Pre European History for North American People

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Pre 1600 knowledge, myth, lore, ways, & history upon the Native Peoples of the North Western Part of the world. Trying to relearn the teaching stories & ways of the past.

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  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "You will only get back what you give out."
    -- Joe Coyhis, STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE
    The Great Spirit created a system of balance and justice. This law says, if you treat others with respect, you will be treated with respect. If you gossip about no one, no one will gossip about you. If you are fair in all of your dealings, you can expect the same. If you share with others, others will share with you. If you judge others, others will judge you. You will always get back what you give out. The original teaching talks about being a giving person. A giving person will constantly be on the receiving end.

    My Creator, help me to be a giving person today

    Sep 23, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Touch not the poisonous firewater that makes wise men turn to fools and robs the spirit of its vision."
    -- Tecumseh, SHAWNEE
    It's not an accident that firewater is also called spirits. Firewater affects our judgments. The Great Spirit created a set of laws and principles by which we are to live our lives. When we have problems we should pray and ask for the wisdom of these laws. If instead we turn to liquor, our judgement will be affected. It is the decision and choice made under the influence of booze that causes us to be fools. We need to learn to lean on prayer and not on the spirits of alcohol.

    Great Spirit, teach me to pray. Let not one drop of liquor touch my lips today

    Sep 24, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Even the trees have spirits - everything has a spirit."
    -- Mary Hayes, CLAYOQUOT
    The trees are great teachers. The trees are great listeners. That is why we should meditate in their presence. The Great spirit is in every rock, every animal, every human being, and in every tree. The Great Spirit has been in some trees for hundreds of years. Therefore, the trees have witnessed and heard much. The trees are the Elders of the Elders. Their spirits are strong and very healing.

    Great Spirit, teach me respect for all spiritual things

    Sep 25, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "No one likes to be criticized, but criticism can be something like the desert wind that, in whipping the tender stalks, forces them to strike their roots down deeper for security."
    -- Polingaysi Qoyawayma, HOPI
    You move toward and become that which you think about. Creating a vision is what guides our lives. If we get off track with our vision, then we experience conflict. Conflict is nature's way of telling us we are not in harmony. Criticism can be a way for one human being to help another. Often our Elders will give us criticism. This feedback is intended to be helpful. Criticism from our Elders helps us grow strong.

    Great Spirit, today, if I need it, please provide me positive criticism

    Sep 26, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "I received my education from my culture. My teachers were my grandmothers, and I am really thankful for that."
    -- Mary One Spot, SARCEE
    Our often unrecognized, but most powerful teachers are our women. In order for men to learn a balanced way, we need to learn from our men Elders and our women Elders. Learning from the women Elders will teach us a whole different set of values and insights to life. When we have life problems, we need to go to the grandmothers to get their advice.

    Grandmothers, teach me the values of the Great Mystery

    Sep 27, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts."
    -- Don Talayesva, HOPI
    Human beings function from choice. We can choose to stuff things, or we can choose to let go of things. If we choose to stuff things, then we will feel a heaviness, or sorrow, self pity or fear. Sometimes we feel the need to cry. Sometimes we are taught it is not okay to cry. The creator designed the human being to cry. Crying is a release. This release allows us to let go of thoughts that are not helping us so we can open to new thoughts that will help. Crying is natural for women and men.

    Grandfather, if I need to cry, let me realize it's a natural process and help me to let go

    Sep 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "So I prayed, but I had to pray from my heart. All of my concentration and thoughts went from my head to my heart. All of my senses - hearing, smell, taste, and feeling - were connected to my heart."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    The heart is the gateway to the Unseen World, to the Spirit World. It takes real concentration to do this. To connect to our own heart is also a mental state. It starts in the head and transitions to the heart. This mental state is our inner stillness. Be still and know. This place of the heart is very joyous and peaceful. It is this place that we become one with God, our Creator.

    Great Spirit, teach me to be a heart warrior.

    Sep 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Love is something that you can leave behind you when you die. It's that powerful."
    -- John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA
    The Old Ones say, love is all anyone needs. Love doesn't go away nor can love be divided. Once you commit an act of love, you'll find it continues. Love is like setting up dominos one behind the other. Once you hit the first domino, it will touch the second one which will touch the third one and so on. Every love act or love thought has an affect on each person as well as touching the whole world. If you live a life filled with love, the results will affect your friends, relatives, and other people, even after you go to the other side. So... Love.

