We are merely a group of Brothers and Sisters connected by a common bond that is comprised of a need to bridge the gap that exists between the older members of our Tribal Nations and the Youth of our People. There is a dire need for focus in this effort as our Cultures stand on the edge of Complete Assimilation into this Empire that occupies OUR HOMELANDS. Some of us are Mothers and Fathers or Uncles and Aunties or just plain 'ole concerned Tribal members who are determined to turn the focus of our Tribe's attention onto the Younger members of our Nations. There seems to be a consistent dismissive attitude towards the children of our Tribes. There are those of us who remember our people's teachings that the most Sacred members of our tribes were and are the children and elders. Together they represent the future and the past of our people. We also recognize that the Women of our people must be protected, being that they are bearers of children and the first teachers a child knows in this life. Not falling into any of these categories means that we must be the conductors of effort and the energy that provides the Tribe with what it needs to not only subsist but to prosper on the Mental, Physical and Spiritual planes of existence. Some of the older Tribal Council members are content to speak in a negative fashion as to how the Youth of our Nations are behaving or what they're not doing right instead of trying to find out what problems plague them and how to circumvent what is sometimes self-destructive behavior. With a minimal effort into empowering the children to become self-determined adults, we now stand at a crossroads as a people. If you were to randomly choose a major developmental dysfunction (for example adolescent suicide, alcoholism, methamphetamine addiction, teenage pregnancy, single parent households, gang activity, drop out rates etc., etc.) our Native children would the lead the pack in percentage per capita yet we only make up 2% of the population of people on the Northern Continent within the confines of the United Snakes & Canada. Sounds like a recipe for disaster right? Couple that with also being the most likely to marry out of the race second only to Japanese Americans and you might start to get the idea that we as Indigenous people and our Cultures are well on their way to becoming extinct. It is with this understanding that some of us had banded together in an effort to retain what little we can as a people and direct energies, efforts, resources and focus back onto the youth of our Indigenous People and bridge the apathetic gap (that now exists) to encourage interaction with Tribal Elders (not to be confused with plain 'ole old people) and our Tribal Spiritual Ceremonies for healing and providing empowerment to our youth. All of Antithesis' members adhere to a code based on the Tribal & Spiritual Principals of:
1. Sobriety (this includes weed, no excuses)
2. Community Involvement & Service
3. Promotion & Implementation Of Respect & Equality For The Women, Children & Elders of Our Tribes
4. Protection of Tribal Sovereignty & Sacred Sites
5. Preservation & Retention Of Our Cultural Practices & Behaviors With An Emphasis On Decolonization
6. Protection Of Our Basic Human Rights To Not Be Physically Harmed By ANYONE!
7. Promotion & Implementation Of Empowerment For The Youth By Encouraging Creative Expression
8. Working In Solidarity With People Outside Of Our Cultures Who Are Also Struggling With Injustice & Oppression
9. To Disband The Accepted Illusion of Borders & The Separation Of Indigenous Peoples From Alaska To Tierra del Fuego & The Outlying Islands Of Our Occupied Homelands
10. Working Towards Creating True Freedom (Not The Illusionary One Provided To Us) By Any Means Necessary!On the Hip Hop end of The Antithesis Movement is our musical backbone 3 Mc's: Freetruth, Prophecy & C-Los. Our music is a reflection of our Culture's Teachings and our Family's Upbringing. It is an effort to reach the Ears, Hearts and Spirits of our Native Youth and extend the comfort and strength that comes with the knowledge that there are Warriors who not only empathize with their daily circumstances but are also fighting to end the many dysfunctions that plague our communities. Believing that everyday is an opportunity to create positive change by peeling back the many disguises that negativity & denial hides behind we are working to complete our first Album titled "The Power Of Purpose".With the belief that once a person gains an understanding as to what their life's purpose is that person shall blossom into the powerful being they were always meant to be. They in turn can empower others who may feel helpless in the face of the tremendous amount of adversity that racism, imposed poverty, classism and assimilative efforts can and do produce, preventing our people from being self-determined and unable to begin to move beyond the grief caused by the Genocide that was committed against our People. It is in this spirit that we present to you our Music and Mindstate that is in direct contrast to or the direct opposite of what our Oppressors had intended for us as a people, in other words we have become the definition of Antithesis.
