Wisdom

Yes, I agree

While true, anyone responsible is  not around to appologize.  :(

I don't share that view either. ( :

Especially since I have cherokee flowing through my veins.

Runner up for the Village People.

Gee, obviously no Indians replying to this one, eh? except me….AAYYYYY!!…lol

My grandmothers mother was a Cherokee through and through as well.  Other than that I am not sure about what my native North American heritage is, if any.

I wonder though, who should appoligize to them?  The “sins” of the fathers are the sins of the fathers.  While I am sorry it happened, I don't know if it is fair to put the karma for someone elses actions on our own heads.  I do agree however that they should be appoligized to.  I just don't know who are the one's who should do it.  Who is left to be forgiven for it?  I suppose the best we could do is collectively continue to voice how messd up it was and try to prevent anything of it's sort in the future and let our young ones know how wrong it was.  That and uncover all the lies that were told, and push our elected representatives to follow through on all the promises made to them in order to steal their land from them.  I don't know…..just rambling.  Trying to brainstorm some kind of solution.

Peace….

Ok….it is sad that nobody realizes there is still plenty to apologize for, in this present day and in this present time…just ask any Native and we are still here, and we are still strong, and we are NOT going away, no matter what anyone does to us…still. 

Ok, the fact there is no one here in the above comments who is cognizant of the genocide that is being perpetrated right now is simply amazing. The cultural appropriation going on everyday is a form of genocide, the poverty, disease and racism in on and around our reservations is a form of genocide, health care cuts - both mental and physical to IHS is a form of genocide, the lack of caring for the land stolen from us is a form of genocide, the ignorance of stealing our spirituality so you can “find yourselves” is a form of genocide, the lack of outrage from the American public for the Billions, yes that is Billions of dollars stolen from us in lease payments is a form of genocide. The fact that you can casually say Washington Redskins (imagine if I said New York Blackskins or Yellowskins, what kind of outrage there would be) or think the outrage by Outkast at the Grammies a couple of years ago was a form of respect is a form of genocide. Yes, we are dying everyday due to the genocide being perpetrated NOW, not 100 years ago.

BUT, there are still 2+ million of us still here, living and praying and caring for one another and we are not going away. We care for our communities and our Elders and our sacred little ones, everyday. Yes, there is poverty, trauma, abuse that we see everyday in our communities but we are still here and fighting for survival in the urban areas and on our reservations. There is pride and honor in our culture and that will not go away. We are healing ourselves everyday from the abuse and genocide from the dominant culture everyday.  These are not easy words, they are not meant to be. They are angry words, words of loss and sorrow and grief. But they are also words of strength, and pride and integrity and most rarely a type of self-honesty.  We understand that the dominant culture is ignorant of us in the NOW, so we help and love and heal ourselves everyday in our way. We still respect and honor our Elders (something the dominant culture can learn from us, eh?), and not silly self-absorbed yuppies or celebrities. Our heroes are people who fill us with pride, not the desire to be rich! Our heroes and those we respect give more than they take. Now, someone is going to mention casinos somewhere here…we shall save that for another discussion. But it is funny that when we finally have an avenue to acquire revenue for strengthening our tribes, the dominant culture only looks at the negatives of it, and not the positives…and trust us, we are not children and know the negatives as well.  if any of you can understand the words I am saying, then good, but as usual I am waiting for the Defensiveness to set in and get flamed and raved on as we Indians (yes, we call ourselves Indians on the Rez, as well as our tribal names) have historically seen. 

However, I also extend a hand of friendship, love, relationship, respect and peace to those of any color, of any culture, of any gender or orientation to discuss and talk about the ignorance about Indian culture and to learn from each other how to respect one another.  We have always said that being Native is a matter of Respect and a matter of Relationship to one another. That I think takes care of any rules and commandmants of any religion.

So, the anger is pointed to the ignorance and not to people or persons, to a culture that takes and does not give back, that values greed and things more than people and family and spirit and relationships. This website is dedicated to the proposition that we, all of us, can make a difference. Yes, right now, you are responsible, by inaction, of the genocide right now. Let us all make a difference. Next time you get in your beemer or SUV, think of the homeless family that you stepped over without a glance, a thought or care. Think of the Elders in the street or in convalescent homes without families because those families are too busy being greedy to care for the ones who raised them or gave them values (what is left of them), food and shelter. Think about it, eh?
Mitakuye Oyasin,
Ken

“This website is dedicated to the proposition that we, all of us, can make a difference. Yes, right now, you are responsible, by inaction, of the genocide right now. Let us all make a difference. Next time you get in your beemer or SUV, think of the homeless family that you stepped over without a glance, a thought or care. Think of the Elders in the street or in convalescent homes without families because those families are too busy being greedy to care for the ones who raised them or gave them values (what is left of them), food and shelter. Think about it, eh?  Mitakuye Oyasin,  Ken”


Well stated.  And youre understanding that our ignorance is simply that is important.  Everything you said is important.  I will do what I can being just me to try to change that.  I don't know how, but I will.  And next time I climb on my bicycle to ride to work or school or wherever I will remember it just like those who drive SUVS or beemers or whatever.

I echo your prayer for oneness, Ken.  indeed we are all your relations.  I admire your willingness to educate everyone else about the continuing degradation and genocide of this land's native people.  Thank you.

-Darby