    My Creator, let me love. Let me put into action the love dominos

    Sep 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Laughter - that is something very sacred, especially for us Indians."
    -- John (Fire) Lame Deer, ROSEBUD LAKOTA
    Laughter is mental, laughter is emotional, laughter is physical, and laughter is spiritual. Laughter helps us find balance. If we get too angry, laughter will turn that emotion in a balanced direction. If we have a mental picture of someone who is too strong, laughter will help ease the tension. If the body is stressed, laughter will release natural relaxants into our muscles and our nervous system. Laughter often changes our attitude. We need to lighten up and laugh more.

    Great Spirit, teach me to laugh

    Oct 2, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "So don't be afraid. What we left behind, leave it back there. Try to do some good. Let's try to take a step, try to think something good."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    Every day is a new day. Sometimes we make mistakes. We do not need to carry these mistakes along with us. Take the lessons and leave the mistakes behind. Look forward to today. Today we can do something good. Today we can have good thoughts. Today we can think kind, uplifting thoughts about ourselves. Today I will think good about ...

    My Creator, today I ask You to direct my thoughts

    Oct 2, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Lots of people hardly ever feel real soil under their feet, see plants grow except in flower pots, or get far enough beyond the street light to catch the enchantment of a night sky studded with stars. When people live far from scenes of the Great Spirit's making, it's easy for them to forget His laws."
    -- Tatanga Mani (Walking Buffalo), STONEY
    Nature is life's greatest teacher. The natural laws are hidden in nature. Hidden are solutions to everyday problems such as; conflict resolution, how to forgive, lessons about differences, how to manage organizations, how to think. Hidden are feelings. You can look at something and you will feel it. At night, have you ever looked at the sky when there are no clouds? As you look at all the stars, your heart will become very joyful. You will walk away feeling joyful and peaceful. We need to visit nature so we can see and feel these things.

    My Creator, let me learn nature's lessons

    Oct 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The dances are prayers."
    -- Pop Chalee, TAOS PUEBLO
    When we dance to the drum we pray to the Creator and attract the heartbeat of the earth. We never dance without reason; every dance has a purpose. We dance for rain; we dance for healing; we dance for seasons; we dance for joy; we dance for our children; we dance for the people; we dance for courage. The drum plays to the beat of the heart, to the beat of the Earth. The drum connects us to the Earth while we dance our prayers.

    Oh, Great One, let my dance and prayer be heard by You

    Oct 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We have a biological father and mother, but our real Father is Tunkashila [Creator] and our real Mother is the Earth."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    Who really gives us our life? Who really gives us our food and nurturing? Who really allows us to be born? We are born through our parents who act as the vehicle of life for the Creator and Mother Earth. Our parents take care of us for a little while and when we are ready we must leave them and be faithful to our true Father, the Creator, and our true Mother, the Earth. Then we need to be of service to the Creator and be respectful to Mother Earth.

    Great Spirit, thank you for being my Father. Teach me to honor the Earth

    Oct 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Search for the truth. Indian values teach the holistic approach to the use of technology for mankind's good."
    -- Al Qoyawayma, HOPI
    The Great Spirit had given us certain values to live by. If we learn to think in harmony with these values such as; respect, love, patience, tolerance, commitment, trust, etc., we cannot get off track. No matter what we do, we will always be in harmony. For example, if we are respectful, then we will respect the earth, our children, our women, our men, and ourselves. Indian values help us walk under the guidance of the Great Spirit.

    My Creator, today I search for the truth, Your truth. Please let me see it

    Oct 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Spiritual Values are an Attitude."
    -- Leonard George, Chief Councilor
    Attitude is a direction which we follow. If you have a positive attitude, it means you will lean towards a positive direction. If you have a negative attitude, it means you will lean away from the Spirit. Therefore, if we lean toward spiritual values, then our actions will become significant and important. If we lean away from spiritual values, our actions will become insignificant or unimportant. For example, if we value love, we will lean towards it; we will prefer to express and embrace it.

    Great Spirit, teach me the significance of spiritual values

    Oct 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "I think that's what unity is - knowing one another,coming together, and working with no conflict."
    -- Chief Alan Wilson, HAIDA
    When we are aligned with spiritual values, we cannot be in fear or conflict. When we are aligned to spiritual values, we have the Creator whispering solutions in our ears. Unity is one of the spiritual values. When we value unity we value solutions. If we think this way, then we have no conflict within ourselves.

