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Frybread Heart
8/20/00
Next time, when I am born
Make mine "frybread" please
Hands that have shaped
I think I was born
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Almost wiped out
Noble Red Man
8/28/00
Oh Harvey ~ This book is beautiful!
From the very beginning ~ your introduction ~ I cannot stop crying. I have
only gotten to page eight but I HAD to stop to tell you what a beautiful
book this is!
Something happened to me in the Black Hills a few years ago that at the time,
I could not figure out. The only way to say it is as if I had been smoking
marijuana. Which I never did do, but from what people told me about it ~ how
it enhanced your sense of smell and taste ~ all my senses were magnified and
I found myself praying to the earth. At which time, I had no idea that the
earth was actually and truly the Earth. I had the most uncontrollable urge to
gather up some of that red dirt and bring it home with me.
When I came back to the car, Ron asked me what I had in the bag. (I had gotten out of the car
with a bag, and did not even realize this until he asked me this.) When I
told him "red earth" he actually yelled at me and said "You're not putting
that dirt in the car!" (Our car was covered in this red dirt, and he had been
looking all over for a car wash...then here I come with a bag of this stuff
and want to put it in the car.) I just looked at him and said in a voice
that I didn't really recognize, "I'm bringing it home." And he did not say
anything.
As soon as we got home, I walked right into our bedroom with my bag of red
dirt and put it on the floor under our bed, under where my head lies. And
Harvey, that night I swear I slept more sound and more 'at home' then I ever
have. I felt as though I was in the arms of 'our mother' even though I wasn't
sure what that meant yet. But, I would find out.
And when I did...when I found out some time later that the Black Hills are
the heart of our mother, Earth ~ I knew that I knew this all along in my
soul.
Harvey, when I was gathering up this red soil, I had the oddest feeling that
I was taking something that should not be disturbed and yet at the same time,
felt that I had to have some of it to bring home with me. I found myself
praying to the 'earth' and asking 'her' to forgive me for taking this ~ and
then with every little handful, I found myself thanking 'her' for this gift
that I needed to have. Harvey, I was praying to the Earth, and it felt
completely natural. And correct. And right.
Months later as my mother was dying of ovarian cancer, she told me with great
shame that we 'had Indian blood.' I was elated ~ but she was shamed and told
me to promise never to tell anyone about this. I asked her which nation,
which tribe we were and she refused to talk about it any further. She looked
at me as if I was insane ~ to be happy about such a thing.
So ~ I have no idea which nation I am part of. But everything before and
after this has always led me and brought me to the Lakota.
Harvey, reading your words ~ how you speak of Noble Red Man just fills my
eyes and my heart with tears. I wish I could have met him. Oh Harvey, I wish
with all my heart I could have.
Thank you so much for being who you are, because it is truly you that has
brought his words to the world.....to me.
I want more than anything now to bring this book and all your others and you
to the public. Harvey, I am so glad to know you. To know you and to call you
my friend.
I am signing off now. I am going to finish the book, with a box of kleenex handy. I love to cry
tears like this.
~ Dianne
8/18/00
Deanna Reynolds writes:
I Begin Today . . .
I did not grow up the Indian way,
My Elders have all gone to see The Great Spirit.
So much has been lost
I can feel the connection to The Great Spirit
Right now is what my Creator has given me.
UNITED NATIVE AMERICA
National Holiday For Native Americans Petition
Congress of the United States
We the undersigned come together before you to request that each of these governing bodies take all necessary action to bring about a Federal Holiday for Native American Elected Leaders and conduct congressional hearings on the racial exclusion of Native Americans in movies, television, sports, advertising, music companies, etc.
With the special government to government relationship between the Indian Government of America and the Federal Government it is fitting for the Federal Government to enact this holiday and conduct congressional hearings on the racial exclusion of Native Americans in national industries.
Indian Governments and their people are citizens of the United States, and are hereby requesting that the Federal Government bring about a National Holiday for Native Americans to be celebrated by all citizens of America.
