Responses to the Declaration:
War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality

August 27, 2000 to May 10, 2001

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. Please be sure to send your response to bucko@creighton.edu -- 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.

Due 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). There are also archives of comments:

You may also refer back to the site with the original statement. This will help those of you who visit frequently to check for new postings.

From: phone mailto:phone@cmsd.bc.ca
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 3:55 PM

You have my permission to post this:

I agree it's about time Lakota traditions are respected. Last year I went to a "New Age warrior weekend" for $250. It was embarrassing. There was nothing about real traditions, and I never went back. However, as I work at a school, I still wanted to learn true traditions. I found out information at the local First Nations Resource Centre, free of charge.

It wasn't easy to walk into a First Nations drumming circle. I had to ask permission from each elder. Now I am learning real traditions, but they are earned, not just given away.

Last week a group of us, white and First Nations, brought a real Lakota Souix to our reserve to speak of his traditions. We worked hard, put on garage sales, bake sales, potlucks, and reached into our own pockets to pay his expenses. He asked for nothing else and his ceremony was open to all, free of charge.

It was an honour to be part of this and observe a traditional ceremony. In this way, Natives and White people can work together. We have much to share, but can remain separate and unique peoples.

It saddened me greatly that no one from the "New Age" group I was involved with wanted to come to the ceremony. One woman said, "I'm training under a shaman - I don't know if I should come to a Souix ceremony." She also questioned his credentials. (I would not lower myself to retort in a nasty manner - so told her to keep up with her studies) If someone is ignorant and can not appreciate where the sweet grass comes from, or drumming traditions come from, they deserve what they have. They pay tremendous amounts of money for nothing, and they have what they earned.

There is no "quick fix" - to learn about First Nations people you must make friends and hold each other's grandchildren. Then you start to learn....

Patti Hone phone@cmsd.bc.ca

From: Tim Lamb mailto:osha241@hotmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001

I hereby give permission to post this on the website.

hello,
I'm a white guy who is involved with Lakota spirituality. I typed a long letter introducing myself, and introducing my involvement in native spirituality. As i was wondering if I was betraying too much information about the people I'm associated with, I attempted to save the letter in a word format, and lost it. Kinda makes a guy wonder.... Even though the ceremonies I participate in have been given to the people here in a good way, I still have concerns. I am a baby in these ways and suspect that i can only grow in them so far, because of my ancestry. I am attempting to gain many perspectives on this as i carefully become more involved. Obviously I know Lakota people who do not think that we fall into the category of abusers of Lakota spirituality for they have taught us. I know what they think. They think that these ways are for all people who can learn them in a sacred manner. I have learned that the word Lakota means 'the allies'. I have also learned that traditionally there is not consensus about spirituality among the allies. Why should it be any different now?

It is possible that the elders and spiritual leaders who chose to teach the Lakota ways to non-Lakota people (including African Americans, and native Americans who lost much of their own tradition) knew that there would be abuses but were directed to share the ways despite those abuses. How can you think that all the people who taught and who continue to teach Lakota spirituality outside the Lakota people are "...prostituting [the Lakota] spiritual ways for their own selfish gain, with no regard for the spiritual well being of the people as a whole."? How can you think that and have a conscious contact with the spirits associated with Lakota ceremony? May be that you people who wrote this do not consider all involvement of non-Lakota’s and non-natives in Lakota ceremonies to be wrong. Although it you expressly condemn "...any "white man's shaman" who rises from within our own communities to "authorize" the expropriation of our ceremonial ways by non-Indians." Do you also condemn a black man's shaman? I know two African-Americans who are very zealous and heartfelt practitioners of Lakota spirituality. How do you who wrote this feel about European Americans using the words "red man"? I bet you don't like it. And here you are using the same language that you would object to on us.

I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, i just am one. No really i'm just being honest and trying to work this out. I consider giving up my involvement in Lakota spirituality, even though it has probably saved my life and greatly benefited the life of my family. Even though i know that it helps the world as a whole a little bit for this man to gain some understanding of the powers that we live among. If i can be shown that it is best for "...the spiritual well being of the people as a whole...", i'll give it up. Even if I can be shown that it is exclusively better for the Lakota people, i'll give up my involvement.

But let me tell you this. It is a racist (you intellectuals must know the prejudice + power = racism formula) viewpoint that you are expressing in your declaration. Maybe you are justified in that. But it is undeniably racist and even uses offensively racist language i.e. "white mans shaman". I understand that in the statement "We assert a posture of zero-tolerance for any "white man's shaman" who rises from within our own communities to "authorize" the expropriation of our ceremonial ways by non-Indians; all such "plastic medicine men" are enemies of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people." you are saying that its ok to teach Lakota ways to other Native Americans, but not to whites. The circle that i am involved with includes many people from small cultural groups who for many reasons feel more comfortable with the guidance the Lakota spiritual leaders, than their own. This is mostly because their ways were lost or Christianized.

From: Robraly1420@aol.com mailto:Robraly1420@aol.com
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001

I, Richard O'Braly, give you permission to post my e-mail at your site. Sincerely, Richard O'Braly. dated 5/4/01

Dear Professor 'Bucko' is the vision quest only practised by the Lakota Soiux indians and if so is their anyway(in your learned opinion) that they would allow some lily-white guy to be allowed to go through the vision quest on their reservation(s). I understand you have little to none as far as influence on these indian medicine men goes, but I would take the ceremony very serious and tell not one living lily-white soul if they so requested.

Sincerely-Richard O'Braly robraly1420@aol.com

From: hgwells mailto:hgwells4@swbell.net
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001

You have my express permission to print the attached message.
Gary s. Wells

It must be said that when you condem and resrict the practics and tools of the Lakota religion or any religious practices, you are violating the most sacred and important part of that religion.

one of the most sacred beliefs of most native american religions is that no one owns anything, be it land, or beliefs.

When you say as a non-native american I am stealling YOUR RELIGION you are being false to your own teachings. I do agree that as with anything their are terible people who will exploit others.....as did my white european ancestors who took advatage of a very sharring people....the native americans.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS......IF YOU WANT TO INCORPERATE NATIVE AMERCAN BELIEFS.......DO YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE ALL OR JUST THOSE YOU SELECT BECAUSE OF SELF INTEREST.

TO THY OWN SELF BE TRUE

From: vbostwick@voicerite.com mailto:vbostwick@voicerite.com
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001
Subject: You have my permission to print

After reading a lot of the responses, I have to say that this is something that is split for me as well as many of the others that have written thier reactions.

All Indigenous people have had the hardships happen to thier ancestors and I can fully understand the "Lakotas" feelings towards the moking and selling of something that is scared and beautiful. I think that maybe this is a time when all "Indigenous" people can actually say to them selves that thier ways are the one true ways and know it to be true. Just look at how many people want to learn and worship in these traditional ways. Just think about how much people and the world would change if they only knew half of what the "Lacotas" know.

The possiblity that the general populas may have more respect for Earth Mother and for each other. WOW, think of the possibilities. I am part Indian and part Hispanic. What tribe, I am not sure, my mother was bought up without her mother so our lineage was not taught to her so my past is not really known. Do I care to find out, NO. I do what my heart tells me. I do not need a card that tells me what Nation I am from that is not important to me. What is important is listening to what my heart and soul tell me. Its funny, but I had a dream where I was told to seek guidance from a "Lacota Women" and after reading this, I feel my dream may never be realized. But what are we to do when these voices and dreams come to us. My dreams seem to be telling me to go to my roots and I am sure that these things happen to others as well. I can only hope that the "Great Spirit" will guide me as well as the others seeking thier "Indigenous" past.

As what Chief Seattle said is true, what is the main concern of all the Indigenous people, that is to preserve Earth Mother and the traditional ways. If these peoples actions do not hurt you but may help the "main concern" that let us concentrate on that.

Just my opinion.
VB/Miami

From: Georgebyrn@aol.com mailto:Georgebyrn@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001

This is a remarkable web site. It is rare to find a forum that opens the doors to conversation regarding an idea. I teach a course in "World Music" at a junior college in Washington state. When I cover Native American music one of my primary concerns is to encourage people--Native and non-Native--to examine their attitudes for stereotypes. Many of my students have an understanding of "Native American" based exclusively upon popular concepts of Plains religious practices. From this they often essentialize Native peoples as a single cultural unity, without variation from one geographic/cultural location to another. Students are often surprised to learn that most of what they know of Native peoples is based upon media generated concepts of Lakota and other Plains peoples. Absurdly, it at times happens that students will consider a Native speaker (from the Puget Sound area) to be a false "witness" because what they (the speakers) say does not square with what they (the students) have learned from popular culture about Native American culture, and, in our current atmosphere, the "hot" button of spirituality. This declaration adresses many issues, all linked in popular conceptualizations of Native people's experiences of contemporary life and historical views. I appreciate the web site and I will reccomend it to my students.

Steve Nickerson

You have my permission to use this, and thank you for asking.

From: charles perry mailto:perrysinventions@zane.cyberzane.net
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001

permission to post is granted

It is very true that some people have no respect for your heritage but some people are looking for more natural ways to do things and for healing this is only proof your ways are winning and that is something to think about I just wish to learn it and live it.if I would probably not have had a heart attack from living the white ways please don't hold a better way from those that only wish to learn a better way of life and your right business laws need tightened up but for everyone's good.

From: Claudia Roch mailto:ClaudiaRoch@web.de
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001

Permission to post

I am a German anthropologist doing her Ph.D. project on the reception and application of Native American healing methods in alternative medicine, psychotherapy and the New Age movement, as well as questions of cultural appropriation connected with that issue. I read with much interest the responses to the Lakota Declaration of War. I would like to know, if there are similar declarations by other tribes. I would also like to exchange ideas with anyone, who is interested, about this highly controversial issue. My email address is: ClaudiaRoch@web.de

Claudia Roch

From: Bear Boy mailto:bearboy@myexcel.ca
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001

You may print or publish this in its complete, unaltered, original text. You may use my email address to facilitate any responses.

I applaud the sentiments expressed in this declaration. Everyone I meet is misguided about the way I live. I carry my Grandfather's name. He was a scout, then a hunter, then a warrior, then a medicine man and then a chief. I follow in his footsteps because he was my Grandfather. People try to understand my life instead of living theirs and so they fail to understand any of it. They read books and try to be something they are not.I needed help to know what I know. I would not have made it this far without help. I was taught by respected blanket men, in respected medicine societies. One of the things I was taught about was how to measure all things. I use what I learn from applying that standard. None of this way of life has never been written down because of the danger of misinterpretation. I think that people make things say what they want them to say, anyway. They hear what they want to hear. They behave badly when presented with this kind of information. People are careful when choosing a car or a house. They don't seem to spend as much time or effort on their spirituality. I am not surprised that people think more about the car or the house than about life. Living is hard work and learning about it just gives you more questions that require more living.You should ask yourself about relationships. How are you related to things? How about the meaning of things? Is there more than this? What are you missing? Have you checked your relationship with your Creator lately? Most people lie to themselves and others most of the time. If any of these questions caused you to react, then you are a person who lies to yourself and others. How much do you understand? These words will not be understood just by reading them. Words that are put on paper have no meaning unless you know the person who said them, know what actions lead to an understanding and then live that way. You can't be your own teacher. You need a place to start. Understanding takes years. Don't think that reading a book constitutes a way of life. Read words carefully and incorporate them in all that you think and do and you might experience enough of life to recognize the teachers. Action is a way of life, not words. The teachings in my society describe a way of life. Many people lay claim to that way of life. Few follow it. Some manipulate it for their own benefit. Some separate it from themselves by naming it. Some say they will explain it to you in easy terms. Not many live this way because few are generous and courageous enough to live through the experiences.

