We are the true natives to this land. Yet we are the only ones without rights. Still, even now, today we fight for what's rightfully ours. White men till today, have yet to honor the treaties set forth many years ago....
The Lord's Prayer
u-gv-wi-yu-hi u-da-do-li-s-ta-nv-i
Our Father, living in heaven
o-gi-do-da ga-lv-la-di he-hi
Your name shall be glorified.
ga-lv-quo-di-yu ge-se-s-di de-tsa-do-v-i
Let it be known you are God.
tsa-gv-wi-yu-hi ge-sv wi-ga-na-nu-go-i
Here on Earth your will shall be
a-ni e-lo-hi wi-ni-ga-li-s-da ha-da-nv-te-s-gv-i
Done the same as in Heaven.
na-s-gi-ya ga-lv-la-di tsi-ni-ga-li-s-di-ha
Everyday, give us our daily needs.
ni-da-do-da-qui-sv o-ga-li-s-da-yv-di s-gi-v-si go-hi i-ga
Forgive us what we owe, as we forgive others of what they have done.
di-ge-s-gi-v-si-quo-no de-s-gi-du-gv-i na-s-gi-ya tsi-di-ga-yo-tsi-ne-ho tso-tsi-du-gi
Don't lead us to trials,
a-le tle-s-di u-da-go-li-ye-di-yi ge-sv wi-di-s-gi-ya-ti-nv-s-ta-nv-giBut rescue us from evil.
s-gi-yu-da-le-s-ge-s-di-quo-s-gi-ni u-yo ge-sv-i
You are God,
tsa-tse-li-ga-ye-no tsa-gv-wi-yu-hi ge-sv-i
The strength,
a-le tsa-li-ni-gi-di-yi ge-sv-i
And forever salvation.
a-le e-tsa-lv-quo-di-yu ge-sv ni-go-hi-lv-i
Amen
e*m.
As I walk the trail of life
in the fear of the wind and rain,
grant O Great Spirit
that I may always walk
like a Woman
I am a Daughter , A Mother, A MeMa and a Friend.
I am a Teacher, a Student, and a Woman.
I am many things,
Yet beneath all,
I am me, I am a Witch.
I follow the Old Tradition, I follow the Path,
I follow the Ways of the Wise Ones.
I seek to know both God and Goddess,
I seek to know myself.
I am me, I am a Witch.
Though I may only dress up,
For eight sabbats a year, And thirteen esbats,
I am always a Witch.
I always dress in black and leave my hair wild and free,
For I am still me, a Witch.
I do not worship Satan,
Nor have I even met him,
Yet many see me as evil,
And my magick and beliefs as a sin.
I do what comes natural,
What God have taught me,
And although it does not conform,
I am still me, a Witch.
God has shown me life, His Wife The Goddess shows me beauty through her Love for all..
Earth, and Air, Fire, and Water, Teach me what is right.
And Old Spirit's in their mystic ways,Teaches me about myself.
There is no such thing as a single "Native American Spirituality". There are hundreds of tribes, each with their own spirituality.
Native beliefs are TRIBAL-SPECIFIC. There is NO "generic Indian" form of spirituality. There are as many differences from tribe-to-tribe as there are between Hinduism and the Church of England. No one would think of teaching those two as the same and calling them "Indo-European," yet many of these FRAUDULENT operators teach a thrown together mishmash of bits and pieces of different beliefs.
New Age spirituality isn't the same.
That I am always myself, I am me, I am a Witch.
People who deliberately seek such power will not find it. People who pay for medicine, who believe they can buy the Spirit, are fools. ... We are hungry for doorways to the Spirit, to learn that everything and every day is sacred... Spiritual leaders need to encourage all to deepen their prayers and spiritual path... because we non-Natives must first learn to shift our thinking from 'I' to 'we', a concept built into many Native languages."
"Without substantial contact with the culture and fluency in its language, what you feel attracted to is a =stereotype= of that culture--based on books, films, etc. --not the culture itself. In other words, you can't be drawn to something about which you know almost nothing, especially if what you know is inaccurate or incomplete...
Unless or until you are ready to devote many years to learning the language and, more importantly, gaining the acceptance of the bearers of that culture so that you can share in their =daily lives=, their spiritual practices can have no relevance for you. A religion isn't in the masks, rattles, songs and drumming, but in the =hearts and minds of the people who use them=. These hearts and minds cannot be understood by dabblers, however well meaning."