    Great Spirit, let me see through Your eyes

    Oct 10, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "That spiritual power I wear is much more beautiful and much greater. We call it wisdom, knowledge, power and gift, or love. There are these four parts to that spiritual power. So I wear those. When you wear that power it will beautify your mind and spirit. You become beautiful. Everything that Tunkashila creates is beautiful."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    When I was young, I asked my grandfather, "What should I pray for?" He thought for a long time and then he said, "Pray only for wisdom and for the knowledge of love." This makes a lot of sense. No matter what happens I ask the Creator to show me the lessons I should be learning. I pray for Him to help me learn the lessons. By doing this everyday we become beautiful human beings.

    Great Spirit, grant me Your wisdom.

    Oct 10, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Many religions have been brought to this land. And the way my religion is, they teach me, and they taught me, and told me to resect all religions. And I still do that."
    -- Horace Axtell, NEZ PERCE
    The Creator put on this Earth many different religions which represent different roads to walk to God. All religions are right and good if the path is the path to God. Should we be judging which road is better or worse than the other? When we accept each other's way we can stand in a circle, hold hands and listen to each other as we pray to God. Let us be more accepting of the religions of others.

    Great Spirit - God, Grandfather, Grandmother, Lord - let me know peace

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "All of us begin to rethink what is good about ourselves - put the past where it belongs - and get on with the possibilities of the present!"
    -- Howard Rainer, TAOS PUEBLO-CREEK
    There is a saying, you move toward and become that which you think about. So the question for today is, what are you thinking about? Are you thinking bad things about yourself or are you thinking good things about yourself? Are you thinking about a worldly life? Are you thinking good things about people or are you gossiping about people? Are you focusing on past things or are you living in the future? We need to bring our thoughts into the NOW, right here.

    Great Spirit, let me experience living in the present moment

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new sweet earth and the Great Silence alone!"
    -- Ohiyesa (Dr. Charles A. Eastman), SANTEE SIOUX
    The most important thing we can do during the course of the day is pray in the morning. There is a special time in the morning that has great power. This is the exact time the sun is rising. During the rising of the sun, everything on the Earth is waking up. Animals, plants, birds, and humans will be blessed at the rising of the sun. This is a special time to help us prepare for the day. During this time we ask the Creator to bless our day. We ask Him to guide us, to protect us and to give us courage to overcome the day's obstacles. Doing this everyday will give us knowledge of God's will for us.

    Grandfather, Grandmother, guide my path. Let my thinking be guided by You

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "So unbelievable things like that happen. But you have to believe it first. Not wait until you see it first, then touch it, then believe it... You have to say it from the heart."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    The power of our belief system is incredible. The power of faith is a very natural power. How do we have faith? Inside of our minds we form a mental picture with our self talk. Self talk is recorded in our minds in three dimensions - words that trigger a picture, which has a feeling or an emotion attached to it. Once we get the words and the picture, it is the emotion that makes the idea turn into a belief. You get the right emotion by saying things from the heart. The heart is the source of emotions which can cause unbelievable things to happen.

    Great Spirit, with You everything is possible

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The greatest obstacle to the internal nature is the mind. If it relies on logic…the domain of the inner nature is inaccessible. The simple fact is a man does not challenge the wisdom of the Holy Mystery."
    -- Turtleheart, TETON SIOUX
    Why is it we need to analyze and understand everything? The Great Mystery has designed certain areas of creation to be a mystery because humans usually misuse it. We use the Great Mystery and see it unfold only under the direction of the Great Spirit. The Creator is in charge.

    Great Spirit, let me realize You are in charge. I'm to do what You want

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Men and women have an equal responsibility to restore the strength of the family, which is the foundation of all cultures."
    -- Haida Gwaii Traditional Circle of Elders
    The family is the heartbeat of strength of the culture. The grandfathers and grandmothers taught their children; they in turn had children who taught their children. If the family isn't taught the culture, then the children become adults, and the adults become the grandfathers and grandmothers, and the result is the culture becomes lost. This is how language is lost; this is how dances are lost; this is how knowledge is lost. We need to listen to our Elders, today, before it's too late.