This is a strange time that we live in. I am an Indian who is a member of several medicine societies. I worked with plants and animals at a time when it was bad to be an Indian. Indians were looked down upon and suffered because of discrimination. Indians were very unpopular. I have been an Indian all my life. I was born an Indian and never allowed to forget that fact. I have been learning with and teaching Indians for more than a quarter century. I am related by blood to some of the most famous and misunderstood Indians of the last two centuries. It is still bad to be an Indian. I still am a member of those societies and I still work with plants and animals but now I suffer because of a very peculiar form of discrimination. It is now popular to be an Indian. I have met Non-Indians who claim to be better Indians than the Indians I have learned from. Many of these people are self proclaimed shamans, healers, medicine men or women, gurus, seers. According to them, they are better at it than those who carry on backed by more than thousands of years of experience and tradition. These instant achievers pluck their knowledge and wisdom from the air or other mysterious sources and carry no responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Here are some guidelines for those who seek a truthful way of life. Understand that you are being deceived when:

The truths you seek are costing you in worldly goods and do not require generosity, courage, wisdom and compassion in your personal nature.... There are no practical, useful tools offered for dealing with your problems....You do not have to struggle to understand the way of life that is being taught.... The person teaching you has no verifiable elders whose wisdom they learned and now pass on to you.... You are not being taught how to recognize your elders....You are asked to believe all that is told to you on faith alone....

Matohokshila miyelo, mitakuye oyasin.

Biography:

I am a member of a tribal offshoot of the Lakota (Sihasapa). My ancestral home is the area from the Bow and Elbow rivers (Calgary) of southern Alberta, Canada, south into Montana, USA and westward into the Rocky Mountain Range. I was born in Edmonton, Alberta under the auspices of a Canadian Government "forced genocide by integration" program (which ran in the early 50 - 60's and was later officially denied) for Indians. The Department of Indian Affairs in cooperation with the Department of Social Services coerced my mother (and 10,000+ more like her across Canada) to give up her child, at birth, under the pretense that she was incapable of caring for me. Many of the 10,000+ children were taken off the reserves under fraudulent protective custody or similar orders. I never knew my parents and was adopted by white parents (as part of the integration program) at the age of two months. In 1964 - 1966 ,while staying in the rural area close to Alix, Alberta, Canada I met Walking Buffalo. That summer taught me about my ancestors' way of life and the words we exchanged still guide me. In 1971 I left home and in 1973 began to seriously pursue the traditional ways of my people. By learning and participating in these ways and I became a member of a medicine society and work with medicine societies all over North America.

From: Gary M. Antoine mailto:Miskanass@earthlink.net
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001

You Can post this on the web if you like.

I am a Shuswap Indian born and raised in a Cree Family, as a child just as many other indians I was brought up to belive Catholic. At the same time I remember being followed by Indian Agents in the early Seventies, we used to live just across the street from the school I went to. What ever I done to make them men follow me I don't know...... Guess I was just another indian. During my school years I was nothing but a drug adicted and drunken indian. Back then my parents were involved in the making of UNN local 105, geuss those men thought we was havin an indian uprising or something. I remember the only uprising hapening back then is when my folks would adopt up to 3 to four other kids/teenagers so that they could eat and have cloths on for school all at the same time helping other members of A.A.

My folks consumed so much time helping others that I was at times haveing to go out on my own which lead me into native spiritality. Learned from the Thomson/Okanagon and Shuwap Elders, we learned so much that we brought back pow wow I remember so many butifull things hapening that I soon chose to want to learn even more of the old ways. They were real things happening that a Catholic priest would have called for an exorsizm cerimony. Well a few years came to pass and all of a sudden The Lacota culture came into our ways, the lacota came to teach us a better way I remember them coming to do Uwe Pee ( sorry bout the spelling) And again A Catholic could have called for exorsist cerimony, this uwee pee got the whole town's atention and all of a sudden the medicine men of the lacota got popular and the people began turning away from the teachings of thier own elders and family's traditions/culture. It wasn't long after that that the almighty dollar came first before the Locota medicine men would come to preform thier uwee pee, Used to cost the people up to $900.00 per cerimonie, the uwepee medicine men said they needed it for gas. But the next day I saw one of them medicine men in a casino, must have been a pretty big gas tank.........

I remember the ealry days when I would somtimes stay up for two days preparing food and gifts to give to singers and dancers whom we would invite to our pow wows and to give to the people who would just like to be there and now there is many drum groups and dancers who wouln't even consider coming to a pow wow without an ofering of $2000 - $20,000.00

I wanted to learn sundance songs in the Lakota language and went to a pow wow and baught a copywrited casette tape had all the traditional sundance songs $14.95, even had cerimonial pipe songs on it sung by a Lakota singer.

I am not condeming the Lakota, I'm sure all Lakota arn't in it for the money but somtimes I think who's exploting who?

oh ya I if I ever had the permision from a lady to hold a sundance I definitly wouldn't put out the collection plate cause the scared pole isn't short of any cash..........

From: bob null mailto:maxnbob2001@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001

Dear Sir you have my permisson to post this.

To whom it may concern,

My name is Bob Null. I am 1/8 Cherokee on my mother- side. I am also Germatic/Celtic desent. I am wrighting this letter. I have read most of the response to the War Cry as I call it.

I can not belief a whole nation would be angry at people as my self. For I am one of those Pagan waanna-bes. To me following in a belef of my ancestor to me is the highest honor that I can bestow on them. To me there beliefs and way of worship will continue on thru me and hopefully thru my offspring. I dont filter out anything on they way i worship. For the Great Spirit is in everything. I agree with the the fakers and those just out for money. But We who Honor and respect the ancient ways be it Pagan or Indian should not be labeled in a Negitive light. How many indians have been to a Pagan Gathering or been to a circle.

For I have found in all culters. no matter what A thread connects us all. So instead of declaring war. Walk a few miles in my shoes before making a judgement call on me.

Honoring All of my ancestor both Indian and White
Blessed Be
Bob Null
South Carolina

From: kornfreak mailto:kornfreak6988@hotmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001
To: bucko@creighton.edu
Subject: MATO SAPA SOCIETY. PERMISSION TO POST MESSAGE

Hello everyone, My name is KEHA LUTA CIKALA(LITTLE RED TURTLE). I am a LAKOTA INDIAN from the PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION and want to let you know about the MATO SAPA(BLACK BEAR) SOCIETY. We are BLACK BEAR SOLDIER'S on a crusade to preserve our old ways and traditions. You probably haven't heard of us because we part of a new program called BACK TO OUR ROOTS PROGRAM FOR THE OYATE(PEOPLE). THIS IS A NON-VIOLENT PROGRAM. OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE LAKOTA YOUTH AND PEOPLE OF ALL RACES THE LAKOTA RITES AND SPIRITUALITY. WE BELIEVE THAT A NEW CHANGE IS COMING UPON US AS OUR ANCESTORS AND THE MEDICINE PEOPLE HAVE SAID. WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEW CHANGE.

Some of the things we are involved in are issues on sovereignty, environment, government, and cultural exploitation. This year is a busy year for SUNDANCE AND OTHER CEREMONIES AND WE NEED PEOPLE FOR OUR SUNDANCE COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE IS A GROUP OF BEAR SOLDIER'S WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES FOR FREE AS WE ARE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. THIS COMMITTEE IS CALLED THE CHANUNPA WAKAN OYATE(SACRED PIPE PEOPLE) AND WE LIVE BY LAKOTA VALUES AND CEREMONY.

Other things we will be doing include visiting the WHITE BUFFALO CALF PIPE TO PRAY, LEONARD PELTIER CAMPAIGNS, BLACK HILLS (PAHA SAPA) ISSUES, DRUG ABUSE and ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION MARCHES/MEETINGS, POW-WOW INVOLVEMENT, CEREMONIES, AND MORE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BEAR SOLDIER OR JUST WANT INFORMATION WRITE ME @ Armando Pumpkinseed

P.O. box 173 Oglala, South Dakota 57764.

PILAMAYE' MITAKUYE OYASIN'

From: SwordOfScotland@aol.com mailto:SwordOfScotland@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001

I am a 52 year old, white male of Scottish decent. In my many travels, I have even been a Project Superintendant on the Quechan Indian Reservation in Winterhaven, California

In my many travels, I have gained a certain respect for the plight of Native Americans who have fought for and lost so much in the last 500 years. But the one thing I have not lost perspective of is that I am a White man with my own heritage, and my own inherited religious beliefs. However we have gained control of this land is not for me to apologize for.

So many White people these days are lost souls and will wander everywhere, apologizing for everything to everyone, forsaking their own heritage because they are made to believe they are evil. Because they are taught they are evil, they go forth adopting the beliefs and customs of those we are told we wronged, as a form of pentance to purge themselves of what they were told their ancestors did.

I am not a racist, nor a seperatist, and least of all an apologist for my heritage. I believe in this day and age we can co-exist, living together, and still maintain our individuality. I detest the phoney white men who try to make everyone believe they are "part-Indian", and act like something they are not.

As far as declaring war? I don't know what good this will do, other than the non-violent things you outlined, and anything you can use against them in a court of law.

I wish you luck in maintaining your heritage, spirituality, language and customs as I fight to do the same for mine.

I grant you permission to publish anything I E-Mail to you.

From: pamela mailto:pamelam@alaskalife.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001

I grew up white with a Native American heart beating in my chest, always out of step with my white culture. In times of duress, a native warrior would visit my night dreams pointing toward a path. Always I was silent. On the outside I appeared white.

Only as an adult, was the family secret uncovered. My father whom I have never met was Native American. Now I understand; but still my heart beats to the drum of my ancestors -- silent. I cannot participate in pseudo Native American activities nor can I participate in Episcopalean rituals. I have no Native American brothers and sisters to welcome me into the spiritual dance of our ancestors. I am alone, and yet my heart beats in silent to the drum and my feet dance alone in the circle. There has been great evilness and injustice and yet our hearts beat. Pseudo-native americanism is offensiveness - - first you steal our bodies, our children and our lands and now you want our souls.

