Native American Spirituality

[Andrew, Jr.]

I have a connection to the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

[violaine]

"Thousands of years ago, tribes of human beings suffered great privations in the struggle to survive. In this struggle it was important not only to be able to handle a club, but also to possess the ability to think reasonably, to take care of the knowledge and experience garnered by the tribe, and to develop the links that would provide cooperation with other tribes. Today the entire human race is faced with a similar test. In infinite space many civilizations are bound to exist, among them civilizations that are also wiser and more "successful" than ours. I support the cosmological hypothesis which states that the development of the universe is repeated in its basic features an infinite number of times. In accordance with this, other civilizations, including more "successful" ones, should exist an infinite number of times on the "preceding" and the "following" pages of the Book of the Universe. Yet this should not minimize our sacred endeavors in this world of ours, where, like faint glimmers of light in the dark, we have emerged for a moment from the nothingness of dark unconsciousness of material existence. We must make good the demands of reason and create a life worthy of ourselves and of the goals we only dimly perceive."

(Last paragraph of Sakharov's Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1975)

[Spirit Dancer]

"Sometimes, life is very simple, but it is we two-leggeds, we who are thought to be smart that make it complicated."
--Larry P. Aitkin, CHIPPEWA
Sometimes it may take years for us to find out what we are really after - it is to be happy. The Elders say, lead a simple life. This doesn't necessarily mean poor, it means simple. There are some things that makes life complicated such as needing control, needing power or being resentful or angry. These things make complications happen. We need to walk in balance in every area of our lives.

Great Spirit, let me lead a simple life.

[Spirit Dancer]

Written by an 1895 senior of the Cherokee National Female Seminary upon her graduation.

Alma Mater

Many years ago, some Indians
Left their homes in Alabama
Left the red sand hills of Georgia;
Left their friends and all behind them
And with faces stern and solemn
Set out for the western country-
For the new land purchased for them
Many weary miles they traveled
Many hardships they encountered
Climbing mountains, crossing rivers,
Facing wind and rain and weather
Braving hunger and misfortune
Till ot last stretched out before them
Beautious hills and fertile valleys,
Prairie lands and herds of cattle,
Beulah land of peace and plenty.
This, the goal of all their wanderings,
Rest for weary way-worn travelers.
Here they settled with their families,
Built them homes of log and mortar,
Built their chimneys wide and ample,
Hung outside the door the latchstring;
Tilled the soil, and planted orchards,
Herded steers and drove them northwards.
Prosperous was this tribe of Indians
As the happy years passed o’er them.
Spacious grew their humble dwellings,
Wide their fields, and rich their orchards.
Towns they built for trade and barter,
Fairest of all – the town Tahlequah,
Nestled in a smiling valley,
Wrapped is softest summer sunshine,
Kissed by gentle fragrant breezes,
With the hill’s strong arms about her-
Fairest of all the Nation’s children.
In this little town Tahlequah
At the bottom of a foot-hill
Gushes forth a spring of water
Pure and sweet and clear and sparkling
As the one the Muses drank from,
And our fathers, as they stood there,
Drinking the life-giving nectar,
Looking upward, looking northwards,
Let their eyes rest on this hill-top
Felt the spell of Jove upon them,
As when in the old time legend,
From his forehead sprang Minerva

Then came heaps of sand and mortar,
Bricks and stones and heavy timbers;
Men with axes, saws and hammers,
Men with squares, and planes, and trowels,
Men with horses, mules and wagons--
All the air was filled with rumbling
Sharp reports and heavy pounding,
Blasting rock and earth upheavals,
When at last the din was over
And the darkened sky grew clearer,
There arose from out of the chaos,
Bright and shining, grand and classic,
Graceful arches, Gothic towers,
Fit abode for Wisdom’s goddess.

Then from all parts of the nation,
From humblest homes, and from the richest
Came the bright-faced Indian maidens;
Maidens fair and maidens dusky,
Maidens tall and short and ‘pudgy,’
Came they to this seat of learning;
Drank they from this sparkling fountain
And with thirsty souls unslaked
Longed for more of Hebe’s potion; --
And in time sent back their daughters
That their lives might be so sweetened
And their days and deeds be fruitful.
Should you ask me whence the learning--
Whence the power and pride and greatness
Of this tribe of Indian people,
I shall point you to this college,
That for years has schooled its women
Wives and mothers of these people
Whose brief story I’ve related.

And the maidens now departing
From this dear old Alma Mater,
From this dear old second Mother
Who has cared for them so gently
Through the sweet years of their girlhood,
Leave the wish and prayer behind them
That, as future years roll onward
Blotting out our race of people,
She may stand here always ready,
Glad to welcome Indian children
And to keep alive tradition--
Monument to all the greatness
Of this proudest Indian Nation.

-by an 1895 Senior

[Spirit Dancer]

u-ha
a
u-wo-du-hi
i-ga

Have
a
beautiful
day

[Andrew, Jr.]

Absolutely, Spirit Dancer. I too wish everyone a beautiful day indeed.

