only elderly traditional Medicine Men....for my heart knew and hungered the old, lost ways. I also only sweat at the sacred site where I was invited.
I so respect the Lakota People, and my heart is so connected to this issue.
When the militancy against White practicers became even more pronounced, I stepped back. There were those (lakota) that gave me pipestone and asked me to contemplate the pipe. I took a full year to do so, and when the year was up had to decide. I felt drawn to being a pipe carrier and began to carve my own, but my skin color and the sacreligious popularity of "whites & pipes" stopped me. I do not want to be called a "wannabe" FOR that is not the Why of the calling of the pipe. I told those guiding me that I did not feel it was the right time. I later had discussions of these feelings with a Lakota man - pipe carrier - who I did not know when I first went thru my contempation of the pipe. He gave me more direction, and we had long discussions of the implications - both of the responsibility the pipe asks as well as the reactions of traditionals to whites with pipes.
Today, in the privacy of my own home, and in my heart, I think the thoughts of Lakota ways. My Hunka sister reminds me from time to time that my heart is my pipe and no one can take that from me because of color. My expression of connection is now only by the making of medicine wheels - not for sale.
I keep sage bundles to cleanse and protect my surroundings, and I honor the 4-directions.
I read this website today because, for whatever reason that I cannot explain, I feel that the ancestors are nudging me to look again. The following statement came to me with such strength while I was driving for my work yesterday: "You must re-remember that you are a Medicine woman of the people who must walk in medicine ways." Today the feeling is even stronger and I am searching within myself for the answer, for the pipe again is drawing me towards it.
I agree with the statement that taking Lakota Spirituality and creating cultish, fadish ways is wrong. How, tho, does a person like myself reconcile the statement with that which is within me and moves me to long for the traditions?
I suggest to the Lakota people now and in the past, as the 7th generation comes, mixed blood will be the norm and many will no longer meet "blood quota" for tribal membership. If only card carrying Lakotas can practice Lakota ways...soon the People eligible will be few. The sacred hoop of the Medicine People is 4 colors - 4 races - 4 directions. The center is Blue for Father Sky, Green for Mother Earth, and Brown for the 7th generation.
My own path is to be the quiet walker of sacred ways.
Cante' Kiyan Wiyan
You may post, but do not post my email address.
From: Cik'ala-Mat'o bluknite@nwinet.com
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004
Please feel the freedom to use this message in anyway seen fit, To post it on the web or pass it along in other means. I give you permission to use these words as you see fit.
Hau;
Although I agree with the statements, There are problems. While a great many of the people are in or around the Black Hills area, Still some have scattered to the winds. Of the Seven Councils many of the people have either been sent to the winds by the Wasichus or left the scared places in modern times on their own.
These are still our people, And it is our duty to keep them. Although they may be lost for a time, They may be seeking their way. Would you not bring them back to the fire, Back to the circle and the living tree. Do you not want the people to follow the Red Road, or would you rather they continue down the path of the Black Road.
In times of our Grandfathers and the Grandfathers before them we embraced those who truly respected and learned the ways of the Lakota. Our Grandfathers knew that if one truly understood our ways that they would in turn respect us. I come from a Sih'asapa people who turned away from the old ways and adopted the ways of the whites. Moved from Dakotas to Washington State. My Father a military man and my mother a stay at home lost Sih'asapa. My mother denied her people and the ways, Growing up we never learned of the ways.
One of my 7 brothers and sisters married a Yakima, My mother had a fit, She than began to tell us how she left that life to become better. From that time on I grew more and more interested to find out about my people and the old ways.
I have always had a interest in the Native American ways. Even before my mothers reveling, I was drawn to the culture. As a young child I attended POW WOWs with friends from the Lumni Nation. I rooted for the BAD INDIANS in the cowboy movies. I believe that when I was 14 I had a vision, I did not understand the vision and asked a tribal elder from the Lumni to explain. Lumni are not Lakota, But I have no Lakota here to help me. I have a friend here from The Nakota people who helps me with our language. But as a female she cannot help me with all that I need to learn.
My Children have interest in our ways, We have traveled to the Black Hills to seek out Family. My Fathers Grandfathers are from Wyoming my fathers Mothers people are from Montana. My Mothers Fathers come from Canada and her Mothers people from Upper South Dakota, North Dakota Bismark area.
We seek what is in our blood, Of my seven brothers and sisters I am the eldest and the one that you would never think Native. I have blond hair and blue eyes. My brothers (2) and sisters (4) have dark brown hair and brown eyes. Yet I am the one seeking my roots. Would you close these doors to me and deny me the ways of my people.
I once talked to a Lakota elder who explained to me........Being a Indian is more than blood, It grows from the heart and seeks those who seek the ways. One can be born on a reservation and never become and Indian. A Indian can never set foot on a reservation. Follow your heart and the spirits will guide you. Seek the spirits and pray your prayers will be answered and the spirits will guide you along your path.
I seek the red road and all that is sacred to the Lakota people. I also want to learn the true ways of my relatives and don't want the ways dissimulated by wanna-be's. So I say to the People, Educate those that seek, Teach them the true path so that they may understand our wounds and how our people have been hurt by the bad teachings.
At one time white looked to wipe us from the earth, Now they wish to imitate us. Have we not therefore won our battle. Have we not out lasted the whites. Be true to our ways. We are all people of Tunkashila.
Mitakuye oyasin
Franklin (Cik'ala-Mat'o) Haney
Port Orchard Washington
From: Elizabeth Gamez elizabeth.gamez.j9og@statefarm.com
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004
You have my permission to print my response.
If whites had not been so wholly ignorant to begin with, the Lakota would not have to fight to preserve their religion, which is, essentially, one of the few traditional ways of life left to them. If whites (Caucasian, European, whatever you would like to call it) had not attempted to destroy everything about the Native Americans from stealing their land, their children, and their spiritual ways, the Lakota would not be incensed about them now trying to suddenly "become" Indian. I am not happy about some of the rather snotty opinions I am reading from white people. Why are whites so self-righteous? I myself am white and would never dream of approaching any Native American topic with anything other than respect and humility. I was embarrassed when I read some of the responses to this statement.
Being Native American is not "cool". It is not the religion of the moment. It is not a fad. That is what the statement is trying to say. Instead of jumping on the defensive, please for once, consider another point of view. There are Lakota out there who are willing to teach and accept anyone who wishes to learn with an open heart, but there are also those who don't think we deserve to know their ways, and I don't blame them. When whites colonized the country, they did not think that the natives were wise. They did not appreciate their love and concern for the earth, the waters, the animals. They had no respect. Missionaries tried to convert them, take their children away and make them assimilate into the white world. They told them that their religion was false and made their ceremonies illegal. They killed their people. How do you expect them to feel? If a Nazi suddenly wanted to become Jewish, would it not be met by the Jews with skepticism? I don't think that I'm overstating the comparison here if you really think about it.
That said, religion is a touchy subject. It is impossible to put a fence around what people believe. People are yearning to fill a spiritual void. As a white woman, I wish I had a culture to which I could relate, but I am a hodgepodge. I think that I am surely not the only one. This is why people are pursuing spiritual journeys outside of their cultural realms. Is it wrong? I am not the one to answer that. The beauty of our country's law is supposed to be religious freedom. We are taught that we can believe whatever we want to believe. However, for an American Indian, spirituality is tied in with culture. It is part of who they are, not just what they believe. The problem with belief is that our ideas can change. This is what the statement is about. You don't go out and buy a ceremonial pipe at the mall. It has to be a part of your culture. Whites don't really understand this, because for us, religion is a choice, a discovery.
Because Lakota ways have historically been so disrespected by whites, they have done their best to turn them from our eyes. However, I believe personally that perspectives are shifting and people are appreciating more and more the knowledge held by native peoples which used to be ignored. I do not believe that when whites now strive to learn about Lakota ways, that they are doing so in order to exploit them. I would like to believe (and I may be wrong) that people can learn in order to better themselves. I do not personally believe that there is harm in knowledge, or in following a path that one believes to be true, even (and perhaps most especially in some of our cases) if it was not the path of their parents.
