No talk is ever given without first
indicating your humility. "I am
an ignorant man . . . "--all the talks start this
way. "I don't know nearly as
much as you men sitting around
here, but I would like to offer my
humble opinion . . . "--and then
he'll knock you down with logic
and wisdom.
-ALLEN QUEONE,
KIOWA, 1974
By: Terri Jean
At certain spiritual events or happenings, it is
possible for the spirits to come. Sometimes
these spirits look like sparklers of light, some-
times you can feel them, sometimes they will
look like live human beings. The spirits always
come for a reason. When we deal with the
spirit world, we need to be patient. The Great
Spirit will tell us the meaning of these hap-
penings when He is ready.
Great Spirit,
let me be
aware of Your
presence.
By: Don Coyhis
Life will not fail us if we do not fail it.
It is like a fresh flow from a spring that starts so
strong but puddles in those hard-to-cross places.
We are open to catch debris and easily riled, but we
can cleanse ourselves and move on.
We are life, and we can feed it or starve it.
Regret starves--but peace and rest can restore.
Look at sunlight and shadow playing across the
plains, see the rose-colored patches that lie like
swatches of fabric over the hills. Life is there, stir it
up and give it a place. It is the way of the Tsa la gi.
Hidden in the ceremonies are many truths,
many principles, many guidelines for living -
our access to the Unseen World, healing and
visions. Because the Indian People didn't have
schools or books, the Great Spirit gave us Cer-
emonies. The ceremonies are handed down
from generation to generation to learn their
meaning. Today, many Indian People live in
cities or urban areas where it's hard to learn
the ceremonies. We need to go to the Elders
and learn the ceremonies so we can pass them
on to our children.
Great Spirit,
teach me the
Secrets of the
Ceremonies.
By: Don Coyhis
"The earth was created by the assistance
of the sun, and it should be left as it was...
The country was made without lines of
demarcation, and it is no man's business
to divide it..."
-Chief Joseph, NEZ PERCE
There is a danger when we start to draw lines
and boundaries. This is true whether outside
ourselves or inside ourselves. The danger is
losing sight of interconnectedness. When we
lose sight of interconnectedness, separation,
possessiveness (this is mine, I can do what I
want) and infighting results. Even at an indi-
vidual level, if we don't believe we are con-
nected to all things we get self centered and
have self-seeking motives. We must think in
harmony, balance and integrity. We must see
our relationship to the great whole and con-
duct ourselves accordingly.
Great Spirit,
today, let me
think beyond
boundaries.
By: Don Coyhis
Good words do not last long unless
they amount to something. Words do
not pay for my dead people. Words do
not pay for my country, now overrun
by white men. They do not protect my
father's grave. They do not pay for all
my horses and cattle. Good words will
not give me back my children. Good
words will not make good the promise
of your War Chief. Good words will
not give my people good health and
stop them from dying. Good words will
not get my people a home where they
can live in peace and take care of
themselves. I am tired of talk that
comes to nothing. It makes my heart
sick when I remember all the good
words and all the broken promises.
There has been too much talking by
men who had no right to talk.
-CHIEF JOSEPH
(HIN-MAH-TOO-YAH-LAT-KEKT), NEZ PERCE,
1840-1904