i know what your saying john, i did a large portion of the wood work you see there in hollywood at the hard rock hotel and casino, and i think they deserve every penny it generates, they give a sum to thier people free evry year, they have learned how to get even with the white man by using his own stupidity to create wealth for the tribes.
and though they are now rich, the are still as humble as ever.they act nothing like the mafia hahaha,

even though they have the final say on everything they do, they are mainly run by bean counters and such. but i still think they deserve every penny -

Oh wow you did the wood work. That is amazing! Well I agree 100% on what they deserve. They deserve much more actually and when I went to visit I was actually really proud of what they accomplished. I had a great time to you know. I didn't gamble but spend more time with the culture themselve. They are indeed humble. I will go again one weekend as I feel comfortable there.

i only did the finishing of the wood john, not the manufacturing of the product. so if you like how the wood and color and sheen appears, thats my work on alot of it.
it's a fun huge place to visit for sure, have fun -

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
"Which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied,
"The one you feed."

Navajo Message To The Moon

In 1966, a NASA team doing work for the Apollo moon mission took the astronauts near Tuba City, where the terrain of the Navajo Reservation looks very much like the Lunar surface. Along with all the trucks and large vehicles, there were two large figures dressed in full Lunar space suits.

Nearby, a Navajo sheep herder and his son were watching the strange creatures walk about, occasionally being tended by personnel. The two Navajo people were noticed and approached by the NASA personnel. Since the man did not know English, his son asked for him what the strange creatures were and the NASA people told them that they are just men that are getting ready to go to the moon. The man became very excited and asked if he could send a message to the moon with the astronauts.

The NASA personnel thought this was a great idea so they rustled up a tape recorder. After the man gave them his message, they asked his son to translate. His son would not. Later, they tried to get a few more people on the reservation to translate and every person they asked would chuckle and then refuse to translate. Finally, with cash in hand, someone translated the message, "Watch out for these guys, they come to take your land."

enjoyed some of these posts, thanks for sharing

Its funny how many people forget......

The native americans were the original inhabitants of this country of ours......

Very true what you say. I haven't forgotten though, for I live not to far from a reservation and go their occassionally.

A Lakota Prayer

Ate Wankantanka, Mitawa ki,
Wazi ya tanhan, ka te na Wa sa ka ki u ya ye ki,
Hena un taku ya kage ki, ya glu ska kta, he ca nu,
He iye cel, Wakantanka, Anpetu ki le, Micante Ki Mi ci yu ska ye, He cel tohanl, nitokab woyasu ke el, wahinajin ki, ima ya cu kta.

Ate Wankantanka

Wiyohiyanpatan, wi hin nape, ki,
He ciya tanhan Wiconi oyasin, hin na pe ki
Wiconi mitawa ki el, anpetu wanji a ke mi qu,
Heon wo pi la eci ci ye, micante ki eciya tanhan.

translates to

My Father, Great Spirit,

Who send'est the wind and white snow from the north, to make thy creation clean and pure,
Father, make me clean and pure within my heart,
That I may be accepted in thy sight and judgement.

Father Great Spirit

To the east from whence cometh the rising sun
and all thy living creation,
Thou hast added another day to my life,
for which I give thee thanks with all my heart.

A Song from my people Shoshone Indians


Song of Life
By Takatoka

It is said by the Elders that every person has a song. A Song of Life. This is a story about a long forgotten custom among our people that begs to be revived.

Noquisi was a young and beautiful Indian woman who was married during a fall gathering of the nations by the waters of Nowasalon at the sacred of mountain of Manataka. After returning to her home lands, winter came and past as Noquisi happily informed Grandmother Wilnota and other women of the tribe that she was heavy with her first child.

The women and everyone in the tribe were joyous and began to make gifts and other preparations for the baby. Grandmother Wilnota announced one day that it was time for the women to go into the forest to find a Song.

The next morning all the women gathered at the edge of the village and began a journey deep into the wilderness. As they arrived at a stream near a waterfall, they made camp and a sacred circle in the clearing. The women then prepared special foods and placed them in baskets around the circle. At last, Grandmother called shy Noquisi to come forward and sit in the middle of the circle. The women gathered around as Grandmother announced the purpose of their meeting.

"We gather here to learn the Song of Life for the baby inside Noquisi. We shall pray to the Great Mystery, the Creator of all things and listen carefully to Mother Earth to learn the Song. We know every soul has a special vibration that knows its purpose and bears the unique character of its ancestors. Let us begin."

As everyone's eyes were closed deep in meditation and prayer, a small brown chipmunk sitting on a nearby stump smelled the wonderful food and slowly crept to one of the baskets nearest Grandmother. Nervously looking from side to side the Little Chipmunk carefully slid into the basket and began to eat to his hearts content. Noquisis saw the little chipmunk climb into the basket but was afraid to say anything during the prayer ceremony.

