Red Foxes Talking Circle

Red Fox · Feb 26, 2015

"The Great Spirit is the one that's looking after us." --Jimmy Jackson, OJIBWAY

The only place our minds can find peace is when our focus is on the Creator. Daily we need to ask the Creator to direct our thinking. When we look at our brothers and sisters, we need to see the Creator in them. When we look at the trees, plants and the animals, we need to realize the Creator is within us. Our attention needs to be on the Creator. When we work, we do it for the Creator. When we are troubled, we need to pray to the Creator. When we are happy and joyful, we need to realize we are feeling the presence of the Creator. Thinking God thoughts will produce peace.

Oh Great Mystery, let me focus on You today.

Elder's Mediation by White Bison

ZedaClaire · Feb 26, 2015

Red Fox said:
Yes, that is true. I have spent the vast majority of my Christian walk struggling to remain Christian. It saddens me to say that the most criticism and mistreatment I have received as a Native American Christian has been from Caucasian Protestant Christians and non-Christian NDNs. I have never been told by another minority Christian that I would have to abandon my entire NDN identity to be a genuine Christian and to be truly saved. However, I have been told that many times by Caucasian Protestant Christians over the years. I was told I would never been accepted into white society if I didn't abandon everything having to do with being NDN. Now on the other side, I have had many non-Christian NDNs criticize me and fight with me over being a Christian. They were mad at me for being a part of the "white man's religion" as Christianity is called. So yes, I have struggled to remain Christian over the years. It's been very hard for me.

I just arrived at your talking circle and was touched by this post. We met yesterday in the News Forum talking about the Keystone Pipeline. I am sorry that you have been treated so poorly by people who would judge your Christianity. No one has that right. I know that you don't have to change a thing about who you are and I respect your desire to respect your First Nation heritage.

ZedaClaire · Feb 26, 2015

Red Fox said:
They have my prayers.

'60s Scoop: Aboriginal adoptees sue Ottawa for loss of culture, emotional trauma

I have read about and followed this story for a couple of years now. I can not post links yet because I am still new to this forum but thought you might be interested in a course I took at Coursera called Aboriginal Worldviews and Education. They covered many interesting facets of First Nation Peoples culture and education system and included many stories of the children who had been kidnapped from their people in both Canada and the US. I hope their lawsuit is successful. I know the Canadian government apologized a few years ago for this genocidal policy, but apologies don't go far enough for the damage that was done.

ZedaClaire · Feb 26, 2015

Red Fox said:
As an NDN Christian, I have been criticized and mistreated over the years. I have been told what I believe and what I don't believe by other Christians, who in all honesty, had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. Have you, even if you're not a Christian, had a similar experience with other people trying to tell you what it is you believe or what you don't believe? Would you talk about it with me here within the Circle? I would like to discuss this issue.

I think every "liberal Christian" has been accused of not being a "real Christian."

LoAmmi · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
As I have clearly demonstrated, I am very proud of my NDN culture. But I also want to make sure I have balance in my life. I remind myself that I need to learn about other cultures to keep myself compassionate toward other people. With that in mind, I want to give each of you an opportunity to share your pride in your own culture. Please share what you are proud of your culture for. It is time that I listened rather than talk. I am listening.

It is astounding to me that for a people making up less than one percent of the world's population (something around .2 percent if I recall), Jews have won about 22% of the Nobel Prizes handed out. Our commitment to education really shines in those types of things.

jacknife · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
As I have clearly demonstrated, I am very proud of my NDN culture. But I also want to make sure I have balance in my life. I remind myself that I need to learn about other cultures to keep myself compassionate toward other people. With that in mind, I want to give each of you an opportunity to share your pride in your own culture. Please share what you are proud of your culture for. It is time that I listened rather than talk. I am listening.

hmmmm i am not sure i have any pride in my own culture. i guess i like my families thanksgiving ritual? does that count lol.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

ZedaClaire said:
I just arrived at your talking circle and was touched by this post. We met yesterday in the News Forum talking about the Keystone Pipeline. I am sorry that you have been treated so poorly by people who would judge your Christianity. No one has that right. I know that you don't have to change a thing about who you are and I respect your desire to respect your First Nation heritage.

Welcome to my Talking Circle, ZedaClaire. I'm honored to have you here within our Circle. I wanted to let you know that I'm not First Nations of Canada, I'm an American Indian, living in the United States. I also thank you for your sentiment toward me, it means a lot to me. Again, welcome to our Circle.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

ZedaClaire said:
I have read about and followed this story for a couple of years now. I can not post links yet because I am still new to this forum but thought you might be interested in a course I took at Coursera called Aboriginal Worldviews and Education. They covered many interesting facets of First Nation Peoples culture and education system and included many stories of the children who had been kidnapped from their people in both Canada and the US. I hope their lawsuit is successful. I know the Canadian government apologized a few years ago for this genocidal policy, but apologies don't go far enough for the damage that was done.

Yes, the government of Canada apologized to the First Nations People, Australia apologized to its indigenous people, and in 2009, President Obama signed an official apology and personally apologized to the Native Americans in the United States. It is the first official apology offered by the United States government for the long-running persecution of Native Americans. There is a video on YouTube, but I can't find it at this time. I'm grateful for the apology from President Obama, it is so long overdue. He is the only American President with the honor and integrity to do so. He is also the first American President to be adopted into an NDN nation, which was the Crow. He's the only American President that I have ever come to respect.