The stereotypes which have persisted have done so out of our ignorance. There is very little solid information out there for the general public on the reality of American Indian life. But that is precisely the reason why people should learn. I began researching so that I could accurately complete a writing project. It has led to changing the way I think about everything. The wisdom of Native Americans is like reviving water in a world polluted with commerce, "development," and disjointed relationships. I personally believe that this kind of wisdom could change the world. I would like to address the writers of the statement and tell you that I hear you with the utmost respect. Your ways have been repeatedly trampled by our white ancestors. However, we can see their errors. We can feel the shame. We can see the beauty in who you are. I would like to see more truth out there about Native Americans. It is ridiculous how completely ignorant people are. Our children are not taught about the injustices that occurred and still occur. People honestly do not know. I am thirty-two years old and only in the past year through my own research have I learned the truth. I don't believe that it is simply that people do not care, but that they do not know. I would suggest that you consider a slightly different war--a war against ignorance. There will always be self-serving politicians, special-interest groups, and those who are simply fools. There will always be people searching for themselves and pausing for a moment in native spirituality before moving on to someone else. But if someone agrees with the way that you think, do not jump to the conclusion that they are fakes. If you believe your ways to be good, then is it not good for your ways to be practiced by others? Not misinterpreted, or mixed in with the occult, but with knowledge and understanding practiced by others. We should all fight against the misrepresentations, but in order to do that, we all need to be aware. I don't believe that those with an interest in your culture wish to take anything away from you; conversely, they are attempting to carry on the traditions. After all, if everyone followed the Lakota code of ethics, the world would be a better place. That's all that people have realized, and is all that they are attempting to accomplish.
Thank you for hearing my opinions.
Elizabeth
From: Tom Wettach piewaten2004@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004
I am not an Indian, nor do I have the slightest trace of Indian blood in me. I no longer play at being an Indian either, as I did when I was a child. I know who I am now, and I am proud of my own Scottish and Swiss ancestry. Still, growing up, my older brother taught me to have a great respect and reverence for many aspects of the cultures and values of American Indians. When I attended college in Yankton, S.D., I was thrilled to learn as much as I could about Indian culture, past and present, and equally ashamed to learn the white mans role in many of the problems of todays Indian. Later, in Anthropology courses in Montana, I learned the sad history of Missionaries whose sole duty it was to "civilize" the "spiritually lost" Indians, and those of many other cultures around the world. I continue to view American Indian peoples as a superior race in many aspects (I realize this! is a racist statement, and I don't care), and I certainly carry my share of "White Guilt". I also agree that it is disgraceful for anyone to exploit a people's religion for any reason.
However, while I understand the authors' intent, my personal feeling is that the Declaration was written with a dark heart and sweeping generalizations. Not all, but much of the writing assumes that the motives of all those who emulate Indian religious and cultural beliefs are doing so for evil reasons, and I don't believe that is the case. As the saying goes, "Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery". I believe that this is a time when many people in the world are feeling disenchanted with their own religions, and are "shopping" for a spiritual connection that is meaningful, and strikes a chord in them. We are a soul-less culture of fast food and fast gratification. People are beginning to realize that, and many are striking out on great quests in search of their souls. Unfortunately, we tend to look elsewhere, rather than within. There is also a strong desire to ret! urn to a time when life was simpler (though there is nothing "simple" about Indian culture or religion), when we were more connected to the earth, and to each other. And all these things they find in Indian religion and culture. Is it any wonder people are drawn to it like thirsty wanderers to a cool well?
One may choose to react to this imitation with anger, amusement, pity or sadness. It really doesn't matter, though, because no one can "steal" an Indian's religion from him -- if that were possible, the white man surely would have stolen it long ago, like so many buffalo tongues. A people's beliefs and way of thinking are perhaps the only things that cannot be taken from them, unless they so choose. As far as those who want to imitate Indian culture or religion, it is just that -- an imitation -- no more, no less.
Such a declaration, in my opinion, sounds like the angry tauntings of a young man. Does a father threaten to beat his 4 year old son because he is imitating how his father sits at the table? He is amused and flattered, because he sees the intent behind the behavior, but he does not feel threatened by the childish play. Though I must admit that my initial reaction was one of hurt, my own declaration is that I'm going to continue to revere American Indian peoples, and am not going to assume that the words of a few angry people speak for every American Indian. Thank you for reading this, and I give my permission to print this.
Tom Wettach
From: jim_robertson@barefootcreations.com
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004
You have my permission to post this.
On December 3rd, 1999, I submitted a response to this Lakota Declaration of War. I said some things that in hindsight were tremendously ignorant. The first thing is "The persons responsible for the plight of the native peoples all died many years ago. The native peoples who were directly wronged died long ago." Since writing those two lines, I have had my eyes truly opened to the fact that the wrongs didn't stop. They continue to this very day with issues like the theft of the Western Shoshone land by the US government because they discovered some much desired minerals on it.
This happened in 2004. Or the missing billions of Trust Fund money that the BIA cannot and will not account for despite being held in contempt of court numerous times and caught shredding documents. When? On going right now in 2004. Or the illegal sale of Indian lands by the BIA, for pennies on the dollar of their value without notice to the owners. When? On going in 2004. In fact, the BIA is challenging a federal court ruling that says they have to notify the Indian land owners! Try that with a white land owner and see how fast they land in court or jail!
Something else I said was "Start working to improve the conditions of your people from the inside out." Again, stated from ignorance. Many peoples have been working onthese issues for decades. Just because I didn't see it happening, I thought it wasn't happening.
A few people have criticized me for saying "Stop crying. Stop whining. Stop drinking. Stop abusing drugs. Stop hating. Stop blaming others." I will not apologize for saying this, nor will I retract the statement. However, I will add an explanation. I agree with the critics who stated that this sounds racist against all Indians. Sort of perpetuating the "drunken Indian" myth. I have seen a few of these in the past 20 years. I have met 100s more who were not. This statement was born from criticisms from my own grandmother and my own father directed at myself and some cousins. It was said more than 20 years ago, but it had to be said then. Some of us heard and changed. Others did not are either lost or have passed on as a result. This statement is *not* directed at the Elders who wrote the Declaration War. Not in the least. It is meant more as a blanket statement of taking personal responsibility regardless of who stands close by attempting to keep you down. So, I will apologize for any inferred, real or seemingly, racism in that remark, but the intended message of personal responsibility and stands. In my ignorance, I didn't realize how many were already taking action.
During the past five years I have encountered many of these fakes, plastics, and wannabees, that the Declaration was targeting. I didn't realize how widespread the problem is. And it isn't just non-Indians. I personally know some Lakota and others who have taken to selling ceremony.
The gripe I have come to develop over the issue, isn't the selling of ceremony, or the performance of ceremony, or the "spiritually lost" whites.
It is the presentation of twisted teachings, mixed teachings, fabricated teachings, as if they were Lakota (or other Nations). If you want to learn the Lakota way, then you must learn the whole way: language, culture, teachings, stories. Work for the Nation, the elders, the children. Don't play Indian one weekend a month.
The biggest revelation for me on this issue is that although I continue to disagree with the concept of a Declaration of War, I must support their right to do as they have done. They are protecting their ways as they think is best. And these are not my ways to protect or dictate the proper way to protect them. They still face hatred and theft and murder and racism and sickness every day of their lives. I thought the struggle to survive was over, but it is still going strong! They fight the fight every single day of their lives. And I support their effort.
Education is a wonderful thing. Mine began long ago, but I didn't realize how ignorant I was until I reread what I posted five years ago.
Jim Robertson
From: ALETA THRUSH julyfiredancer@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004
It is in my family traditions that my great-grand mother was the daughter of a Medicine Man - what tribe has been lost in the mist of time and history. So of course I am curious about Indian traditions and now that I am a Grandmother I have time to start searching. I have discovered the joy of Native music and was considering looking into traditonal native religions, but never realized there was so much anger and down right hate around what should be a loving tradition to teach to the world not just your decendents. Of course I don't know of your life experiences being raised white. I have recently discovered I have several races in my background. I guess fear of repression and rejection made my ancestors hide their ethnic backgrounds - claiming to be only white. I find it sad that I and my children and grandchildren will never know our true heritage, but not enough to hate nor declare WAR on anyone. ! But like I said - I don't know of your life experiences and the hurts and injustices that you may have experienced and I truely hope you will find justice and peace. I would never intrude upon you, your life nor your beliefs without your permission. But you may talk to me anytime. I will pray for you. I hope you will pray for me too.
God Bless,
Aleta Thrush
JULYFIREDANCER@YAHOO.COM
If you are still posting these responses you may post this one too.
From: willow aliento willowa@nor.com.au
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004
Hello there,
I live in Australia, and wholeheartedly support the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota declaration.
I have lived around the Byron Bay area for a decade now, and have watched as more and more people exploit, adopt, mix up and make profit out of all types of Native ceremonies, artefacts and other things.