Yet, surely there is a place for human beings to meet, to hear the durm and to dance as one. I would love for it to be.

Silent Dancer
Pamela Mae Berry

I forgot to give permission to post my e-mail statement. I give permission for you to post the email response I sent earlier.

From: jeffrey etringer mailto:jse481@earthlink.net Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Ho to all my brothers and sisters,

I am mostly white, although i have chippewa blood in my viens, I don't have enough to qualify to be a card carrying Indian. Personally, I think that that is a bunch of crap!

I am what I feel inside! What I know my heart, spirit, and soul to be. No one can take that away from me!

I too believe in the sacred wheel, the four colors.

It is time to understand that we are all one!

Our blood is all red!, WE ALL belong together. Our spirit is one!

This society, no this world would be a better place if we all would recognize that simple fact!

My prayers to the great spirit, wankan tankan, are for this to happen!

To that end, I claim my chippewa blood, and would fight and die as a warrior, to continue my prayers!

May my life honor all my relations in all nations!

Yes, by all means, do print this, You have my permission to print this!

From: Jim Campbell mailto:jimcampbell42@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001

I do agree that you shouild declare war o those who would pretend to know the traditions and ways of the Lakota Sioux. Having said this I believe that people can learn from the ways of your traditions and adapt them to wher they live without pretending to be what they are obviously not.

Most of the so called new agers would prefer to have the backward step of living a life whicvh they think is closer to nature when it is important to every new situation and learn from this and if this means living in a more modern and comfortable environment then I cannot see what is wrong with this.

These people would like to see you living the way you did centuries ago and they have this romantic view of your culture still. I live in Scotland and I can identify with your struggle as we were expoited and killed by many invading armies genocide was commited to introduce grazing animals and destroy the forests.

Any way hope this makes some sense I will try and learn more about your culture and philosophy and and I hope I can take some thoughts from your wise people into my own life here in scotland you are welcome to reply to my site though I'm not sure of the time differences happy Samhain (xmas for Christians)

yours in friendship Jim:)

yo need permission to post this then go ahead from jim

From: twofeathers mailto:twofeathers@brazosnet.com
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001

i have just read the declaration of war and am very saddened by it......i am of native blood and am very connected to the spirituality and traditions that are being taught all over the world that have come from the lakota traditions. I personally have a website describing the Inipi Lodge and other ceremonies and am very hurt that these brothers and sisters are offended that anyone other than lakota would use such ceremonies. i believe that i will have to post my feelings there on the site since this seems to be a very emotionally charged topic. i was always taught that the inipi is for the people...all the people....the chanupa wakan is smoked for the people....healing is for the people....not just the lakota people.....

shame on these few that would deny medicine to an ailing world out of selfishness and pride...shame on these people for they are no better than the whites that would not let them hold their ceremonies up until the seventies when the religious freedom act was passed....shame on them ...for they too deny those of us that seek healing our freedom.....shame on them..for they were given the gift of guardian of these rites and have abused their position in such a way that they believe they OWN these rites.....shame on you brothers and sisters of the lakota nation that declare war.......you are as young and ignorant as the whites that invaded this nation long ago...you are as biggoted and predudiced as they....you are no different than those that killed your ancestors and drove them from their land....

you drive us that are seeking growth and healing away from the ceremonies and practices of the ages...somehow..what you do may be worse

-twofeathers.....yes,....TWOFEATHERS

>From: Sauza Anejo sauzaanejo@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 Subject: Permission to publish

I want to join the Knights of Columbus. I'm not Italian, but I want to join the Knights of Columbus. I want to join the VFW. I'm not a veteran of any way, but I want to join the VFW. I want to attend meetings at the local Masonic Lodge. I'm not a Mason, but I want to attend meetings. I want to join the PTA. I'm not a parent, but I want to join the PTA. I want to be the Pope. I'm not a Catholic, but he has cool clothes. I want to bring my Voodoo doll to work. I don't practice Vodoun, but I was a movie and think Voodoo is cool.

I am American and I can prove it . . . I'm the African, Indigenous North American, Irish/Welsh kind of American. My spirituality is based on the beliefs of MY ancestors. I don't want you all at my house - and, never invited you here . . . so, why don't you go back to wherever you came from and practice your own beliefs - versus trying to "claim" you've been called to practice the customs of others? Oh, by the way . . . what belief system of which Tribe/Nation/Band are you practicing?

Sauza Anejo

From: Patricia Sanders stonechild@tugwell.org Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001

I am only a small woman of the Creek Nation, yet I have prayed and cried for the sacred way to be returned to the keepers of the knowledge for so long now. I have watched as the traditions were passed out like candy and have bled at each giveaway. I see those who proclaim to offer these sacred teachings and know them to be " make believe shamans to go." We bleed at the root of our heritage. We must as a people return to the ways of the ancestors, to the sacred and the divine passed to us from long ago. These ancient ones deserve our honor. In this there is the healing that must occur for our people to be whole again and walk the road of unity. This is true with all native peoples.

I am a spiritual weaver of the basket of peace that holds the treasures of our people in trust. These treasures are our elders and the sacred path that carries us to the stars. I am so grateful for your words, for they are the fires that will light the way home. Patricia na Spirit Walker Standing.

Yes, I certainly do [want this posted]. I am just so grateful to read this.

From: Thunturtle@aol.com Thunturtle@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001

Please feel free to publish my response if you feel drawn to do so:

There are a great many "spiritual seekers" in our turbulent modern world, but unfortunately motivation for seeking is more often than not gratification of self rather than service to that which lies beyond self. The "seeker" is typically not even aware of the self-centered basis for their search. Then there are the many who prey upon these clueless "seekers" and consciously exploit the ancient traditions for their own personal gain. As I see it, the root of all indigenous traditions in their pure and ancient form lies always in a path of service to that which lies beyond self, service to the whole of creation rather than self. This and this alone is the Sacred Way. To use such traditions in any other way is sacrilege. A path must be found that allows preservation of these ancient traditions in their pure and sacred form. For each carries the thread that binds our way home. That path has not yet been found and certainly does not lie in the mainstream exploitation of these precious traditions for self interests be they financial gain or personal salvation. May the path be found and soon. In honor of that search, I support the declaration with all my heart.

Martha Sarasua
Gulf Breeze, Florida
thunturtle@tugwell.org

From: Japwilson@aol.com Japwilson@aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001

Feel free to publish my comments, or edit them for length.

I feel that the declaration of war on false spirituality is giving power to the demon of exploitation. The crafty one is most willing to engage in war, but he will only do it on his own terms. The devil is too smart to attack the soldier with true power! I hope that the authors will reconsider, not their opposition to the abuse of sacred privileges, but their call to arms for evil. In the war between good and evil, evil has power in the zeal of both sides. Good triumphs when the soldiers recognize that the monsters are our brothers.

Holy war is only justified when it can change conditions. It is ineffective when it serves to entrench the opposition or even worse, generate uncertainty in the hearts of powerful allies in our struggle.

There are important differences between all spiritual paths, which should not be mixed indiscriminately, yet we must be familiar with the ways of others if we are truly understand our own ways. Truth corroborates truth. Ignorance is dangerous, especially if it obscures the common ground wherefrom stems our power.

There are many backwards thinkers in power (both sacred and secular), and many seemingly powerless community members with dead spirituality or no spirituality. I have watched Indians dump trash in their own river (the Little Colorado), or just across the border on the white man's land. Do you think our mother recognizes the reservation border? Does land and water know it has been stolen?

For those who see clearly as they ascend on their path, they must see how things are related to eachother. Just as the First Nations have been transformed by the acceptance of some foreigners, so has white culture been transformed wherever it has coexistied in peace with these earlier nations, even in the language of our constitution. The sorry, disrespectful way that Indians have been marginalized, reflects the ignorance of one nation!

The majority of Appalachians are mixed-bloods, even if they have no idea of this. I never knew that I was anything but a Yankee mutt, until my grandmother told me about the "skeletons" in our family closet. I deserve no status as an Indian just because an Indian woman (of unknown tribe) married my mother's mother's mother's mother's father. I am nonetheless descended from that woman. I cannot claim to have recieved the teachings of her elders, but their very nature exists in me. If I knew her clan, I might even be a member (technically), but her children were ashamed of their own identity and chose to re-define themselves as white.

All ethnic identities are a product of recent ancestry. If a Kevin Costner became Lakota 120 years ago, his great-great-great-great... grandchildren may be among the signers of this declaration. Are you prepared to wage war with part of yourself?

When Catholic missionaries arrived to convert the Indians (whom they believed were "without religion"), they were astonished to find that their most sacred symbols were already present among them. The Lakota and the Megalithic Irish both used the medicine wheel. Christianity incorporated this, and it became the Celtic cross. The ancient Roman crucifix was actually a "T" shaped scaffold.

Why do most Christians attend church on Sunday and not Saturday like the Jews? Constantine was first a Sun-worshiper, but there is something deeper. Jesus held his last passover by a solar calendar, as he was martyred along with the lamb of the passover meal. The passion plays of Easter Sunday, blood and all, may hold a clue. Something about this new religion was appealing to peoples of the sun.

The four colors of man are a deep religious theme that stretches across Eurasia and North America. The Lakota represent it in its highest form, because the colors are equally balanced. Placing white at the top has brought on the evil of India's caste system and Hitler's Germany.

Hitler was a fundamentalist who sought to restore pre-Christian significance to the cross, and to purify his "First Nation." This was an impossible task because a "pure" nation has never existed on Earth. He created an eon-lasting fault, but the symbols he attempted to claim were never his! They exist safely outside of time. The swastika was a sacred symbol in Jewish Synagouges 2000 years ago! German and Yiddish were the same language less than 5000 years ago!

Hitler traced his Aryan blood (and power) to Central Asia and Tibet. I find it magnificently ironic that he was defeated by the intellegence of the Navajo code talkers, a red people whose language and power is also traced, in part, to Central Asia and Tibet. If you say "but the Dineh were created here," you are also right. A time of monsters (a holocaust) caused the fourth world-cycle to end early for some Old-World Dineh, and the Holy People enabled them to emerge safely in the four corners region, where they found all the sacred mountains had been restored. This is why some Navajos disagree on whether this is the fourth or the fifth world.

Central-Asia is also where the first Irish/Scottish Tartan was made, and where the Celtic clans emerged around 8,000 years ago. Red hair is a product of ancient intermarriage between red people and white people.

Mixing religious ideas from different cultures can be just as dangerous as mixing medicine from different bottles, but it can be just as rewarding when it is done with special care and knowledge of how the medicines compliment eachother. The danger is personal and not the responsibility of other people, red or white, unless they choose to accept responsibility as a teacher. New-agers and neo-pagans do commit acts of desecration, but that is for the offended spirits to avenge, not their human allies, unless they suffer serious dessecrations indeed. I do not advocate selling sacred pipes at head-shops, but that does not mean that white people should not be allowed to posess them. The red stone is not an endangered animal.