The exploitation issue is a substantial one among many Indian adults today, where the idea of "cultural patrimony" as a kind of property (since everyone but Indians seems able to make huge amounts of money off it) is beginning to be much discussed in Indian country. See, it's not just distortions of our history, culture, religion that are worrisome. It's how come everyone except Indian people seems to be able to cash in on it bigtime?
"Do the names Sun Bear, Wallace Black Elk, Oh Shinna Fast Wolf, Brook Medicine Eagle, Harley Reagan Swiftdeer, Buck Ghost Horse, or Mary Thunder mean anything to you? Well, they should, because these pseudo-medicine quacks are passing themselves off as Native American spiritual leaders. Native American spirituality has become a fad to many New Age non-Indians and their naivete is being exploited to the limit by plastic medicine people, much to the dismay of traditional elders. Practicing Native American spirituality out of the context of Native American culture diminishes the integrity of both.
Many of these people are actually Indians who are spreading false rituals for profit. The rest are white men and women who claim to be Indian. For the most part they have changed their names to Indian names to lend authenticity to their flock.
One way to tell if these people are legitimate is whether they go into the Native American communities they claim to be from and perform the same rituals."
"...we must recognize that we are not entitled to the rites and traditions of cultures that did not birth us. We are not entitled to take something from someone else, whitewash it and proclaim it the same as or better than the original. When we do that, we slap that community in the face, because we say to them, "This used to be yours. It used to define you. Now it is ours." That community, especially minority communities already struggling to maintain a unique identity, becomes that much closer to being absorbed by the dominant culture."
Isn't it obvious from the question? Because it's not Native American Spirituality. It's something completely new and different. Call it something else. Call all the bits of pieces something else so that it's clear it's a new thing, and no marketing capitalizes on people's intrigue with Native Americans. Let the new creation survive on its own strength without making false impressions with talk or use or images of medicine wheels, totems, pipes, feather headdresses, sweatlodges, Great Spirit, or the rest of it. Burning herbs to consecrate a space is a part of western as well as native spirituality - learn about our own historical uses, and don't call it smudging. Much is also projection of our own concepts - for instance, the New Age concept of a medicine wheel is really a "dressed up" magical circle. Totems have more to do with Euro notions of familiars. Sweatlodges are not just dressed up saunas. A Vision Quest is something like a Bar Mitzvah - it is a rite of passage for 12 to 14 year old boys. Don't take it out of context. (Do middle aged folks generally get Bar Mitzvahs?)
"Indian beliefs say that each nation got their own message just for them."
Be aware, too, when messing with things you don't understand, that consequences can be consequential. There are reasons that things are in their original contexts, and messing with the balance by decontextualizing can be dangerous - but that's a different problem.
"Read More On This Here"
As you awaken, greet the day with thanks to our Higher Power, for another try.
Always walk with pride and your head held high.
Be proud of your path.
Because it was your choice, to walk that path, before you were born.
To be compassionate, towards others, through-out your day.
Smile, it just may be something needed, to brighten someone else’s day.
Remember to let go of those things you were never meant to solve.
If there’s a problem or issue at hand, it may not be your turn to take the stand.
Let the higher power be your guide.
Look to your heart and soul, the answers are always inside.
Pay your debts and leave nothing to chance.
For tomorrow may not come to end that day’s task.
Love thy neighbor with all your heart.
For we are all family and each of us play’s a part.
As you close your eyes as your day comes to an end, think back, had you made a new friend?
Did you lend a helping hand to the weak and offer care for the poor.
Did you visit the old couple living next door?
Had you said “I Love Youâ€, to your children today, or to our Higher Power for allowing you another day?
Never take life for granted. It’s too precious a gift.
May your world be blessed by God & Goddess
May the Higher Power be your guide in your heart and daily tasks.
May the Great Spirits hold you close to their side.
Keeping evil away. Never allowing pride to brake your stride.
TerikiaJazhara copyright 2006/2009
I would love to meet the Higher Power , the one responsible for all creation. I would love to ask what gave Him the complete idea to create what He has. Then I would love to meet, "Our Great Spirits Of Our Nation".