There are any number of people holding sweat lodges (some for profit) drumming events with a "Indian" theme, and dangling "dream catchers' from their rear view mirros. Not to mention the beads and the suede-looking-like-buckskin. I have come across a lot of this stuff in the course of trying to find anything real which might teach me something about my own ancestors, who include Canada's Mic Mac and also South Eastern US Tribes, but I am the first family historian to really try and nail down where exactly this "Indian blood" my grandfather's always known about comes from, out of a deep urge I've had all my life to understand this culture and respect it as part of my heritage - also learn from it how I can live more in balance with nature and all living things, as the older I get, the less I find to respect in the theories of "Western" ways, and the more sense the basic day to day ways of Native peoples (leaving out artefacts and feathers) make - and that's what bothers me most about the exploitation here in Australia, is I see that the basic beliefs of Native culture are not in any way lived out in the people who hold these ceremonies.
Also, they seem to judge a person by how many beads and feathers they are wearing, so I have never been to one of their ceremonies, not liking their vibes.
It is difficult to explian this to many people I have found, that taking the artefacts and ceremonies and exploiting them is disrespectful. Many people say "but its helping the culture survive!" and that's the biggest misunderstanding that I can see, because culture is far, far more than those things - and gets ignored in the rush to adopt the outward things for personal satisfaction or, in the case of ceremonies, personal spiritual power.
As a journalist, I am in a position to explore this, and am working on a feature article for my paper about Culture Vultures of the North Coast. I would like to show the Declaration of War to a few people who I think are doing this thing and get their comments - likely to stir up a few folk that would be.
I am going to print out a copy to hang above my desk. Next time I have an argument about it with the sports editor and the chief of staff, at least I'll have something to back me up that comes from people who have a REAL RIGHT to what they say.
Blessed be all our relations, and may the wisdow of our Elders be ever with us
Willow Aliento
Mummulgum, Australia.
OOps! got so carried away forgot to mention you can publish my previous message. will resend with permission included if needed, let me know.
From: Jason Q q_00@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004
You have my permission to print this......................Hello
So, I have this job where I sit at the computer a lot. There is free time. I have become addicted to cruising the interenet and especially things around Lakota ways. This is a horrible place to learn about anything, but I am grateful to have discovered all these things that are happening. It is also sad, confusing and a whole nother range of emotions I don't even know about, probably cause I am a rcovering dope fiend who spent a good chunk of his 30 years loaded, and not emotionally maturing at a very great rate. Also, this society is a very sick place and between the two, I am troubled by so much.
We white people want too much too fast period. If one of us gets to even ever sit in an Inipi, especially where an alter is set, we are very privledged. Not to mention a dance or being gifted sacreds. We are a spoiled, self-centered and greedy people. I struggle everyday not to take this life for granted or anything that comes with it comfortable or uncomfortable. So, if all I really own is my flesh, if that is all I really have to offer, anything else that comes my way is a gift. Thank you to all who have shared so many great gifts. Health Help and Happiness to you all.............
From: Jmeroot@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004
Use if you like. Statement serves as a good beware. Make sure you are seeking in truth and spirit. And even if you do bite a bit of plastic, keep seeking in truth and spirit and you will find your answer.
Sorry so many think Wallace Black Elk was false. His book presents one who stood up for Chanupa under persecution, a powerful connection with spirit, and a humble connection with everything else, especially himself. I never met him. I would though, like a humility like the one described in the book (maybe though, SACRED does equal SCARED ... of the right things).
Funny, the war statement sounds a little similar to the Jewish Christians trying to stop the spread of Christianity to the gentiles. Maybe not.
I'm a Libra, can't you tell?
Peace.
From: kip van brunt kipper007@nvinet.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004
you have my permission to post this
i dont know all of whats right or wrong but im sick and tired of these wannabees using up our elders.yes i think it is important to learn and pay attention to the gifts our elders have but i think it is the duty of us real induns to protect them also.i remember growing up and always some non indians would be trying to hang around my grandfather asking him to show me this and show me that.well he was so kind he wouldnt refuse someone wanting to learn but once it started it seemed like it never ended because they would go and bring someone else and then that person would get someone and so and so on.i remember how they called him grandfather and called me little brother but as soon as they soaked up all they could they were gone.and he was always tired and anybody could see that but do you think that stopped them from sucking him up like a sponge?if only they were paying attention to what he was trying to teach them they would know what respect is and wouldnt keep asking for too much.it exhausted him and i truly think it shortened his life.and now that hes gone theres nothing i wouldnt give to have just not even half the time he spent letting the leaches suck on his sweet indian blood. where are all of my so called brothers and sisters now? me and my real brothers and sisters are still here.im older now and im glad there gone but it saddens me to think about how there sucking the life out of someone elses grandpa or grandma or auntie or uncle or mom or dad or brother or sister.i pray for them to leave our elders alone.its to exhausting because theres to many.i pray they will have respect to let our elders devote there time to teaching there own people instead of wasting it on disrepectful people having identity crisises who only flow by like the wind.im here to stay i have no choice in the matter its in my DNA.
all my relations, Mato Ohitika
From: Janie Lane janie_lane60@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Ok to post.
Less and less people everyday are "white" or "red". Even the all "white" are rarely from one ethnic background or "tribe". We all are a mixture of various heritages. I read here the suggestion to follow your own heritage. Not so easily done in these times. In America, the melting pot idealism formed by our authoratative government, of the european decent, has seen to that. All cultures have been taught to feel shamed by their roots in public arenas for decades. The Italians no longer speak or act as Italian as their great- great granparents did..nor do the Irish...nor do the Scottish...nor do the French...nor do the Africans...the list goes on and on. We have all lost our native tongue and our native ways. Anything that made us stand out from being the governmentally approved "American" was cast out long ago. Our "heritages" now encompass those of the "red" ! man, the "white" man, the "black" man, the "yellow" man. All heritages have become our own. We search for our wise teachers in many places. If your behavior strives to keep you apart from any other color in any way, then you have become the racist of this century. I doubt this is what "spirit' had in mind for any of us at any point in history. I don't believe that hate is not a gift of spirit.
Janie Lane
From: MOUNTAINBIRD POTTERY
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Do not post my email address. You have permission to post my statement.
I read some of the responses and quickly read the Lakota declaration. I can understand the offense taken to anything that is unspiritual disguising itself as spiritual. The Lakota are offended by those who take something sacred to the Lakota and use it for commercial gain. Who demean it by creating false images like plastic medicine men and sell them.
I am a Greek-American who loves God and appreciates diversity of peoples. For years I taught English as a Second Language which allowed me to know people from many different cultures and learn of their customs and legends while teaching English so they could get along better in the United States or in a US University.
More than 20 years ago, my life was in turmoil. One very close to me was claiming values I believe immoral and valued material and the appearance more than the heart and intangible treasures in life. I had a dream of a small bird in a barrel cage. I identified with that bird. I began to build things with wood and create with clay. Nature always brought me peace. Even a storm can soothe the spirit. I spontaneously named my business mountainbird and signed by pottery this way also. I then had a mark for the mountainbird with a mountain and a little line bird above. Eventually I changed my name to mountainbird. For me, it is symbolic of wanting to always remember what is important in life and to value those small ever-present things that many take for granted like water, wind, birds, the earth, mountains, the sea, a flower, the grass—all the beauty God has given us if we but notice.
I respect the Native American way in its regard for nature and the realization of the whole of nature as a circle of life. Yet with all cultures and my own heritage Greek, I see good and bad—life affirming and life negating. A long time ago, rather than rejecting the entire because part was rotten or negative, I embrace the positive and life-giving and loving of my heritage and of other cultures including the Native American.
I have known Native Americans who respect others and the earth and its wholeness and teach important lessons through medicine stories and in their lives as they live them.
Yet I also see cultural traditions that others used to burn a house down and force a former wife to leave a reservation because the man had the power to do so without punishment.
All I am saying here is that every culture has its good and bad—life affirming and life negating components. The Lakota can be proud of its life-affirming traditions and values. Noone should cheapen the sacred. However, some of the whites who teach or lead seminars or sweat lodges may be furthering the Lakota way.
I participated in sweat lodges in western Massachusetts and on a reservation in Arizona. In Masschusetts, it formed a sense of community as well as furthered healing. In Arizona, I was recuperating from a very debilitating accident and the sweat lodge and retreat and hike up a sacred mountain was a turning point in my healing from a chronic condition from which there is not generally any cure.
I see similarities in the outrage that Jesus had when they were degrading the temple by robbing the people by selling sacrificial items at outrageous prices. He said His house was a house of prayer. Jesus always went right to the heart of the matter. He said people needed to worship God in spirit and in truth. Forms of religion without love and forgiveness were worthless. Pierce through to the heart of the matter.
The same with the Lakota issue. What is the heart of the matter. Rather than wage war. Wage love. Teach truth.