This declaration of war fails to account for how the symptoms (dessecration and exploitation) are related to their cause (spiritual void). When an outsider arrives loudly seeking knowledge and power without any forethought, he should be shunned. One softly seeking knowledge, in humility, deserves not to be ignored or brushed aside as either a "non-Indian" or a non-Aryan.

Thank you,
Joseph Andrew Park Wilson
Japwilson@aol.com

Feel free to publish my comments, or edit them for length.

From: StephenMerritt :scmerritt@mindspring.com
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001

You have my permission to post this statement to the internet. Thank you

*********

I am a white man living in Nashville Tennessee. As a passionate student of history and religion/spirituality, I've become a bit concerned at the number of so-called "shamans" selling training out there on the 'net. While I cannot deny a strong draw to your spiritual tradition, I would never dare assume one could buy such "training" ... indeed, is this not a CULTURAL and COMMUNAL entity?

I wanted to take the time to thank you for your strong statement on behalf of your people's proud heritage.

If there's anything I can do to help ... other than stay out of the way, let me know.

Again, thank you for your statement. It really needs to be heard by more people out there.

Peace.

From: wen:iente bhoona@total.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001

To the Lakota Nation;

I support your Nations declaration of war against those who exploit or profit from your culture and traditions. I am also requesting that others who have taken other Nations culture for their own gain to do the same.

Since I hooked up to this world of computers I have seen nothing but exploiters and want-a-be indains. Nothing is sacred today, you can buy teaching of native culture from books on how to do it yourself etc.You can self-empower yourself to be one thing today or something else the next. I also feel that there are some good people out there who do have good intentions, they are trying to find their path. I believe the key word in all this is respect to the roots of origins of these sacred ways. Also, to follow these ways respectfully and not to convert their form and intent. It should also be sincere. But these non natives if they really respected the native people then they should not be taking things that are not theirs.In the long house we can adopted other nations into our society if they agree to respectfully follow our ways, they will be allowed to take shelter beneath the tree of peace. They have no voice, also, they are not to interfere or ever aloud to act as a leader in our customs. I have been giving things, years back, before I heard of this declartion of war from your nation. So I guess I am at fault and I to am an enemy of your nation. But you really have no one to blame or accuse in these mistakes but yourselves. If you retrace these mistakes to the root, it will lead you to your own people who have taught and shared these ways with others. Now you are asking people to stop and support. I agree with the non-natives that they should stop, also, natives who are gaining or expoiting these sacred ways in any form. But there are a lot of indain nations that have lodges and red pipes. Does your declartion include those people to? If so I am one of them and I welcome you here to my nation to take what is yours in peace. I have a lodge and a red pipe that was given to me by a sundancer. For five years I have given money to the sundance in the lakota nation. We grow the sacred tobacco that is given to the sundance ,also red- pipes, buffallo skulls, drums, and eagle- feathers. We have supported you in peace and in unity, our own people have faught along side of you in the past. If I do not have the right to these things out of respect I ask that you come and get them in peace. All my relations, Weniente. I also have a web-site at www.publiccite.com/weniente.html I will remove this to if this is incorrect in your eyes. I will say this in honesty, your nation is honored in these ways everytime time we sit in that sacred circle. We pray for your relations, that good will come your way to you and your people. We also give that thanks to your ancestors, for these ways that these ways were planted here like a sacred seed. If you are asking us all to stop it will be a lot of indain nations will suffer in the end. Is that really what your ancestors want and the creator who wants use to live in peace all of his children no more suffering now and the next seven generations.

Please post this letter, thank you, Weniente

From: scarlett birch sjbirch@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001

I tried to respond on the site but i couldn't for some reason. i hope it is o.k. to send this to you directly.

Reponse to Lakota Declaration of War

Permission to post

I am a person of white descent. My grandfather was half native american. That said, I want to lend my support to this declaration. it is about time somebody said something about the desecration of the sacred rites of native people. I think that white people who "rip off" native spirituality are lost, but this does not give them the right to take ancient ceremonies and use them as their own.

I personally have learned many lessons about life in the pages of books written by native people. I stay away from books purporting to teach me shamanism; instead finding wisdom in the everyday lives of the authors. I think it is preposterous for white people to think they can just all of a sudden think and understand in a native way becuase they have read a book.

I have a prayer that white people will finally honor our native brothers and sisters in the most respectful way we can. By finding inspiration in their teachings and making something of their own from those ideas.

Scarlett Birch

From: Glenn Smith hogchief@mail.webpipe.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001

You may publish this response.

I am a white man who has been very curious about Native American traditions as a way to educate myself about a beautiful way of life my European ancestors grossly misunderstood and wrongfully destroyed. I feel ashamed of these things and my heart sinks when I think of what has been lost forever.

I have experienced "self-styled" ceremonies as well as very real ceremonies. I have taken it upon myself to be extremely respectful and have made efforts to ask many questions as to not offend anyone. One recent question was asked to a traditional medicine man who is an active member of the NAC and is honored by his tribe. What is interesting is my prior experiences with self- proclaimed medicine people led me to seek more information and seek the truth; The three year journey had led me to this man. I asked the medicine man, point blank, "What gives me the right to be a participant in this ceremony, being a white man?" He looked me in the eyes and simply said, "We do not have the time for differences amoung the four nations." "We must heal all our relations, Mother Earth and all that sustains us." "We must pray together as brothers and sisters to change our way of life." "Our planet is in trouble and we need to unite our cause for all humankind." "As prophecied by our ancestors, the time is now!" I was reminded of what white people have done but I was also invited with open arms as a brother in need of healing. This man spoke with such purity of heart, power and clarity, it rocked me to my foundations.

There are many contexts one can choose to manifest this vision the medicine man speaks of. I have chosen to manifest this vision in my life by learning and practicing indigenous traditions. This path has opened my heart and has touched me deeply. It has taught me to respect myself, all people, all creatures and Mother Earth. Most importantly, it has taught me how to heal so I can walk in light and not walk a destructive path. It has been a very personal journey, one I have shared with few.

My wish is that all tribes find a way to sit with one another. It is also my wish that the traditional ways of indigenous peoples be protected because of thier beauty and how rare and precious they are. Like the balance of the web of life, there can be a solution. Can we counsel each other on how we can find common ground?

Sincerly, G

From: Kyle Tanner kyletanner@mail.tscnet.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001
Subject: Permission to publish granted

Goodness! Such visceral expressions here. A sure sign that people are revealing themselves. My "god parents", for lack of a better term, were First Nations folks who taught my brother and I many things growing up. We read Vine Deloria and Dee Brown. Visited the Rosebud and made many beautiful things. They took us to pow wows and helped us learn to dance old style and traditional. We learned beadwork, quillwork, the tanning of hydes and with the help of Dan Burns, the Drum. At no point, during pow wows, sweats etc. was it an issue that we were non-native. It was also never thought that we were. Quite frankly, I find obectionable the cooptation of the various indigenous spiritual traditions by new age profiteers. Do I feel that the Declaration has locked me out of participation in Native rites. No. I am non-Native and have no right to participate in the first place. My brother and I were guests. Guests for many years but guests none-the-less. I am amused by the very manner so many anglos approach this topic. To read many of these posts you'd think it was 1850. The patronizing verbage is indicative of a lack of compassion and understanding. My wife and I now live on the Olympic Peninsula in WA. In the late 19th century. Nearly the entire Makah Nation was killed by disease. The Village at La Push was burned by an angry settler. These wounds are fresh. The dead are not yet gone from these places. Our nation's history is filled with a shameful lack of regard for anything other than the promotion of the concepts of capitalism and christianity. If you are an Anglo and have indeed been "contacted" through "visions" get an anti-psychotic don't try to horn in on a sun dance. Respect a culture in healing by leaving it alone. You still have the sun, the moon, the four directions. The secrets of "native spirituality" are written there. My advice. Wake up tomorrow and be amazed at what you see. Repeat. Now you've been deprived of nothing. I have good thoughts and respect for our Native brothers and sisters.

From: Toddlert2@aol.com Toddlert2@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001

I am half Laguna Pueblo from my mother's side. I was raised on the Laguna Indian Reservation in New Mexico by my grandmother. This subject has for a long time also angered me. I am only 16 years old and am still a student in high school but constantly hear how everyone is like, some fraction Indian, and how their grandmother was some Cherokee princess or some rediculous claim to Indian heritage. When I lived on the Reservation we used to joke about how everyone says they're part Indian from their grandparents or great grandparents. Of course there are those who are honestly part Indian, but everyone real Indian knows there are those who we laugh at on the Rez always boating about their fraction of Indian heritage. I saw a Powwow on TV. once with less Indians than any other race attending. There were more white people dancing than Indians. My brothers and I laughed at it and made jokes watching it. When I lived on the Rez I do not remember seeing any people other than Indians at our feasts and dances. When they'd dance in the plazas of our villages, the children would sit on the rooftops and any surrounding objects allowing them a view of the dances while the old ones sat in the front row surrounding the plaza. That is why I always liked being on the Rez. I am not a racist but people must understand, our culture is no longer thriving and the reservation is our link to people. For those of us who were raised on the Rez, we know it is all we have left and our dances, our art, and Indian identitities are special to us. That is why it angers us when people out of the blue claim that they are a part of it.

Though I did not always have much on the Rez, I was always happy. Perhaps because I was too young to understand what the Reservation was and was all about. I did not know then what the Reservation was. I heard it said so many times but back then it was just a word to me. It wasn't until I moved away from it that I began to learn the history of it, and the historical events and sufferings Native Americans went through to remain free. Life as I remember it, was always so simple on the Reservation. And as a child it was not hard to be happy having your family members dropping by everyday, and walking to a cousins house to hang out. But of course I have memories of drunken cousins coming to our trailer late at night looking for a place to sleep. Of the adults around me drinking and laughing in our small living room. But I love them still. They are my family and I am proud to call them that.

I think it is good these issues are being addressed in public. It is good our feelings are being expressed for everyone to see.

-Todd L
Laguna

You may post this message

From: CampRINO@aol.com CampRINO@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000

When I was 18 I left to find something better. My sister had died and anything anyone had tried to teach me meant nothing.I was very lost. Schools taught us to get good jobs, what we wanted to be. What did all that matter when your dead?

I went to S. Dakota not knowing where exactly just having faith that there was more to this life than a "good job".My brother and two of my close friends dropped me off at a park a few miles west of the Missouri River. From there, I Road my bike down long windy high ways. For four days I road,blisterd and crieing.I ended up in a place called St. Frances S.Dakota on the Rosebud Res.There I went to a catholic school that had a museum attached, it was exactly the thing I was trying to get away from. Anyway I asked a women where I could find a medicine man. She gave me three choices and since my whole body hurt I took the closest one. So I ended up staying that whole summer helping to build a sundance ground, going to sweats. I stayed with a family there who now I call my own. I go there every year to help in the sundance I help build 8 yrs ago. I have never met a family more accepting than the ones I met ther.I owe my life to them .

