"If our young people do not participate and learn from our leaders, it is just a matter of time before the work that our elders have done is forgotten."

---- Luke Cordell,.... to United Nations, July 25,2000 (Dakota/Lakota)

"....the supreme law of the land is the Great Spirit's, not Man's law."....

---- Thomas Banyacya (Hopi)

"Until we meet again, may the Great Spirit make sunrise in your heart, And may your moccasins make tracks in many snows yet to come."

---- *unknown author*

"Realize that we as human beings have been put on this earth for only a short time... and that we must use this time to gain wisdom, knowledge, respect and the understanding for all human beings.., since we are all relatives.'

---- Cree Proverb

.."Behold, a sacred voice is calling you;
All over the sky a sacred voice is calling."...

---- Black Elk

"I hope the Great Heavenly Father, who will look down upon us, will give all the tribes his blessing, that we may go forth in peace, and live in peace all our days, and that He will look down upon our children and finally lift us far above this earth."

---- Red Cloud

"We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and the winding streams with tangled growth, as 'wild'.

Only to the white man was nature a 'wilderness' and only to him was the land 'infested' with 'wild' animals and 'savage' people. To us it was tame.

Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with blessings of the Great Mystery."

---- Luther Standing Bear (Oglala Sioux)

Thanks for A+, Jag There is still so much for me to learn

I tried to find The Great Human Odyssey but it�s not available for my country, at least for now Such a pitty! I belive it can be very interesting.



Words like these ones, so true but so many times neglected and underestimated, often bring tears in my eyes. Sometimes I have a feeling that everybody nowadays talks about love for oneself (which ofcourse is ok and healthy - if it doesn�t expend to selfishness) but in this love for ourselves we forget that we are not the only ones in the world. It seems as we loose respect to each other and will to understand others, close ourselves in our little everyday fights.
But... it�s so good to see again and again that the same thought reborns everywhere, within all nations, just the same, during all times - that we are all connected, that we should have respect toward everyone and share love wherever and whenever we can.

You're welcome, Sea..

You have a good heart ....and good intention... That is the most important thing...

I agree with you... It is very easy for us as humans, to get caught up in and focus too much on our own lives and problems... If we compare them to other people in the world though.. and how much of our time is actually enjoyable.., it might make our own problems look much smaller.., in comparison to others... and would actually make our own problems less stressful..

Here's a couple of you-tube links to try, for the tv series that have I raved about in here, the past month..

Hope they work for you.. (copy & paste them)

THE NATURE OF THINGS: "THE HUMAN ODYSSEY" (Episode #1?)

LINK----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW1Y_oNm-1o

THE NATURE OF THINGS: "THE HUMAN ODYSSEY" (Episode #2?)

LINK----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZBouEpRfs

-------------

SERIES LINK ----> http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/

"The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged..."

---- Luther Standing Bear

"Any good thing you say to me shall not be forgotten. I shall carry it as near to my heart as my children, and it shall be as often on my tongue.., as the name of the Great Spirit."

---- Chief Ten Bears (Comanche) - (1792-1873)

"Trouble no one about their religion.... Respect others in their view... and demand that they respect yours."

---- Chief Joseph (1840-��1904)

"'The traditions of our people are handed down from father to son. The Chief is considered to be the most learned, and the leader of the tribe. The Doctor (Medicine Person), however, is thought to have more inspiration. He is supposed to be in communion with spirits... He cures the sick by the laying of hands, and prayers and incantations and heavenly songs. He infuses new life into the patient, and performs most wonderful feats of skill in his practice.... He clothes himself in the skins of young innocent animals, such as the fawn, and decorated himself with the plumage of harmless birds, such as the dove and hummingbird ..."

---- Sarah Winnemucca - Paiute (1844-��1891)

""The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us.....That which we put into the ground she returns to us."

---- Bedage

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."

Qwatsinas - Chief Edward Moody (Nuxalk Nation)

Yes, yes, yes, Chi Miigwetch, Jag, those youtube links work, cbc unfortunaly not, but there are enough series on youtube for me for the time being. How is it that I couldn�t find it? - tried to google it yesterday again! But I used "The Human Odyssey" not The Nature Of Things. Thanks again

And again - this always fascinates me - and I am ashamed that I am fascinated, because it just shows how little I really knew about Natives - and also was infected with some prejudices - although I admired them and felt with them.

Wisdom that is not so known and should be known around the world. Makes me sad, that we know - if we know anything at all about them -so little (except crooked and shallow image from westerns - movies).

Their openes to others fascinates me. Words above show such ability of acceptance of which we, so called "civilized" people (please be aware I use this term just as sarcasm), have never been able, not in such a measure at least - enough to take a glance at other forums. We always have to dominate and control. Gosh, that really makes me angry!

Or when Mailes in his book about Fools Crow ?Wisdom And Power" states that Natives never pray only for themselves but also for all the others, for the whole world. Or phases of Fool�s healing song, when he prays for the sick one to be healed, to have a good heart and love for other people.

And all this and much more things in the book and in your threads really assures me, that even though terminology and ways of worship are different everything really and 100% points to the one same God. That�s what I told Him yesterday

And one thing really bugs me: why don�t I have at least one drop of Native blood, so I could say, they are my people?

If you ever get to see the final episode of that series above, Sea..., you might want to do a family tree...

I think I mentioned to you in a PM, that Indigenous Peoples trace back to Northern Siberia and the Arctic.. That's not that far away from your home country..

But.., as far as "being an Indian" in everyday life.., it's more about how you live your life, walk your pathway..., than the quantity of Indigenous blood in your veins.. I'll dig out an Elder's quote about it, that I posted in the earlier thread a few times..:

------------

"There is no such thing as 'part-Cherokee.' Either you're Cherokee or you're not.

It isn't the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that is important, but the quality of

it . . . your pride in it. I have seen full-bloods who have virtually no idea of the great

legacy entrusted to their care. Yet, I have seen people with as little as 1/500th blood

quantum who inspire the spirits of their ancestors because they make being Cherokee a

proud part of a their everyday life."

---- Jim Pell - (Chief -North Alabama Cherokee Tribe)

"I was warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds and sheltered by the trees as other Indian babes. I can go everywhere with a good feeling."

---- Geronimo (Goyathlay) - Chiricahua Apache