I don't think Jesus would deny the truth of Lakota reverence for nature or respect for people, but worship God and the Creator not the creation. Respect and reverence creation, yes. But love God and what he created including people whether white or Native American or Asian whatever. Be angry at the sin and not the sinner. Cheapening the sacred is the sin. Peaceful protests may educate.
I read a Native American's words as she came to know Jesus. She left behind the spirit of fear and embraced the spirit of love. Speak the truth in love. "Wage war" in love. Go to the heart of the matter and follow form if you wish but know what is of highest value and what is secondary. Native Americans have much to teach the world. Others will listen. But how the story is told determines how well people can listen.
Written in love by mountainbird
Mountainbird Pottery
. . .But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
From: scott littles daskittles69@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004
I give my permission to post.
I am sick and tired of the term "white", I mean what exactly is white. I am Osage, Cherokee, and German. When I am filling out a resume or something for school it always ask what ethnicity you are, this drives me crazy. My family all has a natural dark complexion, but I took after my mother with her white skin. And because of this and the fact that my Grandmothers birth certificate says "not white" I am not allowed to belong to a tribe or put onto paper that I am a Native American. Even at my college, where there is a Native American center, I am not accepted becasue of my skin. For the most part I am completely against the "white man's" ways, or the European ways, however you want to say it. But I do have German in me and I like to reflect their culture as well. I don't know if anyone is following this letter, but this is how I feel and I hope there are others out there as well that understand. But I do hope that th! e people that read this, that can be considered Native American by whatever council or government does open their eyes and have some understanding for their fellow brothers and sisters, even if they are not full blooded Natives. Feel free to email me back at daskittles69@yahoo.com
Scott Littles
From: Allan & Cathy Mulford tondie@prtcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Hi There,
I hope and pray that life is good and that all is well. You can post this letter with my desire to only help so that the People may live and thrive. Please note a correction I wish to Make though,” where it say. We do call our spiritually a religion it should read “we do not call our spiritually a religion”. Thank You.
Hi there,
I am AIM, belong to the Mobile Chapter of The American Indian. We protect “The Old Way”, which were given to The Red People by the ancestors.
If a person has any Indian blood, they are Indian. How much Indian they are depends on their desire to walk the Old Ways. All Races have their own “Old Way”. All good.
The spiritually comes from how much you live your live to show respect for the love the Creator has for us so we may live in Harmony in his universe.
True spiritually does not include man made ideas, things, including money. Some may not know which to travel on, but you can be sure that if it includes money you should not go there.
I have known some Indian People who were APPLES and I have known some wannabes that worked hard to protect our beliefs. I have learned the spiritually is personal, as are ceremonies, but we as Indians do not call our spiritually “”religion”. We do not worship, but pray through ceremonies and our Pipes. Everyone gets their own ceremonies as they are given to them by the Creator. Our beliefs are our strength and wisdom providers, they were given to US!!, all other races were given their own too.
Leave ours alone and learn your own and join in completing the circle for all The Peoples of the Creator. Sell yours not ours.
From: joey cross [mailto:jdcross@gwtc.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 12:57 AM
You do have my permission to post this on whatever site you see fit and use this info as may be necessary.
Hau Kola,Ista Hmi Emaciyapo. I feel that for all intent and purpose the declaration of war on exploiters has to begin with the people who declared this war. This being said 2 of the 3 persons who have signed this statement, according to Traditional/Natural Laws of the Lakota are not by this standard considered Lakota. One is of European descent on his fathers side the other has fathered children of Spanish descent. The true Lakota Laws indicate that once Lakota Female marries away from or outside the tribe, they give up all rights as Lakota and become one with the peoples this female person has chosen to become a part of by the sanctimony of marriage. Womanhood and Marriage are sacred to the Lakota and not to be taken lightly or for granted, marriage is a choice one makes that will last a lifetime it indicates where a persons loyalty lies to the Full Blood Lakota.In the 1800s many sons of females who have married outside of the Lakota,Dakota, Nakota and Wajaje speaking peoples, despite these sons carrying the blood of their mothers in their veins, have turned on the peoples of their mothers. This was the case during the Wounded Knee Massacre, mixed blood Lakotas led the Calvary to the Full Bloods and joined in the killing on their own relatives, scouts of the Calvary were Billy Garnette, Batiste Garnier, Shangreau, Twiss, Bettelyoun etc .etc. The Lakota are very compassionate and forgave the mixed bloods but not with out some retribution. Batiste "Big Bat" Pourier was one of the scouts siding with the Calvary and the husband of a Lakota Woman, one day a lone warrior rode up to him knowing of "Bats"sin and clubbed him in the face, marking him forever with a bashed in skull, this mark he carried the rest of his life, showing the Lakota's he had paid for his sin, the other scouts were also dealt with, some had went into hiding, fearing the Lakota. This warrior could have killed him but after striking Bat he scolded him for being a foolish man and warned him never to turn on the peoples of his wife again or he would next time die.In the 70's of this century, many peoples view AIM as being a modern day Warrior Society of the Indian People and when they see Russell Means (or other Hollywood Indians) standing on the Hollywood screen they see the image of what they believe is a true Indian but this is not the belief of many Lakota, Dakota, Nakota and Wajaje. The Goons of Pine Ridge and AIM were in the Full Blood Peoples eyes of Pine Ridge Agency but two factions of mixed bloods fighting for control of what rightfully belonged to the Full Blood Lakota. The Full Blood Treaty Signers of the 1800's knew of this Natural Law of Marriage and Loyalty and had insisted that the US Government include this law into the writing of the treaties, it was thrown around until it was finally included in laws that branched out of the venerated 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties (these laws could found in 44TH Act of Congress 1877 Article 7 & 25 Stat., 392). To truly understand this way of life and the sacred ceremonies of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota and Wajaje one has to be of this Nation. With that beware of the so called Wicasa Wakan presenting themselves as Lakota, Dakota, Nakota or Wajaje, because they may not be all that is and you may receive some knowledge of the rites, but with a side dish of European flavor.
From: Rocket Finley rocket3777213@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2004
You have my permission to print this on your website.
Issues, issues, issues. We all have them in the school room of life be it here in the physical world or in spirit. I follow no religion but have studied and partaken from many of them since I was very young. The Lakota, have every right to seek to hold their spiritual beliefs sacred and not want them distorted or used for money. If I was Catholic, I'd take offense of some Baptist coming into my church and saying "your doing it wrong, you emerse the entire body in water, you don't sprinkle". I'd take offense to anyone claiming to be Catholic and preforming a Baptist method of baptism.
I was raised by a Baptist mother and Catholic father. Mom went to church regularly while dad sat in the car waiting for us. I was dragged kicking and screaming or I'd have to stay in my room all day. One day I heard my mother say Native Americans are"pagans". I had no clue what the word meant but I could tell by her body language, the way she acted upitty and self righteous, I was going to respond, ass beating or not.
I told her she didn't know anything about Native Americans and she was "finger pointing". If you don't understand something you tend to fear it and not only was her fear obvious but her self righteousness. Later in life, we had this difference of opinion again. Some of best friends have been Native Americans and no way was she going to tell me in a demanding way so self sure they are pagans.
In their defense I asked her if it was better to honor the planet, the mother earth or just keep destroying it in the name of progress, dump some more bleach down the drain mom but God forbid you might say a prayer or hold a cerimony for the mother earth and condemn others for what you do not understand. If she had lived long enough to see her great granddaughter she may have been able to work through some of her own prejudice because she's the most beautiful child and 1/4 Omaha Indian.
I was angery that this loving small child was rejected by her own tribe, they refused to register her as a member because she is not at least half breed. Once I became still, I began to consider why and found forgiviness and can even appreciate why. Her family on the Native American side, tells me it's not tradition to allow a woman to beat the drum, "you shouldn't be allowing that". Look, if you want her to follow tradition I guess the tribe should take responsibility and teach her and grandpa will support it.
We have a drum, I chose a traditional maker of Lakota drums, it's also buffalo hyde and my granddaughters cousin told me their family is "buffalo cult" and they are not to touch anything buffalo. Well where are you, are you going to teach her, where is the tribe, are they going to teach her true spiritual teachings. I don't know the true Omaha spiritual teachings but I love my granddaugher, and maybe she's only 1/4 Indian but I'm not attempting to teach her a love and appreciation for Native Americans and love for that part of her.
If it's important enough to have her learn traditional ways and beliefs you don't do that by rejecting her. Her father is registered but rejected, he's half African American, they call him terrible things on the reservation, maybe your not ok unless your full blooded? I'm sorry to say we all have issues but it's part of the learning process. The Lakota say "we are all one". I believe that because I've experienced it. I ask though, if we are all one, why not share your spirituality because as I truly see it, we really are all one and you claim ownership to spirituality of any kind?
