Filed under: war
This war did not spring up here in our land; this war was brought upon us by the children of the Great Father who came to take our land from us without price, and who, in our land do a great many evil things. The Great Father and his children are to blame for this trouble…It has been our will to live here in our country peaceable, and such things as may be for the welfare and good of our people, but the Great Father had filled it with soldiers who think only of our death. Some of our people who have gone from here in order that the may have a change, and others who have gone north to hunt, have been attacked by the soldiers from this direction, and when they have got north they have been attacked by soldiers from the other side, and now when they are willing to come back the soldiers stand between them to keep them from coming home. It seems to me there is a better way than this. When people come to trouble, it is better for both parties to come together without arms and talk it over and find some peaceful way to settle it.- Sinte-Galeshka of the Brule Sioux
Filed under: Questions
When I was a child, kids would ask me to say words in “Indian,” and I was uncomfortable with them noticing that I was different and at the same time upset because I didn’t know any Indian words to tell them.
Has integration, assimilation and annihilation of the native cultures worked? When people think about what has been “done” to the Indians they think of cowboys and soldiers killing Indians over 100 years ago. But they know little of the last 50 years. But less than 50 years ago children were taken from their parents and put into foster care or “Indian school” and subsequently stripped of their identity. After graduation, they are put out into the world feeling lost, knowing that they are missing something but have been pulled so far away that they often cannot find their way home.
So has integration, assimilation and annihilation worked? Integration and assimilation, no. Annihilation of culture and identity, yes. Can this ever be corrected? Probably not. Can we evolve and survive, yes.
Filed under: Questions
Has an empire ever been built without the use of slaves or underpaid laborours? Is is possible to build a powerful, stable nation with democracy, health and autonomy for all?
Filed under: Culture of Life/Death
Stiff and cold, her old bones harden into their final resting position. Her grandaughter pulls the skins up to her chin to keep in the last bit of warmth. Little ones play at her feet and talk to her about the hunting days ahead in the spring. She refuses the best meat and is not questioned, for they all know that when the snow melts they will need the strength to leave her.
Filed under: Analogies/Similes/Metaphors
If you walk your journey without feeling the stones under your feet you will walk into death without ever living. 
Filed under: World History
The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history.” -Hegel (1770-1831)
The Cimmerians to Cathage to Ghengis Kahn to The Conquest of the Desert to The War of Triple Alliance to The Great Calamity to Wounded Knee to the Holoaust to Rowanda to Darfur to…
Filed under: Analogies/Similes/Metaphors
When the wind starts to sting the cheeks and the dog’s coats begin to thicken, winter preparation should be completed. Those that are prepared and have had a profitable, productive summer bundle up, oil their cheeks and go into their tepee with their family.
But those that have spent the summer running the hills and fishing only to satisfy their fleeting appetite, notice the sting too late.
No modern invention have ever replaced the need for preparation and forethought, not even money. Even acquiring money takes preparation, productivity and forethought.
