360: Elders' Meditation: June 13, 2008

"Today, what is important for us is to realize that the old sacred ways are correct, and that if we do not follow them we will be lost and without a guide."
--Thomas Yellowtail, CROW
A long time ago the Creator gave to the people all the knowledge on how we should live and conduct ourselves. The Native people have been influenced be outside "tribes" who don't know about the Sacred Way. Our Elders still know about the old sacred ways. We need to consult and talk to them before it's too late. Every family needs to seriously evaluate whether they are living according to the old knowledge. If we are faultfinding, putting one another down, being selfish, being violent to our spouses or children, if we are cheating and being dishonest, then we are not living the old Sacred Way. The old way is about respect, love, forgiveness and sharing.

Great Spirt, today, teach me the old Sacred Way you taught my ancestors.

360: Tobacco Offerings: July 27, 2007

This is why, when I go out to the land, I put down tobacco. I know my
prayers are heard, for all involved. For the land, the Spirits of the land,
the crops (pumpkins & gourds), for the one who care takes that land & crops, and for myself.

I believe putting down tobacco (and cedar) really does make a difference,
and the love & caring (even though not evident) it is there and on a soul's
level can be felt...and even the most wee bit of love can be felt....
Whether we choose to allow that wee bit of love into our hearts (to mend our
bruised ego and comfort us) is something else.

When kind words and loving actions fail....I rely on the tobacco and Creator
to let my heart be revealed. For that is all that remains to be done.

Elder's Meditation of the Day - July 29

"When we want to talk to Him we burn tobacco and it takes our prayers all
the way up to the Sky World."
--Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA


Our herbs and our medicines are all here for the purpose of serving.
Offering tobacco as a gift to the Creator is proper use of our medicine. In
this way, we are able to communicate from the physical world to the
spiritual world. Sometimes we have a hard time coming up with the right
words when we pray especially if we are really mixed up. The tobacco and the
sage will take the intent to the spirit world. The meaning behind the words
are more important the the words. The Creator always knows our intent. The
tobacco helps us get to the Sky World.


Today, my Creator, I offer You this tobacco. I want to thank You for being
in my life. I want to tell You how much I appreciate the honor of being here
to serve You. Tell me this morning what I can do for You. You are the reason
I live.

360: Wondering Aloud: July 26, 2007

I was sitting in a "traditional" Inipi (sweat lodge) last Saturday, once again wondering what happened to the offerings of tobacco robes and ties we once made when we sat before those Tonka Oyate and the Tunkashilas. I mean I make my 14, 25, 50+ "Thank-you" ties and hang them above me, but I'm talking about the ones for the lodge itself. Then I got to wondering about the lack of Canunpa on the altar.....

I remember, back maybe 8-10 years past, when I would sit in lodge and the people would put up the robes and ties as thanksgiving offerings in every lodge that took place as well as having a filled Canunpa on the altar.

I remember my Grandpa Wallace teaching us, that these are offerings to the Spirits to thank them for coming and sitting with us, for hearing and answering our prayers....like that. That the Spirits come in the Initi (lodge) and see the robes & ties and pass through them and around them (dance around them is Grandpa's term), and they are happy with those offerings we made.

That the Canunpa is what takes our prayers to Creator... for as it sits on that altar between the Initi and the Peta (Fire), that those Spirits pass through it, around it...like that and pay attention to the prayers that go into it.

So then, as I think about those things....I wonder what the Spirits think, now that we are neglecting to make those offerings of thanksgiving... Will there come a day, when the Spirits begin to feel neglected and unappreciated? Will there come a day, when the Spirits decide not to come when we call?

I don't know...just wondering aloud.

Mi Takuye Oyacin

360: Mindfullness: A Rant: February 3, 2006

I honestly believe that one of the most important traits for us (as 2 leggeds) to have is MINDFULNESS... So many times I go to ceremony, and I become ashamed of our actions and I wonder "what would the Elders think"? We see, yet we are blind, we hear, yet we are deaf, and we talk, but our actions speak differently.

I was recently at a ceremony where i watched the firekeepers, walk away to chat w/ friends and leave that Peta Wakan (sacred fire) unattended...the stones left uncoverd to become cold, the wood to fall to the side and burn...to heat only the air.

I sat at the fire to hear someone complain that many times the Vegetarians have nothing to eat at the feast... How can this be? Do not they bring food to share, that which is their preference? I am a carnivore...I bring food that I prefer to eat. I do not eat rice, beans, pasta or bread......but I do not impose my dietary standards on any other person who brings food to share. Later at another ceremony, someone else asked the kitchen helpers..."Can't we have more veggies to eat?" When asked what she had brought to contribute...she replied "Nothing"!

I was told in lodge (by a woman of Apache descent) that one of my songs...was not sanctioned by Pope John! If I remember my history correctly, I'm not sure that any of our songs have been sanctioned by any pope, nor have our ceremonies been. In fact, I remember quite distinctly, that those from across the ocean...they did their best to perpetrate a genocide upon our people from the tip of S.A. to the tip of N.A., and up until Jimmy Carter (who signed the Native American Religious Freedom Act) we were not even allowed to worship in our native ways.

What is going on with us? Why do we ask to have more ceremonies but refuse to provide for them? Why do we not bring wood for that Peta Wakan, blankets for the lodge, food for the feast, our own plates & utensils? Why do we walk across the Canka Wakan (Sacred Pathway) between the fire & the altar & the Initi? Why do we not humble ourselves as we enter the Initi? Why do we no longer make those tobacco ties & robes as offerings? Why do we sing & drum louder than the singer offering the prayer and change the words to include Ay ya, ay ya, yo? Are we now singing to Old MacDonald?

When we gather sage (or any other medicine): Do we make that offering of tobacco & water? Do we pick-up the trash along side the medicine? Do we take it all, and leave nothing for others who have shared this sacred site with us or for those who will come behind us in need of this same medicine?

Sadly, i think we have lost our minds...we are losing our ways.... What we are doing now would shame and sadden our Elders who have taught us a more honorable way. It is up to us, as carriers of that Cannunpa to teach those whom we invite to ceremony, the ways as We Were Taught Them...the RESPECT that goes with these ways. We are here to carry on these traditions as we were taught, no dilution, no short cuts, "NO Mickey Mouse" (as Wanbli Cekela would say)! This taking the easy way out...causes chaos....the Oyate Wakan (Spirits) must think we are particularly rude & disrespectful.....

Mi Takuye Oyacin

360: Tatanka Witko: Entry for January 26, 2006

Now you see last Wednesday, 1/18....we lost another of our Wicasa Wakan. He was a young 'un, only 55. Tatanka Wikto, he passed on to Creator....and now we have a gap...who is going to step up to the plate, who of you out there is going to fill his moccasins? Who can take his place in that Yuwipi, behind that bucket, in that Sacred Arbor? Okay dancers....those who call yerselves, carriers of that Cannunpa.....time to step into line, these next 7 X 7 generations need you!

Mi Takuye Oyacin