It might appear I'm seeking to get my ass kicked by a car load of Lakota brothers but my tone here is not anger, I'm trying to get you to look at this as a question. I don't believe we own anything and certainly not each other. I do not own the spiritual beliefs I have, they came from spirit and all belongs to spirit, that Great Spirit whatever you choose to call it by be it God, Allah, or what- ever.
I've heard ignorrant things come out of peoples mouths like "they worship Allah" in the Taliban. SO WHAT!? Is our all knowing...all superior God suddenly so stupid it fails to recognize who we direct or attention to be it God, Heavely Father, Allah, Jehova, or whatever? Man...it drives me nuts.
I will apologize for my ancestors invading America and taking it from the Natives. War, is stupid...PERIOD. We keep doing it and never learn. Sure, there are pissed off Native Americans "still". What? We took away their land and inflicted our way on them, they didn't send ships to come get us with invitations, we invaded and didn't wipe our feet. The next time some ignorrant Ameican thinks we should deport all illegal aliens from Mexico, just remember, white Americans are aliens, we were not here first. If I can get us all to pack up and return to the land of our ancestors I'll leave, hell, all we do is trash this country in the name of progress, more junk to burry then build homes over. More chemicals going into our lakes, rivers and streams. Technology can be good if used with that intent but do you really think having us with the largest supply of nuclear weapons gives us the right to have them and no one else that we might fear? We inject fear because we have these weapons and others don't, we made them out of FEAR and we are not brave enough to set an example and be rid of them but hey...we live in fear so that's not going to happen.
I wonder what we might think if some other people invaded this country and forced their ways upon us, man would we be pissed for generations upon generations but this is what we did to the Native Americans and we are doing it in Irac. Peace? Maybe it will seem like peace but there is going to be ticked off people at us for generations to come. It amazes me that we can't lay down our weapons and say we wish to set the example and what do you have to lose? Your home, your car, your jelly of the month club? ALL BELONGS TO GOD...EVEN YOU.
I'm done sounding off but if just one person changes for the better for reading this, it was worth it. The next time one of you wannabe Indians attend a powwow and want to make a contribution and then think because you did you deserve to be included in cerimony or seek to have things your way...get off the Res and leave them alone. If you should be invitted in any cerimony, your not there to conduct it, shut up and observe, respect it and do nothing more but give thanks. It's the disrespect of people who think a little knowlege makes them spiritually wise or special..."that's ego crap" if this ticks you off, you own it" I'd rather eat food cooked over burning horse chips with a humble spiritual brother then any spiritual wannabe Indian in the finest restaurant. You don't see Native Americans showing up at our church services trying to take over the sermon or make a financial contribution and act like because of that they have certain rights! Not all Indians are spiritual, not all whites are either and just because someone buys a little sage and burns it in their home giving recognition to the four directions doesn't mean they have a clue or they are a good spiritual teacher. If you believe in Lakota spirituality, why would you set up shop and sell it? If it's a spiritual gift, it wasn't purchased with money so don't ask for that in return for sharing spiritual beliefs or teachings. This really shouldn't be an issue and it's unfortunate that it is. Love to the Lakota and all Natives.
Mike Finley
Lincoln, NE
From: Philip Jones pbjinvestments@msn.com
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 10:10 PM
Dear Mr. Bucko, Lakota authors of the Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality and anyone else, interested in my opinion… (From this, I give you permission to post this on any web site that you might have…);
I am a late comer to this discussion and this quandary I suppose because I have, many years after the fact, read this for the first time. I however feel compelled to respond, not because I have direct connection to the Lakota, or because I understand their situation well, but because I hear their words and the words of the responses that you have received from many years of sadness and pain.
I was born American, in Alaska. I am not of native stock, but of Swedish blood. I am proud of my culture, my language and my family's traditions, though I don't adhere to them all anymore. I have learned to accept my history as much as my family's history into my life.
I was a teacher for many years, of my adopted country's language and culture. For ten years, I spent time in Sweden, Spain, South Korea, Romania, Turkey and many other countries working as a teacher sharing something about who I am. In this sharing, I have also learned a lot about other people.
Now, I have come back to a gift that was given to me by a Lenape along time ago. I was gifted a name, pure and simple. It is, in English, 'Walking Everywhere.' The name, given to me as a boy, meant nothing more than going to visit a friend of my mother's. Now, it carries meaning because I have come to understand this gift.
I do not mean to post this because I profess to understand the native cultures of this country. I have however 'walked everywhere.' I have shaken hands with the Ainu, with the Sami, with the Laz and with the Basques. Many of them also were angry.
I have seen cultures that are very different from mine and learned to respect them for who they are, but not want to be them. I am, after all, who I am; my experiences, my background and my emotions.
I have been gifted with the ability to 'walk everywhere' by myself, by 'the creator,' and by my fate. Now, I walk in your world, Lakota, and ask you a question in response to an angry voice that you had many years ago: 'Would you reject every other way to keep your own? And if so, is that the wisest path that you, and your people can walk?'
I think that deep in your hearts, you will understand that what ever spirit world you endeavor to transcend, that it can only be done with a pure being.
The non-Lakota, white man who 'walks everywhere,' asks you how close have I come to the teachings of your elder, or is the color of my skin enough to keep me from their wisdom?
I wish you peace and prosperity, Lakota, Dakota and Nakota. I don't know you, but I do, all the same.
Phil J. Berglund
'Wawaqacumen'
"Walking Everywhere"
From: Shayla Spolidoro ShaylaAS@comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004
I give permission to post this on the internet.
Previously I had posted a statement against stealing from another religion. Now I have a question.
First, some background. I have always felt a spiritual connection with the Earth. No one had to tell that it was sacred or that it had a spirit. No one had to tell me there were spirits in the Air and Water. If I were my mother, I would take a hike every weekend and feel that I was spiritually renewed. However, I have a severe handicap that prevents access to nature beyond the front lawn. So, I have turned to ritual to give me the connection I feel I have lost. With only one, do I question whether it was stolen. The rest are my own.
I burn sage. I live in New Mexico, so it grows here naturally. Growing my own makes me feel connected to the Earth. I put into my energy and respect and take from it spiritual satisfaction. I was trying to find something to burn for incense that I could grow myself and a friend said, why not sage. I know it is used in smudging. I will be honest. I don't even know what that is. Here is my dilemma. Rituals are given to a specific people, not to be stolen, but is the plant off limits if I feel a spiritual connection and don't use a ritual that is not my own?
Please answer my question. My email is ShaylaAS@comcast.net. If I am in the wrong, I will stop.
Thank you.
From: Shayla Spolidoro ShaylaAS@comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2004
In my first message I forgot to include permission to post this on the internet, so I am sending it again.
I wanted to respond to all those who answered with the complaint that they are being blamed for something they haven't done simply because of the color of their skin. I used to feel the same way. I was in denial. The exploitation, genocide, and other cruelties visited upon Native Americans has not ended. No more than racism towards African Americans ended when Martin Luther King Jr. was given a holiday. The continuing suppression of minorities is perpetuated by the culture of the United States and all white people, intended or otherwise.
Respect for other peoples comes first when you recognize this about the United States today.
Secondly, do not chide them for being filled with anger, even hate (I am not saying that this document is about hate, I am addressing those who think it is). They have a right to their anger and hate. It confused me as well, but then my friends who were African American helped me to see the other side. When you grow up in the world and all the people offer you is racist remarks and bigoted actions, you come to believe that that is all you can expect. Then, you assume that even those who aren't racist are. You have to. If you assume they aren't and they are, you get hurt again. You learn to lash out first.
Do not resent people for being angry at the way the world has treated them. Do not tell THEM to forgive and forget. If you truly respect them, you will empathize with their sorrows and accept their anger, even abuse, as you are a member of a society that has perpetuated those abuses on them. YOU are the one that must forgive their anger. Don't ask something you are not prepared to give.
Yes, it saddens me that the Lakota and others want to completely cut off all whites from their spirituality, but that is their right. That is the consequence of the crime. Even if I have not directly exploited them, they have been exploited and they must respond as they feel best. If this is their answer, that is their right. Whites have no RIGHT to their religion and true respect does not include stealing. If they give it to you then that is different, but it must be on their terms.
From: Rand Waddingham motodoc43@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 4:07 PM
you may print this as you see fit.
Are we not all brothers? Is not your biggest complaint about the white man that he has abused you because you were different? Should you treat us the same? Are you really angry to have been treated different, or is it because the white man won- took your life? Do you want to continue to be seen as different? If not, then do not treat us as different either. If we choose to worship the same "god" or great spirit, to revere the same mother earth, to perform the same cerimonies- should that not make you proud that we see something of worth in your herritage?
