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Related to the Arvol Looking Horse Proclamation

I would like to comment on Arvol Looking Horse's statement. Everyone should ask him what exactly his role is. I respect what he was called to do, but that is all he is supposed to be doing, not trying to make a name for himself.He himself sat with non-natives and smoked a pipe to bring certain sundances to the people. They have shook hands with their brothers and turned on them in a heart beat. We don't say all my relations unless I change my mind and you don't fit in my plans. It's all my relations period, end of sentence. Where were these people when my mother fought for the instatement of NAGPRA. When she laid down in front of bull dozers so they couldn't level a sacred burial site. If you want something to fight for, fight for that. Unified as a nation, this is all about divide and conquer. Doesn't anyone see, it won't stop with this. You take non-native supporters out of the mix, and it weakens us. Then they win once again.I hope this plea does not fall on deaf ears.Reconcider what the political agenda is before you destroy what everyone has worked so hard to re-build.

Kat (February 2004)

I have a story that involves the infamous Arvol and the avenging angel Red Cherries. I thought maybe that first line would grab your attention! So, here goes: Twelve years ago a Medicine man from the Oglala's was visiting a family in the east that he had known for many years . The man he was visiting had grown up in the White River community. He attended ceremonies with the people including Grandpa Fools Crow. He was given a Canupa that was made by a Lakota brother at Green Grass over twenty years ago. He is a very humble human being and would never disrespect the Canupa or any of the Seven Rites. This man worked on Grave Desecration issues in the east for many years and was asked by AIM to video tape the interviews at these issues. He also taped T.V. news reports / footage of this abomidable act. While this Oglala man was visiting he viewed these videos. They disturbed him greatly. When he got home he (Stood on the Hill) at Bear Butte four days crying over the ancestors. He was given a vision to have a Sundance in the East for all the ancestors that have had their spirit journey interrupted. Thus , he brought a Canupa to the man in the east he had known for so long asking him to have the Sundance.

This man is so very careful and respectful of Lakota ways he took the issue to his Canupa . Then he went to an AIM meeting to ask how they felt about the idea. They ALL agreed this would be a good thing. They went to Inipi and then sealed the decision with a Canupa. Done. The Sundance for the ancestors in the east would come about. And so it did.

It wasn't long before lies started spreading about this man and this Sundance. He was called and invited to another AIM meeting in Columbus , Ohio where he was accused of charging money, being a plastic medicine man, yada yada. Same old song and dance. But this was done by some of the very men he had went to previously. The same men that smoked the Canupa with him to bring the Sundance east! I was at these AIM meetings taking notes for one of the leaders so I know that this happened.

This Sundance has grown so large and there have been so many people healed at this Sundance tree that the amount of people is large and there are dancers from all over the world. There are full bloods from many nations, orientals, blacks, and whites. Mitakuye Oyasin ! Every single dancer , supporter , firekeeper , security , the drum , everyone is very respectful . All these people are at this Sundance with one heart , one mind. They are reminded each year during purification of how this Sundance came to be in this area and why.They pray about many things , their own families and countries and the wars that are always taking place somewhere. They pray for the Earth and the terrible treatment she has suffered at mans hands , they pray for all the people and they pray for the ancestors that fought so hard and died trying to keep the freedom to pray alive!

This Sundance is held on U.S. Forest ground. It is the first one to ever be held on U.S. Forest land so it being there has set a precedence . Last year Mr. Red Cherries hopped on the bandwagon to shut this Sundance down. He and some of his followers went to the office of the Forest Service in that area and tried to cause problems when they were told no, under no circumstances would they stop this dance.(A contract is signed yearly) So this man has persued his endevor , he and Arvol got together; out comes a declaration from The Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe ! At this point I should tell you that the man that took the Canupa to bring this dance to the east has went to Green Grass many, many times in the last twelve years to pray and ask for blessings on this Sundance !

I have been out of the political arena for many years now. I have watched and listened to so many disputes about White Sundances, Plastic Medicine Men , Sundances east of the Mississippi , etc. I have heard one "Medicine Man" badmouthing another, time after time . So many of us have fought for Treaty Rights , Grave Desecration Bills and Freedom of Religion , but the minute we win one battle with the Govt. someone will come along with some action or complaint and tear apart all that has taken us years to accomplish! I recieved an e-mail in response to one I sent to Mr. Red Cherries over five or six months ago ! It was very rude and he refered to "My White World", assuming that I was white , not even knowing me ! I learned a long time ago not to assume anything. So please correct me here if I'm wrong. When your young and you sit and listen to the elders talk / teach you just assume that they are telling you the truth as they know it to be . Elders from both the No. Cheyenne and the Lakota have taught that tragedy comes when people put their Canupa's up and don't fufill their comittments . O.K. I look at the dictate that Arvol put out saying who can and who can't dance or pray with a Canupa and I remember the words of the old ones. It was only about three months after he said these things in his mandate , after he wouldn't let the women up on Bear Butte for his "meeting", that all kinds of disasters took place all over Turtle Island ! There were over five hundred tornado's ! Seems to me like The Thunder Biengs were unhappy , maybe even angry! Tunkasila may have been sending a message ! He knows who is clean in heart. He knows who honors the Canupa Way and who doesn't . He and only He will judge them ! It was Him that helped us to win back the Freedom of Religion ! Are we going to let the words and or works of a few rob us of it? This so called Declaration from Red Cherries (NO. Cheyenne) is asking for an ammendment to the Freedom of Religion Act. If they pursue trying to stop this Sundance in the east because of The Feather Permit do you think it will all stop there ? It won't . The Govt. will use this against Sundances all over even on the reservations. How many Medicine Men carry a feather permit? How many full blood sundancers do?I said this in a return e-mail to Red Cherries but his ears are like Custers, they need cleaned out ! This is all about Red Power and prejudice, it's not about Sundancing or praying . This Govt. is wily like a weasel , sit back and watch where they take this !! The man that has this Sundance just called from Rapid City ( AnnaMae's Trial) . He said to tell everyone, "As long as life flows through me I will honor these ways", we need a national - international spiritual renewal , so everyone , pick up your Canupa and pray ".

I know this is very long and I wanted to add a copy of the e-mails I mentioned . If anyone would like to respond please do. My address is wakilgarber@surfmore.net
Mitakuye Oyasin ,
Kathy Wakil

Feb 2004