So I think instead of worrying about disrespect that other people my do. And instead of going to "WAR" be a good human being yourself, and that is good enough.

I would never tell anyone what they should believe or how to practice it.Thats in each persons heart, mine just happens to be Lakota.

You have my permission to display this on your web page.

Thank you, Loud voiced Bald Eagle.

From: Pepper Poppleton pepper_poppleton@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the great tribes,

My name is Anthony Poppleton, my guidance has lead my to search the internet for the elders that have been calling out to me.

This message goes out with respect, compassion and love for the brothers and sisters of the many nations of your land.

My heart cries out for the rape of your culture, of which I do not wish to take from, your struggle is the struggle of mankind, and it is and always has been the spiritual warriors, those of the light that manifest the higher frequencies in respect and ceremony that are attacked first, for this is the struggle of the world.

I realise this web site I am contacting is based with in a university and there is the chance that my message may first of all be rejected or dismissed, as the intent behind it may not be understood for I may be judged as another "who searches in order to take", I come with respect.. I ask that the father takes my words to the correct hands and the right person will eventually read them, so I am sorry if you are the one that finds my words unfulfilling, i ask that you may pass them on... My guidance has been leading me back to the elders of the earth who have the correct knowledge of the star tribes and of earths ways, I am to fight and die with the earth this I know, I lay down my life for man. It is not so much the Indian culture I wish to learn from, but that it just so happens that the natives of your land are the strongest allies at this moment to work with, for I resonate strongly with the compassion, wisdom and love for the earth your elders have, and that your many tribes have encoded into there collective consciousness the keys of mother earths spirit body, that shall, when used with respect set all of the nations tribes free. I have visions of a reservation surrounded by " a mountain with seven peaks" this is the tribal centre that has called out to me, there medicine is strong. A wolf elder came and ate my heart in a vision and shape shifted back into form,eagle medicine came and tore me in two and took me to the heavens and through my body to the earth, great buffalo chief cam with his brothers and trampled me and then presented two swords to me, and asked" what will you do". I took them and pierced my heart, and then my stomach, buffalo then ate me. I have visions of these elders of the Tribe associated with my brothers from star system Arcturus coming to me, they tell me my visions are strong they wait for me, they told me to put the word out there as this is part of my lesson.

I understand the nature of these visions as they are preparing me for initiation they are tests by the elders of my inbtent, I put all this information in here so to ensure that out of the five that read it with rolling eyes, the one who knows will bid a silent expression of understanding and will know that my intent is not of a time waster, that I come to work as a servant to man, and ask that I may find these elders of Arcturian star Knowledge.

T

he tribe I am to first meet, my visions tell me are the Sioux who are mainly I believe of Sirian star system descent, White buffalo woman was one of the first I believe, Pine Ridge is the name I got, The second tribe who has been testing my intent are the brothers and sisters I am to work with, they of Arcturian knowledge, I am here and waiting brothers, I come to stay to do tunkashilas work, for the nations of the earth. I wish not to learn the medicine to exploit but to enhance my ability to serve the mother and father, for all tribes of the earth are one. Here my call spirit and send these words to the elders who greet me with open arms to mould my body through action of service. I trust this message is past on.

Could any one who understands my plight please e-mail me to let me know who I may stay with to contribute and learn from. I am of the earth and shall wander until all healing is done. Thakyou,

Anthony James Poppleton ( Shaelton)

Raymond, I thankyou for your swift reply. I am sorry that my words were long, I had to put in all the info at hand so it could be interpreted by the right way by the right person, could you possibly post my letter on the war site, so as to get my request out there.

From: Giantsold@aol.com :Giantsold@aol.com
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2000 11:16 PM

You have my permission to post this.

To all peoples,

I humbly present to you the concept of universal love. To share that which helps us all along our spiritual path to enlightenment. We are all just small parts of a greater whole.

The truest test of all is to give back what was freely given to you. Instead of declaring war, why not declare peace. If you truly believe your way is so true and right, your rituals so powerfully spiritual, why not openly share it with those that are lost.

This is truly one world with one people. We need each other. I don't have to be Native American or Hindu or even a guru to offer my love freely to all. If you found a man lost in the woods, would you not help him to find his way. Do not allow the desecration of your culture, protect it by teaching your culture first to your children, then to those who come to you. Truth will stand the test of time.

The greatest victories are those which are won without firing a shot. The greatest test of courage may be patience and tolerance, not battle.

May the Creator help us to help others

From: Sarah Phillips niceangel_4@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000

Please Post! You have my permission to post it. Thanks.

I have spent many hours reading peoples comments and thinking on the issue of Declaration of War. I am of non-native blood. And I can honestly say that there are times were I am completely ashamed of my skin colouring, and the blood that runs through my veins. I cannot change my skin colouring, and I cannot change my blood. But I can change my views on many subjects. I can make good and bad choices. My beliefs are to follow the Creator. I walk a very shaky path at 18 years old. There are no close reservations near my home, there are even fewer Native People in my area. People don't understand me for what I believe in, some say that I am wrong, other's are fascinated that a white person would "turn her back on her family views of life." There are even those in my family who refuse to understand and accept me for me. I have had visions from the Creator, I have seen a very wise elder or a different tribe. He has given me my name, and told me of my spirit guide. I wear my name with honor, and let my spirit guide, guide me well. I understand the need to hold on to what is left of the Native ways. The language, the traditions, and an old way of life never forgotten by its people. Nothing I say or do will ever undo what has happened in the past to not only Native Peoples, but many other peoples as well. We must not forget the past but learn from it. We must never allow the past to happen again. Instead of claiming a culture, and declaring war, teach those who mean to learn. Teach the seekers who the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people really are. Teach them that your people have been hurt, that they have survived, and are still here thriving to keep the old ways alive. Don't be like the people from the past who passed judgement, be better than that.

I am not saying that all people are going to listen. There will always be those who will do wrong. There will always be people who try to make money off of cultures, not just the Native People. They are wrong to do the things they do. But who are we to take justice on them?

I also think that it is wrong to claim the Creator as the Native People's and theirs alone. We cannot claim what is not ours to claim. I don't think that the Creator would judge me or anyone else by their skin coloring, or the blood that they carry. It is how you live your life that matters.

I live my life the best way I can. I attend school, I work, I learn everyday. I thrive to become better everday. I have learned that not all people will accept you for who you are. I don't impose any of my beliefs on to other people. I was never raised to the Church of God. But to those who were, then I believe that your God does exsist for you. My mother raised me on her own. She taught me to respect every culture. Even if I don't understand it. I will continue on my path to whereever it takes me.

This is sort of off topic but does relate to the things I have been saying. My best friend happens to be Chinese (born in Canada). Her family taught her the Chinese language. Even gave her a Chinese name with her "English" name. She looks Chinese and even wears a Budha on her neck. But they never taught her the Chinese beliefs or traditions. She searches hard to find something to connect with. Be it God or Budha. She is confused, and does not know how to go forward in search of her right path.

To those who are of non-native blood, and walk the path with Creator or Spirit. They have found a connection. To those who haven't I hope you find yours soon.

To those who have comments on my statements, I tell you that I found the Creator on my own. I was not taught the ways by family. If you have any further comments please contact me at niceangel_4@hotmail.com

From: THarlock1@aol.com THarlock1@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000

I give you permission to post this

I have read the declaration of the Lakota regarding their sacred rites and I understand their opinion. I am concerned however with the elitism that is displayed, and the predjuice against pagans, wiccians and the like. A fact is the traditions that you seek to save have changed with the times, just as the people have changed. While it is impossible to tell the difference between a fake and a real teacher, there is a need for people gain an understanding of these rites. It should be remembered that no people have the spiritual high ground. A the races have learned from, and taken things from different cultures. The dancers I have seen at pow wows dress in a manner that would never have been seen a hundred years ago. The traditional dress has its self changed and is no longer done in its original form. I would also like to point out that shamanism is not the exclusive domain of ! native Americans. My ancestors walked the shamanistic path more that five thousand years ago.

If we are going to survive on this planet we need to learn from each other and not live in an exclusive society. The purists and isolationist in the world are becoming few in number. I do not see any people rejecting all that the Europeans brought to this land, nor do I see anyone from any culture living purely to their cultures traditions.

From: streamline streamline@enter.net
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000

You have my permission to post this statement.

Where does one go if she is called strongly to something no one around her understands, not even herself, and the ones who could give her some insight into what she feels shun her because she was born into the wrong society?

The more I learn of Native American Spirituality, the more I respect those who are fortunate enough have it in their lives.

If your intentions are sincere, the higher power (whatever name you choose) will know it. What else matters? The victims ARE those, seeking wisdom, who are mislead by the exploiters. The same can be true for those who blindly believe Christianity, a religion that has unarguably diluted and amended many Native American's beliefs. Lakotas have valuables which can never be taken from them. These include their ancestory, their faith, their spirtuality, and finally access to a sincere education from their elders which can bring wisdom, not hatred.

Lost in PA.

From: kad161s [mailto:kad161s@smsu.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000

you are certainly welcome to post my comments.

(I work in a library, and our current issue of indian country today says that arizona has passed an "english only" law for public schools."total war" against native americans has never ceased.)

My name is keith dennis. i am 26 years old. grandparents on both sides of my mothers family were of cherokee stock, which even then was likely mixed. I live fairly close to tahlequah, and i could find out for sure if i could "legally" become part of the Cherokee Nation, but the final decision to do that is something i am not sure i have the courage, even the audacity to do. My mother in law used to do midwivery for native americans in new mexico, and she told me once that "indians"--by which she could only have meant those native peoples of the southwest with whom shed had contact--said to her that "yeah, just about every white person has some cherokee in them," or "who doesnt have some Cherokee blood in them?"