The world is returning to the aboriginal spiritualities- the "pre-religious" spirituality of the native peoples (and no, that is not just the native americans). Because of geographic isolation, your ways have remained more intact than the rest of the worlds native ways- we, the whites have only been here a few hundred years. So, the easiest way for any man to find a relatively intact native spirituality is to look toward you native americans. You cannot own a cerimony or a belief. If you try, you will just create hatred, fear, and eventually war.
Rand Waddingham
From: shel lester kneaderpaws@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004
You have my expressed permission to use this email as you see fit.
Well to start off, It is not only Lakota people who suffer from this. People fail to understand that Nobody can own Spirituality. I dont care if you are Lakota, Hopi, Cherokee( like myself) etc. Creator has given us this sacred knowledge to join the peoples of all races.. black, white ,yellow and red (just like the colors on the medicine wheel hmm is that a hint?) To unite us all in the circle of life. I understand how our Native ancestors and the tribeal peopples of today have been slaughtered, stolen from and exploited at every turn but Creators purpose in giving us this knowledge is because we are the "keepers" of knowledge until the time to unite and what is knowledge unless it is shared? It is worthless. Now is the time to stop our "Pity Parties" and rise above and do Creators Will. It is not about us all the time, it is about the big picture.
I dont believe the people who exploit our beliefs are pulling the wool over anyones eyes that dont deserve it. Creator will deal with them as he sees fit. It is not our job.
Tsalagi Udola
From: Kaijima Frostfang kaijima@pobox.com
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004
You have permission to print this.
Greets,
I'll be short with my opinion. The problem I see with the Lakota attitude, is that it is all too similar to other "back to the the roots", hardline or even extremist sentiments expressed by other groups and cultures at points in history. It is angry where compassion needs to be spread, it is divisive where understanding needs to be promoted.
Above all, it is selfish, nearsighted, and greedy. It screams "We have ours, GET YOUR OWN! GO AWAY!"
The thing is, I can see the rationalizations, and the justifications. I'm not ignorant of how the Native peoples have suffered. I'm not ignorant of how they've been exploited. There is a general undercurrent of "long overdue revenge" running through Native opinions among many.
Even so, the problem remains. It is supreme arrogance for Native peoples to declare they have final and absolute say on things such as Spirit. I've heard many rationalizations from Native folk. "The Great Spirit put us here so it is just ours, everyone else has to stick to their own". I've heard this while at the same time hearing some of the very same people voice hypocrisy, decrying religions like Christianity as being "false". Well, I guess everybody who wasn't lucky enough to have red skin and be a True Child of Turtle Island is outta luck, eh?
This is the same base thinking that leads Christians to write stuff like Left Behind, where the special pure people are saved by God and everybody else dies horribly.
Yet I can still see all the motives that go into it. Native pride, Native purity, protection of Native culture doesn't involve yanking it away from everybody else like greedy, petulant children. When an idea spreads, it will be distorted. This is HUMAN nature, regardless of race, spirituality, creed, or motive. You fight it by being more true, by offering the better interpretations, explaining the true spirit more. The "hucksters" who take Native beliefs, cultural symbols, and traditions and sell them to those nasty non-redskinned people wouldn't have a market if nobody was interested in them. Educate, don't be foolish.
Your life is a gift from the Great Spirit. What you do with your life is your gift to the Great Spirit. You can be greedy fundamentalists who build walls motivated by bloody revenge and ignorant of the realities of existing in a WORLD full of human culture, or you can be statesmen to humanity, and history.
-- Kai
From: yonassan gershom gershom613@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Yes, you have permission from me to post any or all of this response on your site.
Here goes:
I agree 100% with your "Declaration of War," and I will boycott any phoney who charges for an "Indian ceremony." I myself am a Hasidic (very traditionalist) Jew, and, as you are no doubt aware, Christianity did the same thing to the Jews in terms of rip-off, and continues to do so.to this day. Early Christianity became the "New Age" of its day and mish-mashed Judaism and a lot of pagan Greek and Roman ideas that were never a part of Jewish beliefs or thought. More recently, churches have begun holding Passover seder ceremonies that are not at all authentically Jewish iun either form or content. They have also begun using our sacred objects such as the ram's horn, prayer shawl, etc. in their own church services, giving them a Chrisitan interpretation that is SACRILEGE to real Jews. When I point out that they have no right to our ceremonies, I am told that the Jews are "selfish" and "narrow-minded" and that these rituals now "belong to everybody."
Not so -- not for Jewish ceremonies, not for Native ones. I believe as you do, that specific ceremonies were given by the Creator to various peoples as the Creator wanted them to worship, and that only those peoples have the right to lead these ceremonies. We Jews long ago lost the war against Christianity ripping off our religious stories and symbols. I wish you better luck in winning your war against the rip-off of your culture.
In peace,
Rabbi Yonassan Gershom
homepage: http://www.rabbigershom.com
From: Kaukusaki@aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004You may publish this if you wish.
This is quite lengthy, so forgive me for taking up much space! -- K.M.
I've given much thought and I've tried for the longest to understand all around me. I've read many books and have done numerous research in all kinds of spirituality (but have started back at the square, quite troubled and ever empty)... You should see my bookshelves! ^_^It burns me to see that these white fake shamans mock such things. I never knew why I always hated when seeing, but inside I have always held such disdain and it never has yet to cease.
For the main part, I am still searching for my sense of self... for I've always felt different and all the things I could feel would coincide with what my grandmother told me. On my father's side, they are native american. Grandmother told me that she was Blackfoot, but I don't remember which division... and her old books that gave me detailed information were long lost. On my mother's side, she is African American for the most part. Her side of the family is very mixed (Blackfoot, Cherokee, Dutch, French, Japanese and I don't know what else...)
But what I do understand is that I could never get in touch with the whole Christian thought. Ya, I was raised Baptist, but it never felt right. I only went along with it for so long since I wished to please those around me. I only finally made up my mind and decided to leave after I had a serious accident and struck my head... and saw many things that I couldn't explain, but both my grandmother and father were able to. The baptist church had me quickly dunked in water and olive oil for they thought I was possessed or something of the other. I know that the Church wasn't enthused with what I thought and could now see...
What I do know is that those who mock Lakota Spiritality are merely in it for the money, the popularity (I remember when it was fashionable in my neighborhood to be partly Souix) and for the constant swindling of lost souls who are merely trying to forge and discover their idenity. I attended many of these so-called vision quests, sweat lodges, and drumming cerimonies, but I did not participate. I merely watched in great sadness, seeing how these people will never be enlightened and these charlatans will strike the next town, taking more money.
I know my research is not enough and ever spotty... not too many people talk when I ask my plethroa of questions. I don't wish to exploit anything... I just wish to understand (and will try for another 17 years I suppose). I had spoken to one young man, I think he said he was Shoshone (don't entirely recall) and he said that I made a mockery of such things since I asked too many questions and wrote everything down for later manipultion in my quest for so-called research. He even claimed that I was just as plastic as the white men. In response, I told him that I can only memorise so much (I wish I was capable of memorising my grandmother's words!)and that I am partly red in viable tests (they say that I am half... I really don't know), but I feel like a full-blooded Indian (meh, wish I had another word to use...) through and through.
I hope I am making much sense for you at the moment. I've so much on my mind and I just wish to add my thoughts... I hope this war will be won soon enough without further mockeries and insults.
Parting,
Kimiko Meriueza
From: George Brouillette gbrouillette@cosler.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004I am in support of your statement.
My Unci was born on the Pine Ridge reservation, but I am less than 1/8 Sioux myself. My Sioux ancestry follows a matriarchal line and although I am proud of my ancestry, I make no claim to the rights of the Sioux Nation because my blood is mixed with European blood and I’m a mix of French, German, Dutch, Scottish, Irish and Sioux. As such, and due to the fact that I have been raised “white,” I defer to your righteous indignation.
-- George Brouillette
New York, NYOh, sure… I’m sorry, I forgot to say that. (permission to post)
From: James Wilkinson jamescw@excite.com
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004You have permission to post this on your website;
I am half black and half native. I did not receive my Gift until I was 35. In retrospect, I would not have appreciated it or understood it the way I do now, had I been given this gift earlier in my life.
A Gift from our Creator (Wakan Tanka, Great Spirit, The Creator, GOD) can not be sold, stolen or abused. A Gift is passed from one being to another out of love, need, joy, necessity and various other reasons.
The Gift stops being a Gift once a price tag is attached to it and it no longer has the same value. A spiritual Gift can not be purchased, nor can it be sold. A way of life can only be lived and can not be paid for.
