Tuesday, June 27, 2006

 

View from the Red Road: June 2006

View from the Red Road: June 2006
"religion" And The NakotaWay Of Life
The way of life of Indigenous Red Nations and Peoples prior to this ‘columbus era’ was family and nature based. There was no “jesus, god, tunkasila, creator” religious concept to distract people from what was simple and important. The Nakota were not under any other person or “god”, so they had high self-esteem and were secure about themselves and content with life.

Today, many Nakota attempt to replace their old ways and ceremonies with religious structure and beliefs. Sun Dances practiced on many reservations place twelve branches (in honor of the “twelve Christian disciples” possibly) across the center tree to form a “cross” above them. Also, sage is laced around the head, wrists, and ankles possibly in attempts to remember “Jesus Christ” being “crucified.” Maybe the tree and sage need to be removed from this ceremony until true visions of the people can once again guide Nakota spirituality.

Although original meanings may have differed from those now ‘incorporated’ into the ceremony (such as the act of ‘praying’ for things), the foreign christian influences in Nakota ceremonies are clung to by many participants today. For years the foreign occupiers of the post-1492 era tried to inflict low self-esteem and an inferiority complex upon Indigenous Peoples and it seems they have succeeded among some.

Religious confusion within these ceremonies detracts from the original intent of the ceremony – which are simply thanksgiving exercises in honor of earth, sky, and the natural world. A crucial factor of Indigenous life is the understanding of and appreciation that trees give life to human kind. There is nothing sacred about cutting down the trees of life to construct “bibles” that one can take around house to house, and community to community to try to entice or force people into “believing” in.

The religions of the world question, fear, and deny spirituality and sacredness. They all have their strange stories of a man (or woman) bringing some “gift” to the people for human benefit and making them fear “god/tunkasila/creator” or believing (worshipping) a “devil.” But a “devil” only exists within the minds of confused man. Religious-based tales are always spun to try to entice people to be “good”, even though actions of the same society are disrespectful, uncivilized, and barbaric.

Yet when columbus washed up, Indigenous peoples were already “good”. They had all the clean air, water, food, and shelter they needed to live comfortably without being under the control of another. They had no desire or need to go forth from their lodges to kill another man, who also had all the comforts of home and children. They did not need a "god" to feel good about themselves and were satisfied and, in fact, honored to one day (upon their "death") become "food for the Grass Nations" - their superiors, which would later feed the Bison and complete the Circle of Life for their Grand Children.

The circle of life of the Nakota continues each time a couple “makes love” and creates a “Sacred Little One”. The “parents” of each newborn human, plant, or animal are the only “creators”. The children should be the “religion”, as well as the trees and the superior beings of nature. That is the Nakota way.

The male and female balance within family and community prevented crimes against humanity. Only with euro-christian influence did “murder” come to Great Turtle Island, contrary to untruths and lies taught in American schools to depict the “Indian” as “savage” (attempts to make the Indian look bad too).

The Nakota of today must remember Grand Mother Earth and Grand Father Sky not as religious icons, but as always there to give life and the breath of happiness to the human being each night and day. The Nakota must look to the trees and their own children for answers to life’s questions and not continue to dwell on stagnant ideologies based upon control and disrespect.
It is a difficult task to free the mind – and therefore the body, and accept new ideas and change into the heart. But Indigenous peoples are so strong that they will no doubt complete the task at hand. Indigenous Red Nations and Peoples struggle to protect Grand Mother Earth in these trying times.

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