I live in Missouri and have family in texas, so just this past weekend, i made one of many drives through oklahoma. Each time i make that trip, i have a rush of intense and conflicting emotions about Turtle Island, its first peoples, invasions, and all that. I am overcome with a bitter longing for something i almost feel i can never be part of. Admittance into the Cherokee Nation would not even quench me, for whatever my history, i have not lived as a Cherokee, and so i am not. each and every time my soul has reached out for that trace, that connection that goes beyond national and ethnic affiliations and into the earth itself, the mirage before me has been that of the Native american, a wholly imagined construct of my own desire which bears no resemblance to what is true and real. And so i have recoiled my hand, time and again, from this mirage. When i dream, i am able to "rewind" scenes over and over until i get it right. I try to apply this to my own personal "native american problem" and ask the question "What is behind the mirage? What is it that my heart truly desires, that my thoughts shape into this indian man before me?" The answer is so heartbreakingly simple: "white" people who read these words, ponder this: you think back, you listen to your grandparents, and noone in your family tree, not one person, came from anywhere other than the ground you walk on today? can you imagine to be 100% connected to the land you live on now? I am not even talking about a bunch of new age feel good pablum about living in some imagined harmony with the earth, or any other edenic longing the europeans have taken from their own hearts and filtered through imagined indians. i mean, whether you are a good steward or a total ingrate, there is no story of immigrants, of europe, of anthing but here in your history. when people like myself reach out for that indian mirage, what we are reaching for is beyond indianness: we are longing for a sense of connection to our land, for a life and a history in which we cannot trace ourselves back to pirates, thieves, bloated, milky-white half-corpses unable to move from so much gold hanging from atrophied bodies, made fat from slave-grown sugar. in my view, the people you call "wannabes" are those few people who realize that their nation, the entire hemisphere in which they live, was acquired as a result of exploitation and genocide on a scale that would be impossible to even repeat to due space limitations on the planet earth. it often appears equally impossible to undo, but i have hope. these people, understandably, do not want to be who they are, and so the slightest trace of "indian blood" is the point of departure for the (unintentional?) cultural genocide your declaration of war is meant to address.

I actually read the declaration in ward churchills "indians are us?" which was an excellent book. so i also read about their overseas visits to german businessmen who like to "play indian" on the weekends. When these people were soundly dispatched by the native activist whom they had come to see speak, churchill and his group tried to give them some strategies for undoing the colonization that germans and other europeans enacted on themselves, that created the europe that has ravaged the world ever since. i beleive that, in a misguided and uneducated way, the people on whom you declare war are searching for ways to undo that same colonization of which they (we) are the product. The process is painful, clumsy, surreal, and by all appearances quite stupid. the fact that i know better than to go down that road, and be one of those people youre fighting now, doesnt make me feel better. in fact, it makes me feel more lost than ever. the only choice i have is to make up my own way, knowing that it takes a people to create a spiritual culture they can call home, and it takes time. so i know better than to think too highly of my own independent explorations as well. but what choice do i have? be a christian, and tap into the force that created the europe that created all of this pain and misery that makes me one of the richest people on earth? as i get older, i find it easier to contain my contempt for the faith i was raised in. someday i would like to be rid of it entirely. --or i could play indian, and pretend that i have a history, a connection that my parents didnt try to forget when they arrived at these shores. my people, "white people," are like abused children who grow up and commit the same sins against thier children, having been given few other examples of how to live and thinking its normal. that family disfunction ripples down through the generations until someone has the courage to break the cycle. it is for this reason that brutalised peasants came from europe with naught but the clothes on their backs and were given a mandate to do the same thing to those who were already here. my choice is to try and redefine the criteria by which i may consider myself connected to the land i live in. so when i hear through the grapevine that native peoples in the southwest detest the mixed blood of the cherokee, i think: easy for you to say, you have a bittersweet luxury most nations relocated into oklahoma in the 1800s wish they had--at least some portion of your ancestral lands. i also think i should be proud of that mixture. that mixture is what america is, like it or not. i am proud that, by virtue of the cherokee trace inside me, that it also means i have some of all the interrmarriages they committed with other free nations before the holocaust, and i have africans, irish, other poor people of "european" descent, all in my blood as well. i am proud that tahlee wore a turban, and that my great grandparents saw fit to mingle their blood, in spite of all the derision that they now recieve for it. so i am a child of the whole world... that said, i must say i applaud your declaration of war, and fully support it. i only wish that i could be more than a war of words and the feeble actions allowed you by those who control you...and me. even though i see the "white side" as well, these are desperate times for you, and you must do what you can to keep your people alive and kicking. the latest issue of "indian country today" tells me that arizona has just passed an "english only" proposition for public schools. so the undeclared war against you continues, on every concienvable leval, from language to spirit to diabetes to alchohol. why should you take it lying down?there will be plenty of time to share your ways with my people when we have learned the lessons already before us, begging for our attention. until we are able to listen to our own hearts, at best we will only be able to pretend to listen to yours.

i have to go now. sorry about the long message.

keith. kad161s@smsu.edu

"The most efficient ethnic cleansing is self-financed or, better yet, profitable. Drugs and alcohol are excellent tools toward this end, especially when they are combined with easy access to guns. Sell large amounts of addictive substances to a group of people in an area you want to take over, then use the cash flow to buy up their homes and commercial real estate for 10 cents on the dollar, without much competition, while you enjoy the full value of their cash flow. You can then afford the long holding period required to make the land profitable again after the cleansing period is over."

--Former Bush Assistant Secretary for HUD, Catherine Austin Fitts
http://www.copvcia.com/ethnic_cleansing_usa.htm

lilyelkhorncrk@webtv.net [mailto:lilyelkhorncrk@webtv.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2000

I am afraid I neglected to give permission tp reprint my response. I hereby give permission.

I am a grandmother.I have studied the ways of my red brothers and sisters since the death of my first grandchild,the first son of my first son, in 1984. Let me say that the words of your ancestors offered me a comfort I found nowhere else.This golden haired child died in agony, tortured by chemotherapy,radiation, and the blank eyes of the medical profession attempting to cure (experiment on?) him.

But this is not about him. It is about life and our common breath. When I was a child, the hawk and owl flew above my head .It was magic, but I had little understanding except that it felt holy. Bears inhabited the dreams of my children. They were not afraid. After my grandson's death, on the night before his grieving father was to leave for the Persian Gulf on a naval ship, I left the warmth of my fire and family, and went out into the cold November air to scream and cry out to the earth and skies my utter pain and hopelessness. As I did so, a coyoye answered my cries, again and again. At that point, my pain mingled with all pain that ever existed, and I became one with all. Simply because a coyote howled.This was holy to me. I began to study and to heal.As time went on, people appeared to me, both in dream and in reality.I left my church. All things were holy.

Two years ago, my oldest son was killed, in an accident which could have been prevented had we realized his truck was unsafe. You see, others are also touched by neglect and lack.He had not told us he needed help with car repairs. Who knows the reasons for the actions of the human heart? We would have sent him whatever amount he needed to repair the truck. We had done so before.

The reason for this involved story is to help you realize that we are all here, together,united in joy,in pain,and suffering.All the injustices that life can hand us, cannot change the fact that we share a common bond.We all are walking the path together, and my heart cries out at your pain,suffering, and all the injustices you and your ancestors suffered at the bloody hands of the whites.

Would it be possible to walk together on the good red road, leaving by the wayside hatred and separation? I honor and revere your beliefs, ceremonies, and way of life. I beg you to look upon those like me with love in your hearts.I would steal nothing from no one. I pray to our common Creator, for peace and harmony to bind our hearts together, that one day the earth will again flourish, and mankind will walk in peace on this sacred ground. I call upon Eagle to take this message into your heart. He has already flown into mine.

From a grandmother with pale skin

From: jennie swift bird [mailto:NativeActress@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000

To: bucko@creighton.edu

Subject: You may post this. Jennifer Swift Bird

Greetings from South Dakota! HAU KOLA TO ALL MY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS! I come to you with prayer and in a good way. Please hear me and respect my words, for I would listen to you. My name is Jennifer Swift Bird and I am of Assiniboine Sioux and Northern Ute decent. I was raised with the Sundance ways. My GrandFather Sumner Provo was the Sundance chief for our people. I have Sundanced with Wilmer "Stampede" Mesteth for 7 years. He is a man of great knowledge. He is a protector of the Lakota people. Wilmer is much like Tasunka Witko, "Crazy Horse." He stands up and protects the people. I have great respect for him and his family. He helped me grow spiritually and taught me to walk with respect. As a Sundancer we are asked to help and respect our elders and our Native people. We are not being disrespectful when we say that we want the Whiteman to leave us and our Spiritual ways alone. We have survived genocide. We are much like the Jewish people in this respect. Would you ask the Jewish people to forget about the Holocaust and forgive the Nazis? Of course not!!

Native Americans are deeply religious, each tribe has its own religion and their own belief system. When the missionaries and other European encountered Indians, they were convinced that because the tribes were not Christians, they could not possibly have religions of their own, only superstitions. This is called Superordination. When one group of individuals oppress another group so that they will feel more powerful and superior. In the Whitemans eyes we were either Christians or Heathens. Being a Christian was one of the requisites to being civilized, and the Spanish, English, French, Dutch and Russians all sent missionaries who attempted to convert Native Americans to what they believed to be the "True religion." While missionaries did indeed manage to "save some souls," You came with Christianity as your armor, but all you really wanted was to steal our land.

Most Native Americans preferred thier own religions and were determined to practice them no matter what the cost. Many missionaries were intolerant of Indian religions. Around 1540, Spanish missionaries made their way to the Pueblo tribes of theSouthwest and proceeded to build missions and forts, essentially squatted on their land. When they attempted to convert Indians to Catholicism, they also tried to banish the tribes' traditional religions, labeling them uncivilized and and heathenish. Although some Indians integrated certain aspects of Catholicism into their own religions, that was not sufficient for the Spanish missionaries. Sacred corn and masks were destroyed, and Pueblo priests were physically punished or killed for conducting traditional tribal ceremonies. The missionaries did not understand the tenacity of the Indians' spirituality, and their abuse led to the Pueblo revolt of 1680.