This Holiday would pay tribute to Indian Tribal Leaders to include Alaskan Leaders and Hawaiian Leaders. This Holiday would also pay tribute to those that endured the worlds longest holocaust and most costly in human life's.
It is further stated that no Indian Government nor its people find reason to celebrate and pay for Columbus Day. Seventeen states do not recognize Columbus Day. The state of South Dakota has changed Columbus Day to Native American Day.
Therefore be it resolved that the Federal Government should reevaluate Columbus Day by moving it back to its original day the second Wednesday of October and not be a tax paid holiday as is St. Patrick's Day and Octoberfest, and make the second Monday of October a Federal Holiday for
Native Americans.
The polls we have conducted across the country show that the vast majority of Americans prefer changing Columbus Day as to creating a whole new holiday.
It is inappropriate for Indian children and children of America to celebrate Columbus discovering a nation of people and not having a holiday paying tribute to the people of those nations.
Sincerely,
UNITED NATIVE AMERICA
Sincerely,
Mike L. & Sharon Graham
10/25/99
Barbara writes:
Parole Letters of Support for Standing Deer:
Standing Deer has been in the Ironhouse for nearly 24 years. He had
experienced his spiritual rehabilitation over 21 years ago. He is still in
prison because the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) wishes us to
imagine that Standing Deer is a threat to our society. They want him to die
in prison because he had exposed the governmental conspiracy to assassinate
Leonard Peltier.
The truth is that Standing Deer is aging and has six incurable diseases:
hypertension, diabetes, degenerate disk disease, Hepatitis B & C and prostate
cancer. He is old, infirmed & spiritually rehabilitated. He is not a threat
to our society but instead is a strong contributor to our societal community.
Please address these issues in your letters of support to the parole board at:
P.O. Box 13401 Capital Station Austin, TX 78711 It's important to write Robert H. Wilson #640289 in the body of the letter & at the top of your letter & highlight. Please send the original letter to the parole board & a copy of your letter stamped "copy" to :
Standing Deer Defense Committee Please visit our web site. Please make your best effort as Standing Deer will probably not be alive to try again.
Thank you.
Barbara
10/25/99
Lena Williams writes:
1011/2 Pacific St.
I belong to a prison group who fight the system. Have son in prison also. Our group is very
large. California is having many prison problems for the Indians like the hair cutting
issues and the punishment for them going to the sweats. Many indians are looking for a way to gather in this fight here in Calif and yes we have heard of Leonard just never knew how to reach him. I would hope you might ask our websites to put a link in there for you. I think she will this is a prison group for Calif. I want this cd will hear from me soon will tell as many people as possible about it.
Can I get a address for those not on the internet?
Our website is:
There is a daily newsletter that goes out to thousands of inmate families, the leader is Cayenne
Bird, e-mail is Rightor1@yahoo.com. Maybe we can trade space for ads. Right now we are going to Sacramento to a SHU hearing. Many of our Indians are there for not cutting there hair. Oct 29 maybe some of your members would want to go to help protest the SHU?
Thank you for listening, hope Leonard is home soon. Will order soon
Lena
9/28/99
Richard Harrison writes:
Hello,
My name is Richard and I would like to thank you for your broadcast on
Peltier on the Mischke broadcast. I have emailed the govt.to express my
voice. I pray that he is released!!!
I work with an Ojibwe owned and operated business called Blue Sky
Visions. We provide Internet services in web site design, construction, and maintenance. As a web designer I want to say
that your site looks nice and is quite informative.
Thanks again and keep the peace . . .
Rich
jan & don write:
Good Morning....I am a descendent of Native Americans originally from Ontario Canada, in
the Georgian Bay Area and specifically the Wyandot of Anderdon, part of the Huron Nation
I believe. A few weeks ago I went to the Gathering of the Nation in Midland Canada where
the remains of 575 Native Americans were reburied on Tribal Land. These remains had been
dug up by the Canadian Government and placed in a museum and were finally returned for
reburial in the Ossanane Burial Pit in Perkensfield, Ontario.
