April 2006

Hau kola na tiyospaye (Hello friends & extended family),

Welcome to all new Circle members! Each section of the Circle of Nations newsletter is written 'facing' one of the four sacred winds, beginning with the east, then the south, west and finally the north. This is to honor the old ways. It is to teach and to help us to focus and find the center. I have designed the Native Circle website in the same spirit. I welcome you all to the Circle....

EAST - Wiyohinyanpata - Yellow (Four Winds)
And the circle continues....
My last living Grandparent completed her journey through the circle of life just a couple weeks ago. My Grandmother was a good woman. She, like all of us, lived her life the best way she knew how. But she is gone now, and I am left with no parents or grandparents, standing alone atop a silent mountain gazing back into a thousand ancestral memories, trying to see the faces and hear the voices and understand the wisdom of those who have gone before me. Though I feel sadness as I think of those who I have lost, especially my parents, I am most conscious of the reality that someday, I too will make the journey they have made, and enter the circle of spirits. It is this realization, coupled with the fact that I remain here, that reminds me that life does have a purpose, and that we are here to seek out, discover, explore and ultimately become one with that purpose. So many faces I see.... Some from memory, some from beyond the scope of memory. All have left their imprint on my spirit. Some left laughter.... others instilled patience and perseverance.... some imparted perspective and insight.... and still others taught me to always be humble and considerate of others. Some gave me these gifts directly, others passed them to me through many generations. To all of them, all my ancestors, I am grateful and thankful for the goodness and humanity they instilled in me. Surely none of them were without flaws, as none of us are and I certainly am not. But just as my Grandmother, they lived their lives the best way they knew how. As their faces fade in and out of my mind’s eye, I recognize that they are me, and I am them, and that it is now my time, and my purpose, to take what they imparted to me, both good and bad, and do something good with it. I see it as my responsibility to do my best to embody the collective thought, wisdom, folly, love, laughter, grace, beauty, passion and life of all my ancestors in a way that is respectful, humble and positive. Because they have lived, I live. The earth they touched, I am touching. The world they inherited from their ancestors and then shaped and fashioned, I have now inherited from them and am shaping and fashioning along with all who are living beside me in this time. In this way, history is not past, and is not disconnected from us, but is directly connected to us and belongs as much to the present as our ancestors belong to us, and we to them.
Mitakuye Oyasin
As I now stand alone on this high hill, looking back at the faces of my parents, grandparents and ancestors, I turn to face the rising sun of a new day, and see the faces of my children and my grandchildren, and the grandchildren of my grandchildren. They beckon me, and with the dreams of a thousand ancestors in my heart, the past becomes present and future as I step gently into the role of father and grandfather, and someday - ancestor....

SOUTH - Itokagata - Red (Red Earth)
A word from Peggy....
(Written April 1st)

Today is April 1st, no fooling... it is actually April 1st. I love this time of year because the redbuds are in full bloom and the dogwoods will be showing up any time now. I have some flowers to plant today and it is a perfectly sunny warm day for planting. Now that the two new CDs are here we are gearing up for the up coming concerts. Check out our concert schedule....
The John Two-Hawks Schedule
You can now order your advanced John Two-Hawks concert tickets online at:
JTH Tickets
We still have many openings for our artist retreat in three weeks and would love to have you attend! For more info on artist retreat go to:
The Artist's Retreat
I suppose all of us could use a little work on forgiveness. Me especially!! Sometimes forgiving is the last thought that comes to my mind. First thought, how dare they!! Second thought, I don't deserve this!! Third thought, how could they do this to me!! On and on then finally in a still, quiet moment, this thought squeezes its way through the darkness, tiny voice... forgiveness... next thought, NO WAY! Then another small voice... would you like to move on, experience peace again, forget about this situation.... forgiveness. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, well maybe, but they did this to me and it hurt and they don't deserve to be forgiven. And besides how do you forgive?? I certainly am not here to blame or to explain, I just know in my experience that once I come to this place and say 'maybe', then the tables turn and peace returns and I can finally quit playing the scenario in my head. Life is just like that, people can be very kind and people can be very unkind. See the movie Crash, a lot of real in that. We have all helped someone and we have all hurt someone. First try forgiving yourself. That is a tough one... but if you can just say, ‘well maybe!’
Much love,
peace,
Peggy
Red Earth