In the late 1880s, Indian religious ceremonies were outlawed in the United States. Indian children were forced to attend federal boarding schools. My mother was one of these children. She was taught that her religion and native tongue were bad and barbarous. They chopped her beautiful long hair off so short, she cried. They beat them and whipped them when they spoke their own language. They were so scared of the Boarding school matrons, they wouldnt even dare ask for a drink of water. My mother and her friends would hide a little tin cup in the upper portion of the toilet so that they could get a drink of water. These abuses are intolerable. My mom still refuses to speak of some of the atrocities, when I ask her. Some were even taken from their families to be adopted by Euro-American families. But, guess what? Indians till this day continue and always continued to practice their ceremonies in private. It was not until the the American Indian Freedom of Religion act of 1978 that the law was appealed. But, Indians still do not enjoy the religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Many states do not tolerate such Indian religions as the Native American Church, perhaps because of the use of peyote. Indians in many prisons are not allowed to participate in the Sacred sweat lodge ceremonies, and their are few laws to protect indian grave sites and shrines. Many missionaries and other non-indians fail to understand that the Indians are deeply religious. Indian spirituality is not just an oversimplified "love of nature and all living things," as some White people or non-indians interpret it to be. Indian spirituality permeates all aspects of one's life, including religion, work, warfare, social activities, education, eating and playing are not compartmentalized to a daily or weekly schedule. ALL aspects are closely intertwined, and it is not easy to explain or understand. Indian religions tend to be only superficially understood, or TOTALLY misunderstood by non-indians. Each tribe has its own religious traditions, with ceremonies to mark the seasons, to give thanks, to ask for prosperous hunting and growing, in additions to specific ways to sing, and dance, and bury their dead. Like other aspects of Indians' cultures, our religions cannot be generalized. Despite the persecution, Indian relgious beliefs have survived and thousands of Indians still practice their traditional ceremonies and rituals. It is true that some Indians have converted to Christianity or other faiths. Many have become ministers and priests and even rabbis. Not all Indians are knowledgeable about their tribes particular traditional religion. many have been raised as Christians and know little if anything, about thier own beliefs. In addition, not all Indians attend sweats (some have never been in one) and not all Indians carry feathers or have medicine bundles. It should be also noted that there are scores of books written about Native religions and ceremonies. These people are not experts. They also produce fake stuff like funky Sweat lodge Tarot cards that are bought and sold by the so called experts. Some wannabee white medicine man who wants to profit off of Indians. These books and junk are available at any bookstore. The vast majority are written by White wannabee, fake shamans. Many of these books were written without tribal permission or tribal input, and their authors are OFTEN incorrect in their interpretations. Those books that contain inaccuracies will remain uncorrected, for most Indians do not want to point out the errors in an attempt to keep your prying eyes and hands off of their religion. They want to remain private and peaceful. It is, therefore, up to each individual tribe to recommend books on their specific religions. Indians do not want outsiders to study and participate in their religious ceremonies. Hundreds of books and articles have been written about Indian religions, most were not written by an Indian. There is a simple reason for this, Most Indians do not want to be placed in front of public scrutiny. We Indians do not travel door to door looking for lost souls to save, and try to convert you. We do not say we have the right to intrude on your churches or synagogue services in order to observe and document the rituals of faiths of other than our own. Many of you non indians appear to be desperate to learn about tribal religions and even think you have the right to become a medicine man or woman yourself. This is laughable. Some of you are genuinely seeking to fill a void in your lives. You have discovered that Money is not the answer to your prayers. Most of you come to chronicle ceremonies, dances and songs in order to write a book or make a film. Do the indians see any type of scholarship fund for native childrens education? When Movies are made about Indian life, who profits from it? Do the Indians? No we dont...... Ask yourself these questions. Historically and today, non-indians have written about Indian religions, and have revealed certain aspects that shouldn't be told. It's little wonder that Indians are so closed-mouthed about their spirituality. Non-Indians claiming to be "spiritual-leader," "healers," and Medicine men and women" abound in this country, and these "Crystal twinkies" make a pretty decent living at deceiving the public. SADLY, some Indians who aren't tribally recognized spiritual leaders have learned that holding "religious seminars," sweats and sundances for Non-indians, yes this means you... IS A QUICK WAY TO MAKE SOME CASH AND STEAL YOU BLIND. IF YOUR FOOL ENOUGH TO CHASE AFTER FAKE FANTASIES, WHO CAN YOU BLAME?? One individual in flagstaff, holds sweats for University classes at $25.oo a head. and even signs his name as the pipe carrier" after his name like a Phd. Throughout 1991, the LAKOTA TIMES newspaper now called (Indian Country today) investigated self-proclaimed medicine men and women, and revealed that their organizations, such as the American Indian church NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH, Medicine Wheel Circle/Gathering, Pan American Indian association, Split Feather Tribal council, Sun Bear and the Bear Tribe Medicine Society as well as Lynn Andrews, and Harley "Swiftdeer" Reagan and the "Deer tribe," are all bogus Indian groups or spiritual leaders that fleece naive non-indians who want to learn about Indian spirituality. Im sure there are many more. All of these New Age organizations along with phony plastic medicine people, not only INSULT Indians, but they also give a false impression that Indians are open about their religions and will allow outsiders into their sacred circle for a price. Most of us Indians see you Wannabees as profit-makers or curiousity seekers or exploiters. Just because one Indian will discuss religion does not mean the rest of the tribe sanctions it. In fact, most Indians are intensely private about their religions and will often let non Indians believe anything they want without correcting them. Spirituality is not something we discuss in casual conversation. Because of the historical persecution of Indian religions the fear of being ridiculed, or the potential for loss of our Spiritual power, most Indians will not discuss their religion and view questions about it as intrusive. Most of you Non Indians appear to feel free to toy with and trivialize Indian religions in a manner that would be seen highly disturbing, if it were practiced against Christianity, Judism or Islam. Could you imagine me going into a Catholic church and putting on priest duds and trying to be an omnipotent expert. You would have me arrested... The desecration of Indian burial sites and shrines are still occuring. Why dont you try to help us with that? Go to the States representatives and try to help us retain our rights and our anscestors rights as human beings. You would flip out if someone had your grandmothers burial dress in a museum for public display, or imagine if I had your grandmothers skull or precious clay pot on my coffee table as a conversational piece?? Pot hunters and grave robbing of Native burial sites are still going on to this very day. If you truly care about us...Help us with those type of things. Help us to preserve not destroy. Our tribes our attempting at this very hour to prevent interference in our religious activities. We can have you banned from our sacred ceremonies. It is our right as an Indian nation. In order to protect what we have retained. It is not hard to understand!! In regard to researching Indian religions, permission to interview tribal members and to study and observe should always be approve

d by the Tribal political leaders, but mainly the the religious leaders, and the researcher should not take offense if NO! IS THE ANSWER... I COME TO YOU IN A GOOD WAY.

MITAKU OYASIN
JENNIFER SWIFT BIRD

From: albert c curtis [mailto:accngrb.accgrc@juno.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2000

First you have my permission to publish this response.

I am a man in my forties who has searched for an inoffensive spiritual belief system and have found myself flabbergasted at the audacity of christian religion. I happen to believe that a spiritual belief linked to the earth is an extremely vital and important one. I have had others try to impose their beliefs on me using every ploy and tactic they could think of. While I must say that I would not want anyone exploiting my beliefs that it might injure my spirit or the spirit of others I must also say that like so many religions there are other sects and their imitators and yes charlitans.

I am sorry to hear that the authors of the declaration have been offended by people who have exploited the Lakota ceremonies and beliefs. However the notion of non-natives practicing is a cloudy subject . Not to be offensive but who born in this nation is not a native american? I do have a heritage that goes back to Europe, Norweigian, English, Scotish and Irish. The traditions of these people parallel those of the indiginous people of this land, that is the ancient traditions. Also I do have an eighth part of Mandan, Dakotan running through my veins but according to law by the Nations in this country it is not enough to declare myself of "native american" heritage. The only acceptance I have received has been from the wiccans( a Euro origined religion) or the wanna be's or from the "exploiters". I first learned of Indian spiritual practice from my Uncle who was a quarter Mandan and by the laws of at least one nation in this country is considered legally of Indian heritage. In effect an insider. Are my beliefs less valid or are they just plain offensive to people of full blood? I should hope not. At any rate what can be done about it? In fact nothing but to make meaningless declarations that cannot be enforced. If they were then who would the oppressors be? If I had my way I would turn over property rights and/or profits from land sales to the indiginous people of this land. But I can't. Just like I can no longer claim identity with my European relatives. Or should I be able to go to Ireland or Norway and claim land? That to is a ludicris proposition. For my Euro ancestors I am sorry they came to be the oppressors of those first here and from my Mandan side I'm still pissed. But from a whole person I can only say I'm removed from all of my ancestors actions. They are not me and I am not them.

How is this issue to be resolved? Who is a proper judge? In my mind and heart it is the Creator, the Great Spirit and the Spirits of this land that are the final and most important judges. To the authors of the Declaration and to the respondants may the Great Spirit be with us all in our missions and may we be able to live with the results.

Albert Curtis "native american"

From: Paula JohnStone Mepeshu@hotmail.com
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2000
Subject: concerning the Declaration of War against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality
Permission: is given to print this

Holding back information from others is a source of Power, over others. The idea that Knowledge, Spiritual or otherwise, can be stolen or misappropriated is ridiculas. All knowledge belongs to the Creator and originates from the Creator God. The thoughts you think you or a Tribe owns, was gifted to you or the Tribe, by the Creator and can only flow through you, to be given to the People to make them Strong. The Creator loves All His Children and does not hold one Family above another. Even the Dreams we are given can only become manifest when we bring them, or birth them into being. To do this they have to be shared and given life.

Keeping Spiritual Teachings secret is usually caused by Ego, as one person thinks they are more deserving of possessing knowledge than others. This has little to do with Love or the Making of a People Strong. To keep Positions of Power, People try to keep things secret or with-hold information, thus ensuring their position or seat of power. You see, they are depending on stored up power, which eventually runs dry. Most People now have become specialists, with only a specialized amount of knowledge. When that knowledge is shard fully, these specialists know they will run out of knowledge, so when that happens, they will have nothing left to share and they know they could be replaced by someone that can share more. They know that they may loose their position of power and some of these people have built their personal empires over many generations, investing a lot of time gathering their knowledge, in their area of expertise. So they bring up rules of conduct(that they or a group of like minded individuals made up or pass on) that keep a tight control over the flow of Knowledge.

When one loves and follows the Creator, they know that He is the Source of All Knowledge and He wants All His Children Strong and Powerful. He will tell you everything and anything and holds nothing back. Ask anything and He will answer. There are no secrets in the World of the Creator! His knowledge never dries up or stops flowing. When He gives you knowledge, it is so you will share it with everyone. The more you share the more He gives! This is a Natural Law, which was followed by All Native People of Earth.

When you have need of more knowledge and understanding, lay out your Tobacco, for that Tobacco is the Key Spirit, that can unlock the doors to all of the Creator's Knowledge. All you have to do is humble yourself to God, and He will answer all your Prayers. Learn to live in Beauty, in Love, and in Harmony with the Natural World, and you will know, the you, the Creator meant you to be. The Creator is Perfect. A Perfect Being can only make perfect beings. You were made to be perfect to fullfil your purpose and were given gifts nessesary to accomplish whatever task the Creator assigned you. Once you except exactly who you are, you come into your inheritance, as a Child of God. At this time many want to emmulate a fantasy or someone else, instead of exploring who they are. Many want to please other People instead of just focusing on pleasing the Creator. Learn how to please God and recieve your real Power, which can only be given to you by the Great Spirit. Walk Sacred in every moment of the day and you will find the guide posts along the Way.

Everyone has the opportunity to bring strength and greater understanding to others. You have the personal power to help in healing the Tribes you belong too. You can teach others to increase their thinking of themselves and their small and private worlds...to bring healing to the greater world, or body of Oneness. In doing this you can all, influence others to heal the Earth, and each other. Every one of you holds a lot of power! Use it wisely.

For the Future and the Restoration of Heaven on Earth,
Lightening Woman

From: Tate0617@aol.com [mailto:Tate0617@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 10:23 AM

You have my permission to post this article.

This letter is to all the indigenous people who jealously guard their spirituality and beliefs. Knowledge of Spirit or beliefs is not to be owned or jealously guarded by any one culture. Only when the cup of knowledge is emptied can it be refilled. No one person or society has a "COPYRIGHT" on the Creator.