I think that sometimes in our quest to change things that are not just and to right past wrongs, sometimes we forget that each one of us is responsible to live our lives according to the spiritual guidance of our beliefs in a higher power, which ever name we attach to it. Since we alone decide where to put the value on things in our lives, we can only share with one another the Gift that has been passed on to us and hope that others will in time see the true value of it and the true meaning of the most beautiful Gift I have ever received.
If this Gift is not truly embrace in the body, mind and spirit of the receiver than it was never truly received. What is sacred to one being can only be sacred to another being if they see the (Wakan) holy nature of it and embrace it. If they do not then can it truly be the same Gift. Do they experience the same joy, peace and fulfillment from travelling the 'Red Road', or are they just playing at it like they play at most things in their lives?
Should we be upset with these people because they do not understand the nature of the Gift they have been given or should we hope and pray that one day they too will see the light and pass on this beautiful Gift to anot her?
Should we strike out at the persons or organizations that seek to make a dollar from this Gift? Or should we realize that they too have missed the message and meaning of the Gift and they too are playing at being spiritual?
At what point do we need to protect what is in our hearts and the hearts of those who have truly received the Gift as it was meant to be received? We don't because we have truly received our Gift and no one can say or do anything to us that will change that.
I have received my Gift and will cherish it for all time. I will pass it on to whomever I can and I will know if they have received it simply by what they do with it and how they act and live their lives. If they are able to understand the nature of the Gift and pass it on then the world is truly a better place. If they do not understand the nature of the Gift then I will pray for them and hope in time they will.
There was only love, openess and friendship when I received my Gift.
Miigwech
Mitakuye Oyasin - All my relations
Maka say elo - All things of this earth are endless.
Miigwech bizindawiyeg - Thank you for listening to me.
James ' Chii Ma-iingan - Big Wolf ' Wilkinson
Ojibway - First Nations - Garden River - Saulte Sainte Marie, Canada
jamescw@excite.com
From: Michael Baker gps30161@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004Hello,
I am Michael. My statement may be taken with offense although this is not my intention. I read a lot about "Native American", "White People" and spirituality. Spirituallity does not separate races, people do. If "the Great Spirit", "God", or whatever one may call a Higher Power to suit their needs or beliefs is a fair and loving being, I don't believe this power ever meant one should consider the color of ones skin as a prerequisite to spiritual philosophy.
The destruction of anothers sacred property is always wrong. It has and continues to all people. One is no less important than the other.
I was born in America, as was my father, my grandfather, my great grandfather, his father, his fathers father, and on and on. I am native American and my skin color is white. I believe in the One God who is found in all our lives, in the forests and inside the brick walls of an institution. My God has no problem with any human being following a spiritual path, there are more than one but the principles are the same. Man separates himself from man, himself, and nature for many reasons. These are reasons there has been war and killings, destruction of property, mistreatment of human beings around the world. It's time we stopped.
Enjoy your day,Michael
From: curtis stadermann yesfan@aeroinc.net
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004You may use the following as you wish, if you so choose.
I suppose since there is no worthwhile land or natural resource worth
taking from the indigenous people any more then their spirituality must
now be stolen. I decry the non-Native profitting from elements of
Indian spirituality and am sickened by the sacrilege committed by those
who use rituals, practices, artifacs (or pseudo-artifacts) not entitled
to them.At the same time, I embrace learning. I think many age old
misconceptions and stereotypes that whites hold about Natives could be
lessened or eradicated if more people took the time to learn about
Indian culture and society, religion being a part of that.Myself? I'm an orphan of sorts of Native culture.... My grandmother's
grandfather was metis, a connection that was revered in my family and
that I was taught to respect. However, we lost all contact with that
Native portion of the family eighty years ago and I cannot now prove it
by genealogical research.So where do I stand? I have mostly European blood, but have never been
moved by white spirituality. I can remember from my earliest years
wanting to know all I could of the uses and 'medicines' of native
plants. Why should a then practicing Roman Catholic teenager react to
hitting a deer while driving by first apologizing to the spirit of the
deer and apologizing to the 'greater power' for the senselessness of the
death, before she even checked the damage on her vehicle? Yeah it
sounds 'hokey' but it happened. I have other inexplicable affinities
with aspects of aboriginal culture as well, but I'll spare the details
here. I do not live where there is a high population of Native peoples.
I grew up far removed from Indian culture, learning instead of my
Irish, French, and German roots. Where did these early inspirations
come from? I am loathe to suggest that it is imprinted in a tiny bit
of my DNA,. I'm only trying to illustrate that many aspects of Native
culture either seem familiar to me or come naturally to me. Why? I
have no idea, but should I be immediately supposed to be someone who is
not serious about these things because I could never be more than (and
possibly am quite less than) 1/16 th Indian?Again I ask, where do I stand? Am I allowed to learn from qualified
sources or teachers about my native heritiage(spirituality included)?
Or would I be classed as a 'wannabe' if I chose to walk the 'red
road'? I know that community is so very important to Native beliefs
and that I have no Native community. Is there a way for me to
reconnect something that was severed so many generations ago? I am
not even saying that I wish to practice as a Cree, or Metis..... but
that I wish to learn and perhaps even decide if I could walk that road.
I cannot be the only person out here with 3 or 4 drops of Indian
blood that faces these questions and feels more than a passing affinity
for Native ways.I fail to see how my respectful wish to learn can be considered
offensive. And I think its unfair if I would be termed a 'wannabe'
just because I cannot trace my ancestry to a name on some 'rolls'.I respect the right of indigenous peoples to protect their sacred
objects, sacred sites, sacred rituals. I know it is the right and the
duty of the elders to do so. Native rights were denied too long for me
to show anything but joy when they are asserted.It is my belief that some of the basic premises of Native culture could
well be put into practice to help save all of American society. Not
sacred rituals, but things such as respect for elders, family and one's
commuinty, living in harmony with one's environment, flora, fauna, land,
water and air. Everyone could learn from that. Would it not be ironic
that Indians wisdom would save everyone when they were once so
mercilessly persecuted themselves?On a personal level, I would never practice what was forbidden, never
imitate that which belonged to another, never knowingly do anything to
the detriment of any Native persons or communities. If it would do
more harm than good for me to pursue re-establishing any tenuous Native
connection I may have then I will cease trying to do so. I just know I
have no deceptive or malicious intent and that I always endeavor to give
all due respect..
I will always be the woman who flinches at having to indentify myself as
purely 'White' on those official forms. I will always be the woman for
whom a walk in the woods or the fields means more than any time in a
cathedral. I will always be the woman responsible for teaching my
three children to respect this world and all the creatures, plants and
people in it.But still I can ask, respective to the Native question, where do I stand?
Michele Stadermann
North West Illinois
From: Webpoet1@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003You may include the following among the responses
to the statement:I am a little confused about what the "rules are",
here.Native Americans are justifiably angry when
white Americans steal/appropriate their spirituality: especially when Christians persecuted them for that same spirituality: now we turn around and try to copy it.I know how I would feel as an American of Jewish
background if, for example, I saw a mezusah
on someone's doorway and they weren't even
Jewish but just thought it looked "nice"
or "spiritual".However what are the rules about what paths I
am "allowed" to learn from or follow?Am I not allowed to do any drumming because
that is Native American?Can I never go out into nature and meditate
because it might resemble a Native American
vision quest?And if people are only allowed to follow the
path of their ancestors:I am of Jewish/East European background:
but was brought up Unitarian: which of these
two am I allowed to practice?Or is it okay for me to study the pagan cultures
of Russia because that is where my ancestors
came from: but as Russian Jews they did NOT follow
this path so is this forbidden to me because of
that?I attend Quaker meetings and also follow a
women-centered earth-based European path.The first is not a path followed by my ancestors
and the latter certainly is not. Am I allowed
to follow these paths?But what am I supposed to do when certain practices
of the latter coincide with practices that are
also followed by Native Americans?I recognize that all faiths borrow from each other. The Christmas tree was originally pagan.
However honest borrowing is different from stealing
especially by the same people who persecute/d
those they are now stealing from, and is to
be condemned.On the other hand I have to follow my heart and
try to learn from other faiths without trying
to copy/"be" them.Maybe the only honest solution is for each
of us to look into our heart and to totally
invent our own form of private spirituality
that takes/borrows/uses nothing from anyone
else.Laurie
From: Lina Hempel lina1@telusplanet.net
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003What else is new? I am tired of non-Indians thinking that their take on spirituality can be rooted in history yet ours are "myth and legend". It sickens me that our beliefs are still on the bottom of the pile. And to add insult to injury new-agers presume to understand and believe as some of our people do. I say some because though there are some universals, every Indian nation has it's own beliefs and these can only be appreciated by those who have lived the culture, ways and history surrounding the beliefs. Others may feel they have somehow touched the mother load of health and hope but I think that they are stealing our ways and our culture after for so many years trying to forcibly assimilate us. The US government will NEVER assimilate us. We were here FIRST!. As for Canada, well same goes there. The people of Canada are now feeling the bite of Indians learning the ways of their courts and winning. Miracle is alive and well and our people grow stronger every day. HOW DARE THEY TAKE WHAT IS OURS ONCE AGAIN! Yes to war. I am FED UP ! Shiningwolf Clouded Starr
Hi sorry I didn't put my ok on the message. My online name and the name of my family is Shiningdrum please use it in the posting you quoted from this e-mail address , thanks
From: Linda l.wormhoudt@chello.nl
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003Yes you may post my reply.