It was an extremely moving experience and two things happened that I am wondering about.
While we were waiting for the truck to arrive with the remains a beautiful butterfly flew
past us and down the path to the burial pit. During the ceremony and while the remains
were being placed in the pit, a butterfly flew around the pit, down into it and then away.
Shortly thereafter a hawk flew over the pit. My question is does this have some meaning
besides what it personally meant to me?
Since I have returned home I have been spending a lot of time on the Internet finding out
more and more about my heritage. I discovered the book Travels in a Stone Canoe which led
me to make this inquiry. I hope that you will be able to shed some light on this for me.
If not perhaps you can direct me to someone who would be able to.
Thank you in advance for you kind assistance in the matter.
Jan Bershback,
Gwen Hopkins writes:
I've just finished exploring this wonderful site of yours, and I must tell you what an uplifting
experience it has been. After watching recent TV news accounts of President Clinton's visit to Pine Ridge in South Dakota, it's clear to me that we are still closing our eyes to the plight of Native Americans, and this must end. I hope the President meant what he said, that his visit was not just a carefully crafted media event, and his words were more than empty rhetoric. As a nation and a people, we can --and should -- do better.
A long time ago, I read about an Indian legend that goes something like this, and I apologize for the poor paraphrasing but the message is powerful:
When the white men came, a group of tribal leaders assembled to decide where to hide their treasures so that they would be safe. "We can hide it deep in the mountain," one said. "No, the white man has no respect for the land, and he will rip up our mountain and find it." Another suggested hiding it in the waters of the rivers. "No, white man will devour all the fish in our rivers and when he does, he will find our treasures." Finally, they decided to hide them in the white man's own heart. "He will never look for it there."
Thanks for the work you are doing to spread the message of the WisdomKeepers. I pray that my people will learn to look into our own hearts to hear it.
Peace,
I am so pleased to have been allowed to discover this sight, and I look forward to spending time here. I was fortunate to hear Mr. Harvey Arden speaking of Mr. Peltiers' book . . . and in passing he mentioned "Wisdomkeepers". As time goes on I have found that the council of elders is more and more important, and my sorrow is in the time past, when I thought I knew . . . and have found I know so much less. At least I have been shown a path, how I travel it is up to me . . . how long I travel is the will of the Great Spirit.
May my feet fall softly as a shadow, and my will be as stone, that I may keep the holy way.
I wish for you at this place all good wishes, and thank you for your efforts.
do na da go hv i
Adopt A Grandparent has been established and has been helping the Elders on the
Pine Ridge Reservation for over 12 years, providing, among other things,
food and fuel vouchers for Elders and their families and bridging gaps in
culture and generations through their program. (If you aren't aware, the
living conditions on Pine Ridge have been compared to those of some third
world countries.) I have just spoken with Gail Russell, the founder of APG.
This group is in desperate need of financial help to enable them continue
their work.
Somehow the thought of an Elder, either alone or trying to help raise
their grandchildren, being cold in long winters, their shelves almost bare is a very uncomfortable thought - especially when I am sitting in the AZ
sun with my belly full after a good meal. No I don't feel guilty for being
comfortable, but I do if I don't make an effort to make someone else's life
a little easier. In any culture, our history and spiritual wealth lies with
the Elders. And these Elders need our help. Actually 'adopting a grandparent' is just one way to help this organization. groups, churches, schools, neighborhoods, clubs or individuals or corporations may join APG.
Any donation at any time is tax deductible and will assist the Elders and
their families.
Please, check out their web site or contact them either by
e-mail or call 1-800-291-8474 or write to
Adopt a Grandparent
and see what they are all about.
Please forward this letter to everyone you know, and ask them to do the
same. Spirit works in funny ways sometimes, even through this electronic monster.
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