Native people of north America, have every right to run native ceremonies. Whose tribe they come from may dictate on what type of ceremony it is, and how they may run it. Arvol looking horse wants Sioux people to run lakota ceremonies( 7 different ones total ), sweat lodge, sundance, to name 2 of them. For every tribe in America has a unique way of running, singing, praying, etc.. There are many ways to conduct these 2 ceremonies, and which way is the right way or wrong way?
The US government has made treaties and, promises to a lot of tribes to pacify there own thirst for land and wealth that it might bring them. Too many times we (natives) have agreed to their terms and conditions to save our people. We had no choice, because there was no real solution to all those treaties, we had to say yes.
The government has been our jailer, our warden, our protector... So they could have the land and what wealth it would bring to them. They sent our parents, grand parents to boarding schools, took our language away from us and separated the people from the people. They have been trying to divide us from the very start. We have all heard the term "divide and conquer", have we not. The children, the language, the customs, and our way of life. How can every tribe retain the true nature of spirituality when there are no ones left to let us know if we are doing it the right way? This is what our Great White Father wanted! To divide and conquer, and take away the lines of communication with the people. It has been a military tactic that has served them well.
Now back to what I'm trying to convey... is this, How can one person or tribe, dictate to native peoples on the ceremonies? There are a lot people who are showing, and running ceremonies all over this country, by different tribes and customs. There are many songs that have been recorded and distributed all over the Internet. Pictures taken of ceremonies have been taken and distributed all over the web. The proverbial cat has been let out of bag, so to speak, and the cat won't go back in. These ceremonies are all native peoples and should not be held by just one tribe or people. We all need to come together now more than ever before. This earth is hurting, the people are suffering, and the animals are becoming extinct... We all need to put aside our own differences, and think of all our children, or there won't be a future for anyone or thing.
Back in the day, 1972?, there was the Native freedom of religion act, in which all natives could perform there own religion. The door was opened again by our "Great White Father", who allowed all of us to pray the way needed to. They knew it could cause a division among the peoples of America, or unite them like the Ghost Dance, but wait the Ghost Dance was still outlawed. So there is still a fear with the government that the native peoples will join together and attack the jailers, the warden and the Great White Father, when they said that they come in Peace... I'm not advocating violence, but a peaceful resolution, through prayer, ceremonies and with the melding of the peoples. I am already part of one of those steps, not by choice, but by procreation. You see, I'm not a FBI but rather an mutt, with no one to go back to. I can stand on my own two feet just fine, yet I want to see my own children walk into a ceremony without any prejudice from the FBI. We are becoming less and less of the people(FBI), by way of assimilation and the "melding" of the dominate society. So... what is the next step? I will offer my hand in friendship, and my voice in discussion, and my heart in prayer, for the betterment of all native peoples.
So the question again is this... Who is the one.., or tribe, who makes the decision on how we are to pray and in what way to pray is the Right way?
I myself pray to the Great Spirit for the guidance, so the people might once again live the life of there own choosing. Aho, all my relations... more later..
3 comments:
Bravo!! Thank you for your words of profound wisdom, understanding and insight. Separation, segregation, exclusion and close-mindedness is not the way to healing any people or any nation.
Very well said on behalf of all north American tribes, and very true. I actually understood Arvol to say the same thing as you . . that all native peoples of north America can participate and conduct Lakota ceremonies because they have a deep connection to this land and understand its tradition and ceremony. But what about all the other "non-native" people that now make up north America, who were born and raised here and only know this land as their home. Do you agree with Arvol that they should not participate or run these sacred ceremonies?
no I do not whole heartily agree with Arvol. It is up for discussion on who leads a ceremony, but people should be allowed to participate. The main reason for non- natives not to run ceremonies is that they may not always come with the best intentions. I have seen people come with an ugliness that disrupts the true intent of the ceremony.
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