No Fear-Native American Spirituality and Thoughts-A Tribute

You are never alone.
If you feel this way
It is only that you
Have closed the door today

Your own special ones
Are always quite near
To guide you and keep you
So walke without fear

There are other on call
Those you knew when
They were in physical form
Ask them to visit now and then

Even more important
Then those noted above
Is the Circle of Life
With all of it's Love

Grandfather Sun, Grandmother Moon
Spirit Keepers, Mother Earth
Andd all of the brothers
To whom she gives birth

Cyrstals, soil, plain rocks,
All of our plant friends
For leggeds, wigged ones,
Insects without end

No leddeds, water dwellers;
Water, clouds, stars too,
All are of One Spirit
And all are one with you

All talk to you too;
But do you hear?
You can if you just
Open your inner ear

Many spirit firends
Who are often nearby
Can be clearly seen when
You open your inner eye

Even in the city
You can walk with Spirit
Noise and bustle
Are really no deterrent

See in lawn grass
Patterns of life and
Light shimmer on a leaf
What a beautiful sight grand

Feel a bud open
And then grow old
Grandmother Moon's still
And wonder to behold

Become one with a squirrel
And with birds on the fly
Stand still, look up
Float with coulds in the sky

When your main attention
Is on the lesson today
Or solving a problem
Or all those bills to pay

Let a part of yourself
Be free to roam
The Circle of Spirit of Live and Love
It will be impossible to feel alone


Authors Notes: A gift for all from Spirit ~ Star Spider Dancing

 

Explanation of Native American Spirituality

"The Indian loved to worship. From birth to death, he revered his surroundings. He considered himself born in the luxurious lap of Mother Earth, and no place was to him humble. There was nothing between him and the Big Holy (Wakan Tanka). The contact was immediate and personal, and the blessings of Wakan Tanka flowed over the Indian like rain showered from the sky. Wakan Tanka was not aloof, apart, and ever seeking to quell evil forces. He did not punish the animals and the birds, and likewise, he did not punish man. He was not a punishing god. For there was never a question as to the supremacy of an evil power over and above the power of Good. There was but one ruling power, and that was Good."

-Chief Luther Standing Bear -
Teton Sioux, Born 1868

 

Elder's Meditation of the Day April 1

Elder's Meditation of the Day April 1
"People think other things are more important than prayer, but they are mistaken."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW
An Elder once said the most important thing you can do in the course of a day is to pray. If we get up late or oversleep, which is more important? Rush to work without praying or pray first and then go to work? The Elders say it's more important to pray. If we get angry, should we act on our anger or should we pray first? The Elders say it's more important to pray first. If, during the day, we face indecision, what should we do? PRAY. If, during the day, we become irritated or we experience fear, what should we do first? PRAY. The Warrior who prays first will lead a different life from those who pray last.

Great Spirit, teach me to pray first!

Fasting and Idle No More: A Spark Lit the Fire

As Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence embarked on her 44 day fast, which was really a spiritual journey, she demonstrated her courage to do this for her people and it awakened the spirit of nations. Many immediately began their own actions in support. An online event began on December 12 in support of Chief Theresa Spence. The goal was simple and it spiritual.

Chief Theresa Spence during her 44 day hunger strike.

From the outset, Chief Spence's person spiritual journey had a mission: She wanted the government and crown to respect its duty to consult with First Nations.

We asked people to join the sacrifice by signing up for a day of fasting in solidarity with Chief Spence. We wanted to send out a strong message of support and let the Harper Government know we want our First Nations' rights respected. We also made it clear that fasting was not an obligation to join, but an option.

Before long there were thousands who made the sacrifice and fasted along with her. Elders, youth, men and women all were inspired. The reaction was overwhelming, and over 6,000 people signed up. Many committed to fast for a day; others longer.

The Idle No More peace movement was already a movement, but the actions of Chief Spence brought out the pain and suffering, adding to the insult that the federal government had denied First Nation people once again the "right to free, prior and informed consent."

The peaceful protests began to escalate and unity amongst the people gained strength. On a daily basis people joined each other at a public place, like a shopping mall or on the public streets. The gatherings were ceremonial and it was pure love that drove these protests. Something as simple as a round dance brought the people together, in prayer and hope. After centuries of genocide First Nation people of Canada spoke in one single voice and the slogan "Idle No More" became the main focus.

Each time they gathered, it was uplifting and spiritual. As a Native person I could feel the vibrations resonating across the entire country. More and more people took to the streets and mainstream media finally began reporting. Open discussions on why this sudden surge of protests filled the mainstream media venues.

Treaty rights were being ignored, yes, but the support that began to develop within the First Nations communities brought back a spirituality that has always existed within the hearts of people.

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A spark lit the fire and it suddenly everything makes sense, everything is clearer now.

We have lost so much since the signing of the first treaty agreement with the white nation, and we have suffered because the nation to nation dialogues never really happened as promised.

Our belief system has always been different and the harm that came our way, the removal of children, the residential schools and the herding of our ancestors into tiny pieces of land has reached a boiling point…by repeating the words "enough is enough" over the past few weeks brought the passion and unity to the surface. It made us feel strong enough to stand up, speak out and in the words of the founders of the movement became "Idle No More."

If left unchecked, the changes being implemented by the Harper Government will destroy our culture, land, communities and language bringing about full assimilation into a system that is not our own. With these new laws the environment or Mother Earth will lose her protection.

The Idle No More peace movement was already a movement, but the actions of Chief Spence brought out the pain and suffering, adding to the insult that the federal government had denied First Nation people once again the "right to free, prior and informed consent."

Social networking sites played a vital role within the grass roots and the development of wider network of protests. This is where they educated themselves on the important changes being made. This is where much of the organizing took place to stop the actions of the government, Idle No More began spreading around the world. It has taken on a life of its own.

Non-natives have joined in the fight because much of the changes already in place and the many more to come will impact the entire Turtle Island and that is a cause for great concern. Our waterways are at a high risk for pollution now and with very little protection many communities will sink deeper into poverty. The ecosystem cannot survive if it not protected, life on our Mother Earth will become extinct.

So I applaud everyone who has decided to stand up and speak out. We cannot allow things to continue the way they have been, our future generations need us to remind our governments how important it is to protect environment, lives and the rights of the First Nations.

The fire has been lit and it is up to us to keep it burning for the sake of all my relations.

Claudia Julien served as one of the organizers of this online calendar to support Chief Theresa Spence. She is a member of the Metis - Wabanaki Confederacy and resides in Edmundston, New Brunswick.

This article published in the Spring issue of Whisper n Thunderwww.whispernthunder.org »

Elder's Meditation of the Day March 31

Elder's Meditation of the Day March 31
"The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew the lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to a lack of respect for humans too. So he kept his youth close to its softening influence."
--Luther Standing Bear, OGLALA SIOUX
When we live in nature it's like constantly being in school. We are in an environment that is always teaching. We are constantly being reminded hat there are laws, Natural Laws, which are running the universe. Once we know these laws and we drift from them, we start to live our lives in a different way. Soon we become discontent, selfish, and disrespectful. Then, we get in trouble. If our lives have become this way, it can be reversed by going back to nature to be among our teachers.

Great Spirit, teach men, again, the Natural Laws.

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Happy Easter.

What does it mean to me? I don't know.....

 It's just another day, kids just think it means a day of candy and the Easter Bunny.
 Where did this Easter Bunny come from....