To This Day.......
The American Indian is still being attacked by the forces that will deny
us of our identity and our very existence as a culture. "Quantum"
measurements on who is full blood, who is not, is being taken. They are offering
money to those who claim to be full blood with documentation. With this act, it
will deny thousands of people of mixed blood but who in their hearts walk the
Red Path and carry the blood of Warriors in their hearts, souls and veins.
To all nations I plead, do not let greed separate us as a people or a culture!
That is the white man's greatest weapon that is destroying not only his culture
but other cultures and basically this great country.
My Cherokee Heritage is not for sale! I will not deny who I am, my ancestors
nor their teachings or beliefs! I dedicate this page to my Cherokee brothers
and blood brothers.
By taking pride in who we are, we stand together with our brothers of the other
nations as one people, one spirit, one nation!
The text below was sent to me by my Lakota Sister Laura Goodhands Woman. It was
written by Felipe Duran and published by Mr. Glen Walker at Indigenous
People Web site Take
the words to your heart and know who you really are.
"TETSALGAI"
I am
Cherokee
"WARRIOR"
An
Indian warrior is a person whose Spirits one with
the Creator...whose heart belongs to the
People....whose life is a sacred gift given by the
ancestors....whose mind is the greatest weapon and
shield in life's battles.
The foremost
responsibility of an Indian warrior is to be true to
one's self...to the People...and to the Creator. The
purpose in life is to ensure the survival and well
being of The People. An Indian Warrior transforms
knowledge into wisdom and therefore understands that
the greatest enemy in life is one's self. He must
overcome weaknesses.
A true Warrior will
sacrifice His Heart upon the altar of life for the
survival of the People. He may be wounded or killed a
thousand times in battle, but the spirit cannot be
destroyed for the spirit of a true warrior is eternal
as the stars.
An Indian Warrior
lives by a code of honor...beyond the reach of most
mortals.
An Indian Warrior speaks directly to the
Creator and Mother Earth thru sacred prayer and
ceremony, giving offerings of gratitude and respect. A
true Indian Warrior is Proud...yet humble, with a
heart full of love for the People.
The path of an Indian warrior is the most difficult path of all for He will know pain and suffering in ways no one else ever can. The pain of life's injustices will be absorbed into the whole of their being.
He may be captured...imprisoned...and taken away from the
People, but the Spirit lives in the hearts of The
People....for He is one of The People and will always
be loved an respected by the People...Unconditionally.
He will be forgiven
mistakes by the Spirits and the Holy People because He
has forgiven the self and humbled oneself before the
People.
He will go to the
mountaintop without food or water to pray to the
Spirits of the land and cry for a vision. This sacred
vision will lead thru the darkest hours of life. It
shall lead to the light of the Creator.
An Indian
warrior must always believe in Himself...in the Spirit
helpers..and in the Indian Way of Life.
He must always speak
and live the truth of who...and what...he is when
standing before the eyes of the Creator.
An Indian
Warrior is not afraid of Death...and shall NEVER
surrender to the Dark Forces of Life which attempt to
break the Spirit...for the Spirit cannot be
broken...the mind cannot be defeated..
The vision of life is
that of the Eagle...with clarity and purpose in being.
The wings are strong and carry the spirit to the
highest levels of self-understanding and spiritual
growth as a human being.
Special Thanks to our
Blood Brother
Cougar Heart for the beautiful background and my Banner. "Wa'do" my
Brother!