Peace and Love,
Andrew

[Spirit Dancer]

"One of the essential characteristics we need to learn as men was to be gentle, and to be gentle means to be serene, to enter meditation or a prayerful state in the morning and evening."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
The most important talk we can do during any day, is to start the day with prayer and meditation. We need to ask the Creator to be in our lives. We ask Him to direct our thinking. We ask Him for the courage and the power to be gentle. In the morning quiet time, we make our request for guidance using our spiritual tools. We pray for the people and we pray for ourselves. In the evening we thank the Creator for the day, for the lessons and for the opportunity to be of service to others. Then we go to sleep.

Great Spirit, today, show me the power of being gentle.

[Spirit Dancer]

ah sss guh tee
ooh nay kwa
wah jee
day lee
knee he
knee go he luh ee

May
Great Spirit
Watch
Over
You
Always





Wakan Tankan Nici Un

(May the Great Spirit walk with you)

[Spirit Dancer]

"Because woman lives so close to our first mother, the Earth, she emanates the strength and harmonious nature of all things."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
At an Elders gathering, held in July 1991, we were told the Indian woman would play an instrumental part in leading the healing of Indian nations. The old people said we were to look up to her in a sacred manner. They said the Earth Mother would give the woman special gifts of love. The woman and the Earth Mother are connected in a special way. Women should pay attention to the lessons coming from the earth. Men should treat the women with respect, dignity and honor.

Grandfather, Grandmother, give the Indian woman Your strength to heal our earth.

[Spirit Dancer]

ah dah lee hay lee jay dee
he ee gah
ah dah doe lee gee

Appreciate todays blessings

[Spirit Dancer]

a-ga-ta-hna-i ~ Wise

go guh ~ Crow

a-ga-ta-hna-i ~ Wise

ooh goo goo ~ Owl

go ~ Lessons

ah nah day low kwa sss guh ~ Learning

gah no dew ~ Life's

nuh wah doe he yaw duh ~ Harmony

gah luh kwo dee~ Precious

soo nah lay ~ tomorrows

[Spirit Dancer]

"Silence and self-control permeate the entirety of our lives."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
The Creator gave us all the Red Road and on this Red Road we are required to think and act in a spiritual way. To make sure I conduct myself according to the Red Road, I must make sure I develop my self discipline. Self control works best when we pray for the courage and power to do the will of the Great Spirit. We are here on the earth to do the will of the Great Spirit. Sometimes, we must battle ourselves to do this.

Great Spirit, help me to have my self- control guided by spiritual ways.

[Spirit Dancer]

nuh woe tee
uh lee tah
ah sss duh gee
go loo wah duh dee
new dah lay
ah jay
ay gah


Quiet, Breathe deep discover another new day.

[Spirit Dancer]

"Laughter is a necessity in life that does not cost much, and the Old Ones say that one of the greatest healing powers in our life is the ability to laugh."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Laughter is a good stress eliminator. Laughter causes healing powers to be distributed through our bodies. Laughter helps heal relationships that are having problems. Laughter can change other people. aughter can heal the sick. Laughter is spiritual. One of the greatest gifts among Indian people has been our ability to laugh. Humor is natural to Indian people. Sometimes the only thing left to do is laugh.

Great Spirit, allow me to laugh when times get tough.

[Spirit Dancer]

Today, I remember to laugh with myself; even when others find fault.
Today my spiritual perscription is to laugh out loud.
Blessings, SD

[violaine]

The secretive habits of the owl, its quiet flight and various calls from whistles, screeches and hoots, have made them objects of fear and superstition. The Creator made no evil creatures. Individuals to whom the owl speaks are very fortunate because messages of the owl are deep, far reaching and complex.

[Spirit Dancer]

The Old Man said,`you are both ugly and handsome and you must accept your ugliness as well as your handsomeness in order to really accept yourself."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
My Grandfather told me one time that any person who is judgmental to another is also judgmental to themselves. If we want to be free of being judgmental, we need to first work on how judgmental we are to ourselves. If we quit judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves as we are, we will start accepting others as they are. Then we will experience a level of new freedom.

Great Spirit, let me accept myself as I am - honoring both my strengths and my weaknesses.

[friskyfemme]

Originally Posted by Spirit Dancer

The Old Man said,`you are both ugly and handsome and you must accept your ugliness as well as your handsomeness in order to really accept yourself."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
My Grandfather told me one time that any person who is judgmental to another is also judgmental to themselves. If we want to be free of being judgmental, we need to first work on how judgmental we are to ourselves. If we quit judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves as we are, we will start accepting others as they are. Then we will experience a level of new freedom.

Great Spirit, let me accept myself as I am - honoring both my strengths and my weaknesses.

Very profound thinking. Thank you for sharing this. I need to take advice to heart.

[Spirit Dancer]

"When a community does something together, that community is very happy, jovial, connected, and unified."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
The Indian People have always been able to adapt. If the hunting changed, we found new hunting grounds. If the earth changed, we moved to a better place. If the river changed course, we followed the river. But with every change, we kept our Indianness and spirituality. Our culture and spirituality have always been our strength. Our culture and spirituality taught us to live in harmony. We must change with the times, but we must maintain our culture and spirituality, always living in harmony.

Great Spirit, You have taught us to survive. Let me always maintain my Indianness

[Spirit Dancer]

It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its
appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one's
spiritual balance. Therefore, children must early learn the beauty of generosity.
They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.

Ohiyesa