    Great Spirit, teach me the culture so I can teach the children

    Oct 16, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "There is one God looking down on us all. We are children of the one God. God is listening to me. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we now say."
    -- Geronimo, APACHE
    The Old Ones before us knew things. Many of them were so spiritual that the Creator told them things through visions, ceremonies, and prayer. The Creator taught them about interconnectedness, balance and respect. The Old Ones experienced these things and told us we are all children of the same God. We all live under the same natural laws. Every human being, every animal, every plant, every insect, every bird, we are all the same in the eyes of God.

    Great Mystery, teach me to respect all the things You have created

    Oct 21, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "As Elders, it is our place to show respect to our young people in order to gain respect."
    -- Grace Azak, NISGA'A
    The attitude of our leaders will be the attitude of the people. The attitude of the parents will be the attitude of the children. If respect is shown from above, respect will be developed below. If the Elders show respect, the younger people will be respectful. As above, so below. This happens because of interconnectedness. The heart of the Elders is connected to the heart of the youth.

    Great Spirit, in the fall season let me respect both the Elders and the youth

    Oct 21, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The teachings are for all, not just for Indians... The white people never wanted to learn before. They thought we were savages. Now they have a different understanding, and they do want to learn. We are all children of God. The tradition is open to anyone who wants to learn."
    -- Don Jose Matusuwa, HUICHOL
    In the summer of 1994, a white buffalo calf was born. This means that now is the time for all races to come together. The Elders say that at this time a voice from within will speak to everyone. It will say now is the time to forgive, now is the time to come together. Are we willing to do this? Are we willing to quit judging other people? The Elders say, He will be talking through people of all races and gender. We need to open our hearts and welcome our brothers and sisters.

    Great Spirit, let my ears be open as I walk the path You have chosen for me

    Oct 21, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "But we have to stick by the wisdom of our ancestors..."
    -- Paula Weasel Head, BLOOD
    A long time ago the Elders and our ancestors learned to walk on the Earth and to live in harmony. They were taught the Laws which govern everything, and they were taught traditional values. This wisdom should be made available to the younger generations. We need to speak to the Elders and learn from them. We need to do this so we can pass the knowledge on to our children.

    My Creator, help me learn the wisdom of my ancestors

    Oct 21, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Peace... comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the Universe dwells Wakan-Tanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
    -- Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) OGLALA SIOUX
    If we are to know peace we must look within ourselves. In order to do this, we must learn to be still. We must quiet the mind. We must learn to meditate. Meditation helps us locate and find the center that is within ourselves. The center is where the Great One resides. When we start to look for peace, we need to realize where it is within ourselves. When we experience conflict we need to pause for a moment and ask the Power within ourselves, "How do you want me to handle this? What would you suggest I do in this situation?" By asking the Higher Power for help we find peace.

    Creator, help me to find peace

    Oct 21, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We do not walk alone. Great Being walks beside us. Know this and be grateful."
    -- Polingaysi Q“yawayma, HOPI
    Many religions have different names for these Beings. Some are called angels, some are called spirits. These Spirit Beings are helpers. They guide us, protect us and will help us during our times of need. Sometimes they give us dreams. We need not be afraid when these Spirit Helpers come. We need to understand they are the Creator's helpers.

    Great Spirit, send me the helpers to guide my path as I seek to walk in Your service

    Oct 23, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Growth is a painful process."
    -- Wilma Mankiller, CHEROKEE
    Whenever we grow, we usually need to let go of emotional attachments. Letting go can be painful. Sometimes growth allows us to deal with fear. All fear can fit into two categories: one, we're going to lose something we have, and two, we're not going to get something we want. Both of these categories can cause pain. The best way to grow is to pray to the Great Spirit and ask Him to guide and protect us. All growth is guided by God.

    My Creator, guide my growth today and give me Your love and courage to help my pain

    Oct 23, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "We create that bad among ourselves. We create it; then we try to call it devil, satan, or evil. But man creates it. There is no devil. Man creates the devil."
    -- Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
    Inside every human being are the laws and codes by which we should live. These laws and codes are communicated to us through a little voice. When we are still, this voice guides us. If we choose to live out of harmony, our lives become filled with anger, hate, selfishness, dishonesty, etc... When these things appear in our lives, we give up accountability and blame it on something or someone else. If we want to live in harmony, we need to pray our way back to living the principles the Creator gave us.