WEST - Wiyohpeyata - Black or Blue (We are STILL Here!)
The ‘Indian experience’....
There are those who have only one idea and one image of who and what an American Indian is. Nothing could be further from reality. In truth, there are as many versions and perspectives on the Indian experience as there are stars in the sky. The illusion that Indians only look, act, dress or speak one particular way is tied directly to the concept that our cultures are simple, trite, trivial and even insignificant. It is a stereotype, plain and simple, and a tiring one at that. So what is the real ‘Indian experience’ then? Allow me to offer just a few thoughts....
First, let me say that, although we all do refer to each other and ourselves as such, the term ‘Indian’ itself is a misnomer. It appears to have come from the Italian words ‘in dio’, which means to be ‘in with God.’ This term was first pinned on us by none other than Chrissy Columbus, whom the Taino people discovered back in 1492. Regardless of the origin of the term ‘Indian’, it stuck, and has been with us ever since. It should be said here as well, that, if given the choice, most of us prefer the term ‘Indian’ to ‘Native American.’ More accurate perhaps, are the terms ‘First Nations’ or ‘Indigenous People.’ Of course, knowing the specific indigenous nation is always best (Lakota, Potawatomi, Seneca, Ojibway, etc...). Lastly on this point, we really prefer to be identified as people like anyone else. Getting back to my thoughts....
Some Indian people were raised on the reservation with Grandparents and elders around who knew the ways and spoke the language. These Indians can be well versed in the ways of their culture, and are less likely to have non-Indian blood in their background. Some of these Indian people will learn the ways of Spirit. Some will go to college and become writers. Some will become involved in politics. Some will become great artists. Some will become actors. Some will simply work to raise a family. Some will unfortunately fall prey to substance abuse. Some will move from the reservation to far away places. Some will stay. Some will marry non-Indians. Some will not. Some will live in nice houses and make good money. Some will not.
All are real Indians....
Some Indian people were not raised on the reservation, yet still had relatives around who knew the ways or spoke the language. These Indians can still be well versed in the ways of their culture, yet are more exposed to non-Indian culture and are more likely to have non-Indian blood in their background. Some of these Indian people will learn the ways of Spirit. Some will go to college and become writers. Some will become involved in politics. Some will become great artists. Some will become actors. Some will simply work to raise a family. Some will unfortunately fall prey to substance abuse. Some will move back to the reservation or off to far away places. Some will stay where they were raised. Some will marry non-Indians. Some will not. Some will live in nice houses and make good money. Some will not.
All are real Indians....
Some Indian people were neither raised on the reservation, nor had many relatives around who knew the ways or spoke the language. These Indians will have a much more difficult time learning the ways of their culture, as they and their families have been exposed to non-Indian culture for several generations and are very likely to have significant non-Indian blood in their background. Some of these Indian people will learn the ways of Spirit. Some will go to college and become writers. Some will become involved in politics. Some will become great artists. Some will become actors. Some will simply work to raise a family. Some will unfortunately fall prey to substance abuse. A few may move back to the reservation. Some may move to far away places. Some will stay where they were raised. Many will marry non-Indians. Some will live in nice houses and make good money. Some will not. Many of these Indians may find it difficult to reconnect with the Indian people and culture they come from. Others may succeed.
All are real Indians....
These are just a few thoughts on the ‘Indian experience.’ There are many, many more. Our collective story is far from simple. It is rich, diverse, tragic yet triumphant, incredibly complex and beautifully human. To contend that there is only one correct idea of who and what it means to be Indian is to grossly underestimate the power of Indian blood and the ability of our Indian ancestors to impart and pass on their strong Indian identity to their descendants. May we, Indian people, someday be accepted by others for who we really are, and may we ourselves never forget to value and appreciate the struggle of our ancestors which resulted in the many facets, stories and faces of the ‘Indian experience’ we see today....


NORTH - Waziyata - White (Words of Wisdom)
I am not ‘wise’, but I will share some ideas that seem like wisdom to me....


May we never think ourselves smarter than our ancestors

If you are angry, take some time before you speak

The heart knows the truth of your soul

Love is rarely logical, but always right

Kindness is never wrong

Go last.... serve.... give.... share....


May Wakantanka encircle you and yours with faith to believe, hope for the future, and love for all....

As always, in the spirit of mending the sacred hoop of the nations of the world
Your Oglala Lakota friend and brother,
John Two-Hawks
http://www.nativecircle.com
http://www.johntwohawks.com
Reprinting of this Circle of Nations newsletter is encouraged! All I ask is that it be printed in its entirety, with no changes, and that I be given proper credit, unless I have otherwise okayed it. Wopila (great thanks)!

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Found here 27 Feb 2008