Native American Wisdom

Bull Tongue of Apsaroke (Crow) Tribe

From Soul Awakening…

Native American wisdom is deep, profound, simple and true. It has passed the test of time. The wisdom of their elders is very pertinent to the times in which we are living. Had the rest of the world lived according to their philosophy as ‘Earth Keepers’ we would not be facing the dreadful problems as a planet that now assails us in the ways of pollution, climate change and plundering of resources.

There are countless tribes each with their own language, sacred stories, customs and ceremonies.

However, they all share the wisdom of being aware of the Cosmic connection to not only each other but the very earth and skies, trees and rocks, animals and plants.

 

They teach “walk lightly upon the Earth and live in balance and harmony.”

 

Read the words of that great holy man, Black Elk:

“The first peace, which is the most important,
is that which comes within the souls of people
when they realize their relationship, their oneness,
with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize that at the center of the universe
dwells the Great Spirit,
and that this center is really everywhere,
it is within each of us.”
~ Black Elk – Oglala Sioux ~

 

They are profoundly spiritual people who have suffered greatly. Their words echo deep in my bones. I hear truth, beauty, and meaning in the words from their holy men and elders.

 

“Out of the Indian approach to life
there comes a great freedom –
an intense and absorbing love for nature;
a respect for life;
enriching faith in a Supreme Power;
and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity,
and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.”
~ Luther Standing Bear, Oglala ~

 

“From Wakan-Tanka, the Great Mystery,
comes all power.
It is from Wakan-Tanka that the holy man has wisdom
and the power to heal and make holy charms.
Man knows that all healing plants
are given by Wakan-Tanka;
therefore they are holy.
So too is the buffalo holy,
because it is the gift of Wakan-Tanka.”
~ Flat-Iron (Maza Blaska) Oglala Sioux Chief ~

 

They lived and breathed their spirituality. And so do not forget.

 

It has become quite a ‘fashion’ to try to take on Native American teachings. We do this proud nation a disservice to try to emulate them in a shallow way. They know (and they always knew) their kindredship with the Earth. We have tried to box them in, silence their words and ‘educate’ them, lest they cause us to shrivel up in shame!

Those of us who recognize these things can only move forward in love. Ask forgiveness from our Native American brothers and sisters who have managed to retain ancient wisdom. Their God, Wankan Tanka is our God too. How can it be other?

We live in very turbulent days and we owe them such a debt of gratitude for their forbearance. Surely now the time has come when we can share and meet in mutual acceptance and thanksgiving that they have kept ancient ceremonies and respect for elders and ancestors alive. We can learn so much about honor from these people.

 

 

I believe their voice will now be heard by all nations.
It is the time for freedom from mental slavery
and return to our birthright as good people
reclaim our kindred ship to each other,
the kingdoms and give due respect
and walk in balance and harmony
with the entire natural world.

 

Native American tribes denied easy access to polls

via 2012: What’s the real truth…

Native Americans Philip Beaumont (L) and John Pretty on Top, of the crow tribe from Montana, gaze out at the museums surrounding the Mall, September 12. (Reuters/Mike Theiler)

A federal judge has shot down a request from Native Americans who asked voting officials to set up satellite polling places in rural reservations during the week leading up to Election Day.

US District Judge Richard Cebull rued on Tuesday that the government is not required to operate and manage temporary voting offices in the sparsely populated parts of Montana inhabited by the Crow, Northern Cheyenne and Fort Belknap tribes, despite complaints from locals that participating in the presidential election warranted costly and burdensome efforts.

Fifteen Native American plaintiffs insisted to the court that they were being discriminated against because they did not have fair and equal access to ballots, needing in some cases to travel 120 miles round-trip in order to vote at sanctioned polling places. Judge Cebull, however, implied that their case was not strong enough to warrant emergency action.

“I’m not arguing that the opportunity is equal for Indian persons as it is to non-Indians,” Cebull said. “Because of poverty, because of the lack of vehicles and that sort of thing, it’s probably not equal. However, you have to prove … that they can’t elect candidates of their choice.”

The US Justice Department had come to the aid of the natives, even submitting court filings in support of their case that included a deposition from a University of Wyoming geography professor who argued there was an unfair disadvantage when it came down to who could vote and how easily, the Associated Press reports.

“The practical reality is that Indian voters in Big Horn, Blaine and Rosebud counties do not have the same opportunity as white voters,” Department of Justice attorneys wrote in their filings.

Even if that is the case, however, Judge Cebull said geographical and fiscal impairments, no matter how evident, were not extreme enough for the government to set up satellite polling on reservations in the week before the election.

County officials add to the AP that they did not think there was neither enough time nor workers to make such an effort a reality anyway.

“It logistically can’t be done in this time crunch,” Chinook County attorney Sara Frankenstein adds.

Tom Rodgers, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe, tells the AP, “It’s a more subtle, soft discrimination.”

Edward Moore, Jr., a plaintiff in the lawsuit and a tribal council member at Fort Belknap adds that the troubles natives must encounter to access polling places are “a big burden,” and that he think many people “may not vote at all” as a result.