I have a couple of questions to think about;
1 Does Spirit only look at the colour of your skin?In other (harsch) words; is Spirit a racist?(I don't think so!)If Spirit comes to someone who is not native, can you blame the person for that? Think about this please. Spirit is wise!
2 Can you 'steal' a religion ?Can you claim a believesystem?
3 What is indigious and what isn't?
For instance, Christianity is NOT indigious in the America's. Can you ask the Christians to STOP believing? Can you make a declaration in wich you command people to stop believing? Becouse it is NOT an indegious believe system?
Come on people, stop the hate. We can stop this if we really want too.Maybe not in this generation...You can't stop people believing. There is so much pain in the previous posts. Please, let us build bridges. We are ALL children of the Creator, we ALL live on Mother Earth. Let's think about the coming generations and honour our ancestors.
In respect,
Linda
From: autterson autterson@email.msn.com
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003I've been reading about American Indian Spirituality and find it a very easy to identify with. I was raised Catholic and practiced a protestant religion later in life. I have since come to believe that the Christian faith has far too many holes in it to follow any longer. I have become incensed to it's lies and dogmatic views.
I certainly don't intend to try and take on any of your Native traditions. I have far too much respect for your people. I'm just your average 42 year old white guy with a small % of Indian blood in my veins (Great Grandmother 1/2 Blackfoot). I just feel a connection with Native spiritual thought and I would like to learn more about it. And with this knowledge I can form my own personal path to our Creator.
Yes, you have my permission to post
Thank you C. Autterson ...
Michigan, USA
From: susan.dewey susan.dewey@ntlworld.com
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003I give you permission to print this message.
Having read this article and subsequently reading the various feedback on it, it seems clear that for some white people, what has been said about the theft and destruction of Lakota spirituality and culture, hasn't really made enough impact on them. Not enough, that is, to give up the very practices that so offend the Lakota people.
As an English person, with good friends from different American Indian tribal cultures, including the Dakota Nation, it isn't the first time that I've heard the sentiments of this article uttered. It doesn't matter how much you inform white people of the deep hurt that they cause by the misinterpretation of Native ceremonies and spirituality, they still believe that; "Well, the Indians didn't mean us of course. After all, we really believe and anyway, our Sweats have been conducted by a genuine Native American". Or; "Well, okay, the Sweat was conducted in Wales, and the guy who lead it was white, but he was very sincere and he didn't charge anything". And, I'm sure, in many cases here in Britain, the people who participate in Inipis and those who conduct them, do believe in what they are doing, but sadly they are not going to endear themselves to the Native people that they so want to emulate. Yes, there are certain Indian and non Indian people who travel across Europe, presenting workshops and Sweat Lodge ceremonies etc., who will give the impression to the non Natives who hang onto their every word, that this is okay, but if those participants ever get as far as the Pine Ridge, a person such as Wilmer Mesteth, might just pull them out of their "comfort zone".
As mentioned in the statement, it is obvious that the Lakota and Native people from other tribes, are not opposed to every white person who professes an interest in their culture. They just don't want non Natives to abuse what is theirs and whether outsiders like it or not, Lakota ceremonies and beliefs belong to the Lakota people, and yes, they do own them to a certain extent. If outsiders don't understand this, then perhaps they have not really studied Lakota history or ever taken the time to listen to what the old ones have to say. Of all the Lakota people I've met, not one person ever minded answering questions on history or current issues, but if you want to incurr the wrath of the people, don't go and ask them where the nearest Sundance is. It is not your right, though I know many white people think it is.
It is a sad fact that some of my own countrymen and women are (and this is a quote from someone else) part of the "Dream Catcher Generation". They have their own anglicized version of the way they believe Native people and their spirituality to be, and on the whole, throw out anything that doesn't suit. Those people don't wish to know nasty things such as, the harshness and poverty of life for some Indian people on reservation or what it is like to live without even the basic facilities that most take for granted. Living the dream is better than the brutal reality of what many Native people, including the Lakotas, have to face.
I'm sure I have offended some white people who may read this, but I really think it is time for non Native people to listen to the Lakotas. They are a people who have long had their culture plundered by outsiders who are drawn to all that is Lakota. They, as other tribes, have a powerful history and culture, which is theirs alone, as are their ceremonies and spirituality. Those not born of their culture should now start to honour and respect that.
With respect.
Susan Dewey.
From: Victoria Redstarr vredstarr@antiochsea.edu
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003
I had a very clear conversation with a medicine man from Canada and he told me we need to start hitting hard at those that "pretend". We need to start clearing our paths and we need to let those that "borrow" and "steal" from us know that they must get back to their own ways, in order to be honest. WE can't sit by and let them destroy their souls. We must act today. That is what brought me back to this web pages.As Natives we need to do it our WAY (medicine ways) and not have any of the white man's ways touch ours (religion).
So, too, do the other races..........they must find their cultural roots, beliefs, ways, and history........to get to cleansing their souls. That is the only way.
Then we can all come together in peace and harmony.
That is what brought me back around to this and I thank you for letting me take a little action, even though it is in the white man's ways. On a web page.......!
Victoria Redstarr!
-------------------
Hello:I am revisiting this site and wondered how things were "progressing".
In looking at this I saw this first paragraph, at the end: ........"and there is also a significant infusion of christianity, and more recently, New Age beliefs and practices permeating these traditional beliefs."
SNAP!
It almost sounds like New Age is seeping into our traditional beliefs instead of the other way around and I almost did SNAP!
You and I know that is not the case though, so I calmed. Heaven help us Natives if any of us steal spirituality. We would simply lose our souls by stealing spiritual ways SO we don't.
I saw at this week-ends pow-wow in Seattle, there is less blondes selling Native things and there are less blondes/white skins dressing up and dancing. I actually think our message is getting through. WE can't have them continuing to steal our ways too and they need to know why we feel this way.
In Undoing Racism, we learn that to get to the root of ourselves, we need to get to the root of our VERY own culture and spirituality. We know that white spirituality is very different from Native Spirituality and we need to keep the differences alive, in order for us all to strive forward stronger. We can not have white people think they can just step on in and "know" our ways. These practices are handed down to us in the most sublte and secretive ways and for good reason. WE need to stay aware of this.
We need to be doing our own ways throughout.Those Natives that have adopted other religions still know their old ways and they make it work for them somehow. More power to them, I guess.
When white people try and practice what was handed down to us for centuries, they make it into a whole new thing. It is no longer what they think it is. It turns evil right before their very eyes, because it was not meant for them and the way they obtain this knowledge is what makes it turn evil. Stealing, at it's most deceptive and cunning.
In Undoing Racism, we learn that in order to get back to Purity for any of us, we have to KNOW our very own roots, culture and history. I know that for white people, it might be painful because for them, there is alot of shame and guilt. They don't want to be white simply because they stole, lied, cheated and murdered to get the land they live on and became rich on. That makes it all the more courageous to go back and learn their history and culture - in order to change it within themselves and for their coming generations. That is the only way they will rid themselves of this huge SIN that sits collectively there for them. In letting it be there for them, collectively, they are creating a HELL like nothing else for their coming generations and they need to steer their generations away from that.
They will not get there by stealing our ways. No. No. No.
I tell people this everywhere I go. It is time for Natives to get back to their very own because our Ancestors are coming back and we have to be ready. Our centuries of oral learning is coming to fruitation and the place the Creator is making for us is about to BE. So today...............we have to hang tight to that spirituality.
Collectively.
WE all have to be working on our roots, whatever and where-ever that may be from and then come together in love. If we can't do that - what will it look like for any of us?
this is our biggest test today. are we all up to it?
I applaud the Lakota's for their strong and wise statement. They do it out of love, really.
You will see that in coming days.
GET TO YOUR OWN ROOTS/CULTURE - when catastrophe hits, we need to be ready.
Victoria Redstarr
Nez Perce Tribe
This page is managed by
Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J.
of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
at Creighton University.E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu
Page Last Updated: November 5, 2005