By choosing to criticize our brother or sister because they honor the Great Spirit make us no better than our persecutors. If humankind is trying to find their way back to "True Spirituality" then what right do we have to deny them any path they choose upon their journey? If they are seeking the path your are on, what right do you have to say it belongs to you exclusively? It should be an honor to you that they chose your path, and not an insult. Spirit belongs to no one individual exclusively. To deny anyone who is actively seeking The Great Spirit is to become one with, and alike your persecutors… If we are to heal, and come back in to the sacred circle how can we possibly do this when prejudices for our brother still run rapid? Yes, a great injustice has been done to our Native Americans, and Black Americans. I also want to note that injustice was done to the White's held in bondage in our mother England, and also the Egyptians slaves etc. We need to stop the bickering "my God is better than your God" or to give up the idea that you own the rights to an exclusive way of worship. No one owns the Great Spirit, and you should be honored that someone chose to walk upon your path in search of Spirit.

We need to lick our wounds and go fourth to learn from our past mistakes so that we do not repeat them. This planet is so much older than is documented. Great civilizations have come and gone. Yet humankind still has not learned the lesson of loving his brother or sister. Like the patient teacher, Mother Earth teaches her lessons over, and over…Ask you're self why does she always have to begin over? Scientists now know that she has flipped on her axis many times before. Yes, she keeps beginning over, and over again to give humankind one more chance to get it right. I pray that in this millennium we finally get it right.

To all people the Red, Black, White, and Yellow we must learn to love, and honor each other, if we are to come back within the sacred circle. When we have done so the healing of our Mother Earth, and Humanity can begin. Spirit is within all of us, which means we are all one, and the same.

SCARLET 5080@AOL.COM

From: Burbank, Catherine F [mailto:BurbankC@osc.army.mil]
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000

You have my permission to post this response.

All I can say as a non-Native person is that I would be honored to be taught and learn of the spiritual paths and practices of any and all peoples. I do not think anyone has a corner on "ultimate truth" and we can all learn and benefit from sharing with one another. I would never mean disrespect by incorporating some aspect of a teaching into my spiritual quest but I can understand how Native Peoples might consider this another theft of their identity. There is no justification for the anguish and evilness brought upon the Native Peoples by the white people and at the same time, we can only hope to move forward by a spirit of love and acceptance. Sharing spiritual understandings and practices can be a means to that end.

Cathy Burbank
Feel free to contact me
cathy_burbank@hotmail.com

From: Tim Buckley slater@htc.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000

Feel free to print this please

Since childhood I have had visions and prayed to the sky with thunder sticks, this I have done since a child, without instruction from any human source. At 26 I still have visions and have made friends with with some hawks and a white crow that comes to me on occasion. I do admit that I do use Indian wisdom for healing but I do not think that I have stolen anything from your religion, being that it found me at a young age. I understand your struggle, Ive seen the wars and the war that is now going on, but please do not keep your wisdom of healing to yourselves. Isnt the purpose of healing for the whole not just a group. I am not a warrior but a healer so I can only join your war as a healer.

Tim Buckley

From: Carnot Posey Bed and Breakfast [mailto:carnotposey@telepak.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000

Being part Indian living away from the culture I have spent most of life studing Native America cultures, in an effort to know who and what I am. Being not completely European and not completely native I have come to know truly what an orphan feels like. This "War Against Exploiters Of Lokota Spirituality" causes me even further injury. For the last four years I have writen a book on my journey and expressed it in fiction. The book's title is "The Second Coming Of Age" and can be ordered on line, or read for free on line at, "iUniverse.com"

Curtiss De Vedrine
Author "The Second Coming Of Age"
"Apostle Walk"
"Messiah Crossing"

My life is dedicated to bridging this devide and it would mean a great deal to me if you read my work and and offer your true feelings.

From: J Kory jkory@hotmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000

I see this war was declared years ago, many have written to support it, others to plead against it, to hell with that, I accept.....I will do battle with you. If you want to fight one on one I will count coup on you. If you want to fight me as a group, I will defeat some, and I will die happy, for it will be a good fight. The only victories were when the peoples united, but that wasn't possible when they had been killing each other for thousands of years was it. The people can not win alone. The Europeans were a fire on the plains, pushed by a strong wind. They ate everything in their path like the locust. Many modern Europeans are finding that the "Big Corporations" are the fire on the prairies today, and are looking for relief. I will read the Lakota Oyate web site to find how this declaration came to be; but in the end I will not care, I accept your challenge. Come, but be prepared for war, or shut up and lets make war together!

jkory@hotmail.com

z`Post it

From: Cssteve1@aol.com Cssteve1@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000

It saddens my hart to see all the anger around this and at the same I can understand some of it. As a man that received a healing in the first Inipi ceremony that I was in I know what great gifts can be received through these ways. Because some will abuse anything that dose not mean that all will do so. He who teaches love and unity is of the one. He who teaches hatred and separatism is of the other.

YES YOU CAN POST THIS

Steve Harold

From: Carnot Posey Bed and Breakfast carnotposey@telepak.net
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000

I wrote a book that deals with this issue, "The Second Coming Of Age" by Curtiss De Vedrine. It can be found online at (bn.com)

yes this may be published.

From: rodney a. biagioni rmanylodges@gallatinriver.net
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000

You may print these words.

I am not Native American by blood, and I am not a wanabe, a Shaman, nor do exploit the Lakota Ways or Religion for material needs. I can not change my skin, nor can I choose what people I come from. I have the utmost respect for your people and your beliefs. I do feel hurt that so much anger and hate is aimed at me by the Native American People. I have been invited to Pipe cerimonies by the Spiritual Leaders of the Peoria Native Americans here in the Illinois. I have followed the teachings and philosophys for several years. I am very greatful for the people for teaching me the red path, and would not know where I would be today if they had felt as you do. I have many Native American Brothers whom I have danced with. I personaly feel that this entire country needs to be taught the path if it is going to survive the clensing that is to come. How can you hate, and still find the red path? If you are declaring war against me because you know the truth and I want to learn it, then I surrender.

I have heard so much anger and hate because of what my ancesters have done to you as a people. I am not my ancesters. I have done nothing to you. I do not keep you trapped where you are. I have heard that all white people are the same. Don't class me. I don't class you. You do not know my heart. It seems that some Native Americans are using a race of People to blame. They need something to justify their hate. Hate me if you wish, but I do not hate you. Hate is a poison that will eat your heart away. In stead of the point of a knife, I offer you an open hand.

If you wish to isolate yourself from the rest of the world, you will be missed. I do not think the Great Spirt wishes to be as alone as you do. If he did, He would never have touched my heart as He has. At the Great Medicine Wheel in the mountains, where all tribes have come together since the beginging of time, He touched my heart. If He only belongs to you, then He must be blind to the color of my skin. It is ashamed you are not. If you wish to ride alone, I can not make you come along. I feel as D. Thundercrow feels, let us declair Peace. I will ride with him.

My name is R Manylodges and it is not a sudo Native American fake name. It was given to me because of the many lodges I have used as shelter when I have been in the wildernes seeking my Spirit Guide.

Elders, liston to your own teaching, there are so many who come to you for guidence as would a child. Wanting to find the path, but needing your guiding hand. Please don't let hate turn these children away.


From: GlenGuest GlenGuest@email.msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000

You have my extreme permision to post this on your web page.

Has Wakan Tanka not created this land? These people? This earth that is our mother? Remember the colors of the sacred four directions? BLACK for BLACK MEN. WHITE for WHITE men. YELLOW for YELLOW men. AND RED FOR THE FULL BLOODED INDIAN.

We forget ourselves sometimes. Mitakuyea Oyasin? Have you forgoten that? We are ALL RELATED? So we must keep the culture pure and alive and SHAREABLE. So we must share all that we know. To truly steal the culture you must take it away. Hide in the depest and darkest caves of the soul. Do we not bring it to the light of man to share?

If you truly wish to call a war. Then I challenge to go to war for the Creator. Teach all the two leggeds you can to walk upon the red road. To not degrade our herritage. Also if you want to be a spirit warrior as you all seem to be trying. Then you must seek the truth through him. And I am pretty sure that he would want as many upon the red road as possible.

Bring together the people of this earth and make them family. Stop the hatred on both sides and make that family one for the creator and the sacred six.

With true love,
Isaac

From: prairiehawk prairiehawk@email.msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000

Please feel free to post this.

I am a white man, just to get that up front and in the open. I disagree with anyone who would sell any object and in so doing falsely attribute religious power to it. I would pity anyone who would buy something so misrepresented. A physical object is only that -- a physical object. It is our ATTITUDE toward the object, or our use of it in a ritual context, that may give it religious significance to us at that time and place.

As a Christian, the cross has special meaning for me, being a symbol of the manner in which Jesus was executed. However, it is likely that thousands of ordinary men were executed in exactly the same way. Is every cross a sacred object? Of course not! Only those specific "crosses" that I choose to view or use in a ritual manner are sacred.

If I were to complain that the forked tree of the Sundance is insulting to me because it looks like a cross -- would you stop the Sundance and take down the tree? Of course not. You would consider me out of line for my attempt to interfere in your personal worship experience -- and you would be correct.

Likewise, if I choose to ritually use an object which to you resembles a dream-catcher -- you are equally out of line. The manner in which I choose to use such an object is my own business.

I suggest the authors need to "practice what they preach" -- tolerance and respect for the beliefs of others.

From: Adurablegiant@aol.com Adurablegiant@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000

remember...spiritual laws cannot be broken without consequences. the ones who blaspheme Wakan Tanka and abuse sacred rites WILL pay the price. i pity them. the prideful and arrogant will be humiliated and i shiver at the thought of the horrible pain and separation from Great Spirit they must eventually experience. we should pray for their healing. i am no better than them. we are all imperfect. who am i to judge? let us all humble our pitiful selves....walk in a sacred manner....enter the Inipi 2 or 3 times a day....for as long as it takes for us to have our hearts in the right place. i have learned that i become what i judge. so, i really try very hard not to do it.

let us remember to stay in our integrity and that it is our job to serve the Creator in all that we do. mitakuye oyasin. dchannes1@hotmail.com

From: karl merklein bigsoup@webtv.net
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000

Foreigners came to this land, with one hand they took all including life while carrying the good book in their other hand. Though they all dream of world peace, this peace can only be won by the terms of their own particular belief system. Naturally, as a result, conflict is the reward found at the end of any wrong path.

Many more seasons and generations may pass before the great plan is revealed. Truth like water moves toward its source eventually as seekers of truth migrate spiritually towards the Native American cultures. Suppose, that the will of Wakan Tanka is not to conquer by hostility and surely not to become absorbed by false prophets from warring nations, but to become the axis of truth and wisdom.

If there is a great melting pot, the Native American stirs the soup.

Please feel free to post this comment



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