    Grandfather, today let me walk with the principles

    Oct 24, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "What does it matter how long I pray, so long as my prayers are answered?"
    -- Sitting Bull, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA
    Too often we worry about the words we use in prayer. We focus on the words. What really counts is the spirit and intent behind our words. It is the spirit and intent that the Creator responds to. He reads and listens to our heart. Prayer isn't only when we fold our hands and pray. Prayer is when we talk to the Creator even when we are walking down a path or sitting on a hill or walking in the mountains. The Elders say, walk in prayer. We should be willing to talk with the Great One.

    Great Spirit, today I will pray to You all day. Listen to my heart

    Oct 28, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "O Great Spirit Whose voice I hear in the winds, And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me! I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset."
    -- from, PRAYER TO THE GREAT SPIRIT
    The Great Spirit runs the world and the people by a set of natural laws and principles. He says we are to live our lives and make decisions that will be in harmony with these laws. He says we should be respectful to all things and to all people. He says we should pray for each other. He says we should forgive one another. It is easy to tell if a person is following the ways of the Great Spirit. You can tell by how a man walks in life. He doesn't need to say anything. If we are dishonest or deceitful, other people will know. This is true because we are all interconnected in the Unseen World.

    My Creator, let me obey Your ways. Let me Walk the Talk

    Oct 28, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "It seems that if Elders can feel that you are open to learning, they are more than generous with their teaching."
    -- Chief Councilor, Lenard George
    There is a saying, when the student is ready the teacher appears. If the Elders sense that you are ready, they will help you see and learn new things. Most human beings love to share what they know with people who are excited to listen. If you are talking to someone and you feel they really aren't listening, you won't want to tell them much. Before you go talk to the Elders, examine your motives - are you really excited about listening to them?

    My Creator, give me an open mind

    Oct 28, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Our religion seems foolish to you, but so does yours to me. The Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians and the Catholics all have a different God. Why cannot we have one of our own?"
    -- Sitting Bull, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA
    The Creator gave each culture a path to God. To the Indian people, he revealed that the Creator is in everything. Everything is alive with the Spirit of God. The water is alive. The trees are alive. The woods are alive. The mountains are alive. The wind is alive. The Great Spirit's breath is in everything and that's why it's alive. All of nature is our church, we eat with our families in church, we go to sleep in church.

    My Creator, let us leave people to worship You in the way You have taught them

    Oct 28, 2013

  • miyoko canter

    i agree

    Oct 28, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Mothers must protect the lives they have helped to bring into the world."
    -- Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders
    Every child is subject to the seeds each adult plants in his/her mind. If we plant praise and "you can do it", the child will grow up with certain predictable behavior patterns. If we plant ideas that there's something wrong with you or you're good for nothing, the child will grow up with predictable behavior patterns. We need to honor and respect the mothers who protect the children and plant positive seeds for their growth.

    Great Spirit, bless each mother and give her courage and faith

    Oct 29, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of your forefathers. ...You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blankets from the white man until you can no longer do without them; and what is worse you have drunk the poison firewater, which turns you into fools. Fling all these things away; live as your forefathers did before you."
    -- Pontiac, ODOWA
    We need to think as our forefathers did. They knew the culture and the customs. The culture taught them how to live in harmony with each other. We need to think like this again. We must be God-reliant. We don't need the firewater. This liquid is very destructive to our native people. It kills our spirit. Our Indian people are happiest when we are spiritual. When we depend on anyone or anything else, we get off track. We need to talk to the Elders and find out what the old ways were. We need to ask them to teach us the culture, the tradition, and the customs. This will help us become whole again.

    My Maker, guide my path as you did my ancestors

    Oct 30, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "One is not born a Tewa but rather one is made a Tewa... once made, one has to work hard continuously throughout one's life to remain a Tewa."
    -- Alfonso Ortiz, SAN JUAN PUEBLO
    Being Indian is being spiritual. It is not the color of our skin. Being Indian is how we think. We need to learn our culture, our language, our dances, our traditions, and customs. It is one thing to know these things, but another to live them. We need to spend time with the Elders and get their guidance. We need to go to the mountains, woods, and desert to pray. Being spiritual is the way for us to think right. Walking the Red Road and thinking right is the greatest gift we can give to our children.