" Whoopie Goldberg", She is such an inspiration to many women. She light's up a room when she walks in and makes me laugh till no end. She has great moral values and a kind heart.
And then there's "Sinbad". I love this guy. I remember him saying once , "If I can't say it infront of my Grandmother,"" Then I don't say it at all". "Comedians don't have to cuss to be funny". He is as active a Whoopie with children and their causes. I look up to them both. Great roll models .
Amazing How So Many Have The Same Rules. Love The Higher Power With All Your Heart & Be Kind To All. Never Harm Anyone. Be Honest & Loving. Not Bad Rules To Live By If You Ask Me....
True Spirituality is never ever sold for a price. Neither are the ritual pieces used in ceromonies. They are handed down or gifted to one through ancestors.
For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of the Winding Water. They stole a great many horses from us and we could not get them back because we were Indians. The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some white men branded our young cattle so they could claim them. We had no friends who would plead our cause before the law councils. It seemed to me that some of the white men in Wallowa were doing these things on purpose to get up a war. They knew we were not strong enough to fight them. I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed. We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white men would not let us alone. We could have avenged our wrongs many times, but we did not. Whenever the Government has asked for help against other Indians we have never refused. When the white men were few and we were strong we could have killed them off, but the Nez Perce wishes to live at peace.
On account of the treaty made by the other bands of the Nez Perce the white man claimed my lands. We were troubled with white men crowding over the line. Some of them were good men, and we lived on peaceful terms with them, but they were not all good. Nearly every year the agent came over from Lapwai and ordered us to the reservation. We always replied that we were satisfied to live in Wallowa. We were careful to refuse the presents or annuities which he offered.
Through all the years since the white man came to Wallowa we have been threatened and taunted by them and the treaty Nez Perce. They have given us no rest. We have had a few good friends among the white men, and they have always advised my people to bear these taunts without fighting. Our young men are quick tempered and I have had great trouble in keeping them from doing rash things. I have carried a heavy load on my back ever since I was a boy. I learned then that we were but few while the white men were many, and that we could not hold our own with them. We were like deer. They were like grizzly bears. We had a small country. Their country was large. We were contented to let things remain as the Great Spirit Chief made them. They were not; and would change the mountains and rivers if they did not suit them.Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Any and All.
As long as I can feel it, I love it...My favorite is Country though.
The Mummy, Scorpian King, (All) Harry Potter, The Craft, End Of Days, (All) Prophecy , Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins , (Both) Miracle On 34th Street, Dances With Wolves, Passion Of The Christ, Dragon Heart, Brave Heart, Armageddon, Con-Air, Six Sense
HEX, Charmed, The Nanny, The Golden Girls, The Three Stoogies, Bewitched,
The Bible, Flowers In The Attic series, Clan Of The Cave Bears series,
Christ, Our Men In Uniform, Rescuers Of 911, My Children, My Husband , My Grandchildren & last but not least my friends who stand behind me , even when times have been rough.
Little Wolf (1820?-1904), Native American chief of northern Cheyenne.
Little Wolf, who led a military society called the Bowstring Soldiers, was a leader in the Northern Plains wars. He and Sioux and Arapaho warriors fought together in the War for the Bozeman Trail, which was also known as Red Cloud's War, from 1866 to 1868. Little Wolf was a signer of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868, but in 1876 he was a chief in the War for the Black Hills under Sitting Bull's leadership. With Dull Knife, another Cheyenne chief, he led his people out of their reservation in 1878. Followers of Dull Knife split from those of Little Wolf in Nebraska, and Little Wolf's band surrendered to the United States Army on March 25, 1879. They remained in Montana until they were finally reunited with Dull Knife and their remaining people on a reservation on the Tongue and Rosebud rivers in Montana.
The Native Americans call animals the children of the earth
The wolf they call big mouth, Legend says the wolf sent spirit messages to the world beyond.
Author unknown
The White Man must
Treat the beasts of this
land as his brother.
What is man without
the beasts? if all the
beasts were gone, man
would die from a great
loneliness of spirit. For
whatever happens to
the beasts, also happens
to the man.
Chief Seattle of the Puget Sound Suwamish Tribe (1855)
We yield to our neighbors,
even our animal neighbors
the same right as ourselves,
to Inhabit this land.
Sitting Bull