An American Apology, Long Overdue

President Obama Signs Native American Apology Resolution

President Obama acknowledges need for Native American Apology

Apology to Tribes - US apologizes to American Indians for mistreatment

A Tree Fell in the Forest: The U.S. Apologized to Native Americans and No One Heard a Sound

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

LoAmmi said:
It is astounding to me that for a people making up less than one percent of the world's population (something around .2 percent if I recall), Jews have won about 22% of the Nobel Prizes handed out. Our commitment to education really shines in those types of things.

How else will our people's culture, history, and language survive if we don't teach our children and other people about them? We have to stand up and let our voices be heard. We have to stand up to protect our people and speak up for those of our people who can't do that for themselves, like our children.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

jacknife said:
hmmmm i am not sure i have any pride in my own culture. i guess i like my families thanksgiving ritual? does that count lol.

If I may ask, what is your culture(s)?

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, which has caused quite a few problems between me and many of my non-native relatives over the years.

LoAmmi · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
How else will our people's culture, history, and language survive if we don't teach our children and other people about them? We have to stand up and let our voices be heard. We have to stand up to protect our people and speak up for those of our people who can't do that for themselves, like our children.

That my people have kept our culture alive even while scattered is pretty important to me. It seems very unlikely to me that it should have happened. Many peoples who have had such things occur have assimilated and lost their unique culture. Somehow, we have kept ours. My explanation that it was HaShem who has done this is, of course, only mine. I realize many other people chalk it up to chance or stubbornness or whatever.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

LoAmmi said:
That my people have kept our culture alive even while scattered is pretty important to me. It seems very unlikely to me that it should have happened. Many peoples who have had such things occur have assimilated and lost their unique culture. Somehow, we have kept ours. My explanation that it was HaShem who has done this is, of course, only mine. I realize many other people chalk it up to chance or stubbornness or whatever.

I believe the same about the American Indian, that it was the Great Spirit, God, our Creator, who has kept our people from being utterly destroyed and wiped from the face of this Earth, which is very significant, considering all that was done to my people was done in His name and in the name of Christ.

I wanted to share with you what I wrote about this in another thread.

All that was done to American NDNs of that time was done under the guise of Christianity, which led to the ideals of Manifest Destiny, which led to all the forced removals of NDNs from their ancestral homeland unto barren land Reservations; the death marches, such as the Trail of Tears; the chemical warfare of small-pox in blankets given to NDNs; the broken treaties violated by the United States government in the theft of NDN land (one perfect example of this is Oklahoma); the cultural genocide based on "Kill the Indian, but Save the Man," which led to the NDN Residential Schools; and ultimately the attempted genocide committed the entire race of the American NDN, which led to the deaths of millions of NDN men, women and children living on the land that is now America. And all of these atrocities lead back to the ideals of Manifest Destiny, which was done in the name of God and under the guise of Christianity, resulting in the Native American genocide committed on the land that is now the United States of America.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

This Date in Native History: On February 27, 1973, about 250 Sioux Indians led by members of the American Indian Movement converged on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, launching the famous 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee.

AIM Occupation of Wounded Knee Begins

Let's not forget that there is no American history without NDN history first.

LoAmmi · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
I believe the same about the American Indian, that it was the Great Spirit, God, our Creator, who has kept our people from being utterly destroyed and wiped from the face of this Earth, which is very significant, considering all that was done to my people was done in His name and in the name of Christ.

I wanted to share with you what I wrote about this in another thread.

Well, yeah, most things done to Jews in Europe were in the name of Jesus because we were the murderers of Jesus, right?

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

LoAmmi said:
Well, yeah, most things done to Jews in Europe were in the name of Jesus because we were the murderers of Jesus, right?

Yes, I know, and it was just as wrong. I'm very sorry, my friend.

LoAmmi · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
Yes, I know, and it was just as wrong. I'm very sorry, my friend.

That said, I have no idea how to fix the wrongs done to your people. Obviously the land can't be given back at this point.

jacknife · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
If I may ask, what is your culture(s)?

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, which has caused quite a few problems between me and many of my non-native relatives over the years.

i have no idea myself. i guess western n culture? Ive never thought about this. i have British and German bloodlines in my family but we dont really celebrate that....i think?

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

LoAmmi said:
That said, I have no idea how to fix the wrongs done to your people. Obviously the land can't be given back at this point.

No, but the United States government can honor the treaties it has with our sovereign NDN nations and leave our tribal lands alone.

Red Fox · Feb 27, 2015

(FYI, Victor is a character from the movie "Smoke Signals")

smaneck · Feb 27, 2015

Red Fox said:
AIM Occupation of Wounded Knee Begins

Let's not forget that there is no American history without NDN history first.

I remember that. It began two weeks after I became a Baha'i.

The original massacre at Wounded Knee was in 1890 where some 300 Native Americans were slaughtered for participating in the Ghost Dance which ironically was the outcome of a synthesis of Christianity and Native American spirituality.

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