    Grandfather, help me to Walk the Talk

    Oct 31, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Times change but principles do not. Times change but lands do not. Times change but our culture and our language remain the same. And that's what you have to keep intact. It's not what you wear - it's what's in your heart."
    -- Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA
    Going back to the old ways doesn't mean giving up electricity, homes, and cars. It means living by the same principles, laws, and values that our ancestors lived by. This will allow us to live successfully in today's world. The spirituality our ancestors lived is the same spirituality we need in these modern times. There are too many influences from TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and negative role models that are guiding our lives in a bad way. Our stability is in the laws, principles, and values that our ancestors were given and that our Elders teach us.

    Great Spirit, let me live my life in a spiritual way

    Nov 1, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Praying is what has brought us old people through life. We've all gone through hard times. We've all done our share of bad things. But through our prayers and faith in the Creator we get together again and we try hard to live right."
    -- Paula Weasel Head, BLOOD
    As we go through life we find ourselves on track one day and off track the next day. We gain consistency through prayer. Prayer is our connection to the Great Spirit. Prayer is our channel for knowledge and wisdom. Prayer is how we keep our sanity. The Elders say we should walk in prayer.

    Great Spirit, teach me to walk in prayer. Help keep my faith strong

    Nov 2, 2013

  • miyoko canter

    true.

    Nov 2, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "The honor of the people lies in the moccasin tracks of the woman. Walk the good road.... Be dutiful, respectful, gentle, and modest my daughter... Be strong with the warm, strong heart of the earth. No people goes down until their women are weak and dishonored, or dead upon the ground. Be strong and sing the strength of the Great Powers within you, all around you."
    -- Village Wise Man, SIOUX
    The Elders say the Native American women will lead the healing among the tribes. We need to especially pray for our women, and ask the Creator to bless them and give them strength. Inside them are the powers of love and strength given by the Moon and the Earth. When everyone else gives up, it is the women who sings the songs of strength. She is the backbone of the people. So, to our women we say, sing your songs of strength; pray for your special powers; keep our people strong; be respectful, gentle, and modest.

    Oh, Great One, bless our women. Make them strong today

    Nov 4, 2013

  • miyoko canter

    beautiful

    Nov 4, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "You could study the ancestors, but without a deep feeling of communication with them it would be surface learning and surface talking. Once you have gone into yourself and have learned very deeply, appreciate it, and relate to it very well, everything will come very easily."
    -- Ellen White, NANAIMO
    Inside of every human being are our ancestors, and these ancestors still live. Today, the white man calls this DNA, but there is more than DNA. We have the ability to go inside of ourselves and learn from the ancestors. The ancestor teachings reside in the place of the center. The ancestors are waiting for us to come there so they can share the ancient teachings. It is said, "Be still and know".

    Great Spirit, let me walk in the stillness.

    Nov 5, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "It is well to be good to women in the strength of our manhood because we must sit under their hands at both ends of our lives."
    -- He Dog, OGLALA LAKOTA
    The women bring us into this life and nurture us as we grow up. When we reach our manhood, she supports us and sings the songs to help the family grow. The Elders say we must look at the woman in a sacred way. We must realize how special her powers are in brining forth life. The woman will bring balance to a man. The woman will help him see. It is said, behind every successful man is a supporting woman. Maybe we should examine how we are thinking about women. The Great Spirit says we should honor them. Are we respecting and honoring our women today?

    Grandmother, Grandfather thank you for our women. Today, let me honor them

    Nov 6, 2013

  • miyoko canter

    true

    Nov 6, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "Abuse and repression have no place in a traditional family."
    -- Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders
    Traditional families guided by their culture were taught how to live. The were taught about relationships, respect, and spirituality. Only since alcohol was introduced to Indians have we seen physical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. These behaviors have no room in traditional families. The cycle of abuse must be broken during this generation. We do this by asking for help to quit drinking and abusing and return to our traditional culture and spirituality.

    Creator, plant inside of me the knowledge of the traditional family

    Nov 7, 2013

  • miyoko canter

    :)

    Nov 7, 2013

  • Dept of PMM Artists & things

    "See how the boy is with his sister and the other ones of his home lodge and you can know how the man will be with your daughter."
    -- LAKOTA Proverb
    Very early in our lives we form beliefs, attitudes, expectations, and habits. We will live by these habits when we are older. The Elders say to watch the boy with his sister. If he is respectful and treats her good, then odds are that's the way he will treat all women when he is older. Also, watch the young girl and how she treats her brother, for that will indicate what kind of woman she will be to her man. We need to teach our children to respect one another while they are young. The best way to teach them is to show respect ourselves.

    Great Spirit, let me be a role model for the children

    Nov 8, 2013