After many hours of prayer and silent visions, a strong wind began to blow across the camp. The women became attuned to the unique vibrations and light surrounding Noquisi. Grandmother Wilnota then called for Noquisi to stand and hear her baby's Song of Life.

The women began to loudly sing in one voice, one song of life for the unborn baby. As Noquisi stood in the middle of the sacred circle, she could feel the Song of Life coming into her, giving strength and joy.

Loud voices outside the basket startled the sleepy little brown chipmunk but he was afraid to move. Peaking out the top of the basket, Little Chipmunk decided he must escape before he was discovered. But, it was too late, Grandmother reached into the basket as she announced it was time for everyone to eat.

Grabbing a small round ball of fur, Grandmother exclaimed, "Ah ho, what do we have here? It looks like we have a little thief in our basket!" With a smile, she placed her hand to the ground and let Little Chipmunk scamper away.

During the course of many weeks to follow, Noquisi quietly sat alone in her lodge or walked in the forest as she sang the Song of Life to the unborn child.

Many weeks later when Noquisi's baby was born, the entire community gathered and sang the Song of Life to the new baby boy. At the time of the full moon, the entire village again gathered to sing the baby's Song of Life during his naming ceremony. The boy was named Uwetsi Ganolvvsgv (Wind Song), but not surprisingly, The boy was given another name, Giyuga Usti (Little Chipmunk).

Years later, the boy grew and after successfully completing his first hunting trip, the tribe again gathered in the circle around Little Chipmunk and chanted his Song of Life. After he passed all the necessary requirements to enter adulthood, the people once again gathered to sing his Song of Life.

At the time of his marriage, Little Chipmunk heard his Wind Song, his Song of Life sung during ceremonies. Finally, when his soul was about to pass from this world, all the people gathered around his bed to sing his Song of Life.



Each of us know we have a song. A beautiful vibration within as a reminder of our eternal purpose. Those we love must sing that Song to us throughout our lives. We all yearn to be loved, acknowledged and accepted for the person we are.

There is another event when the tribe gathers to sing the Song of Life to an individual. Whenever a crime or a serious anti-social offense is committed, the person is called to the center of the circle and expected to admit to the transgression. Then, the village sings their Song of Life to the child within the person.

In this way, poor behavior was corrected by reminding the individual of who their real self in the Creator's eyes. After the Song of Life is sung by ones family, friends and neighbors, there was no desire to do anything to disrupt the wonderful blessing given by the Song.

Our people did have jails, prisons and insane asylums because there was not a need. Punishment was the extension of love in remembrance of the true identity within the person.

A friend and those who love you know your song and sing it when you have forgotten its vibration. People who love you do not care about the dark and ugly things you sometimes become. They hear the beauty of your song, they remember your light and know the sweetness within you.

If your mother was not given a special Song of Life before your birth, then you must begin to search for it now. Do not wait for the milestones of life to pass without this special recognition. Walking the good Red Road means knowing your Song. You can no longer be confused, lost, alone and depressed. You must give your Song of Life a strong voice.


When you know your Song of Life, you have two obligations: The first is to find people who have a similar song, similar vibrations, and sing it to each other. The second is to pass this wonderful custom down to the next generation. In this way we support our brothers and sister in their walk and we provide future generations with peace and happiness.

Aho!

Very nice story Feral. I saved it to read again one day. Thank you

Your welcome sweets......I am proud of my American Indian heritage....

excellent piece deb, my injun princess

An Indian Prayer

O' GREAT SPIRIT,
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your
strength and wisdom.

Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make My Hands Respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make Me Wise so that I may understand the
things you have taught my people.

Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.

I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my
brother, but to fight my greatest
enemy...myself.

Make Me Always Ready to come to you with
clean hands and straight eyes.

So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you
without shame.

Rainbow Native Blessing

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Mocassins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.

A Cherokee Blessing Prayer

You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as the hoop was unbroken, the people flourished. The flowering tree was the living center of the hoop, and the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The east gave peace and light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain, and the north with its cold and mighty wind gave strength and endurance.

This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our religion. Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our teepees were round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation's hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children.

Black Elk - Oglala Sioux

A Cherokee Blessing Prayer

Yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi nigohilvi nasquv utloyasdi nihi



May the Great Spirit's Blessings Always Be With You

A Cherokee Blessing Prayer

Ea Nigada Qusdi Idadadvhn

"All My Relations In Creation"

The Apache Wedding Blessing

Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be
shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be
warmth to the other.

Now there is no more loneliness,
for each of you will be
companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
but there is only one
life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days
of your togetherness.

And may your days
be good and long
upon the earth.