Reactions to the Statement of Arvol Looking Horse
Brevity is always the key to busy times, but how can I be brief in expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Ed McGaa, Eagle Man, who I fortuitously met in the mid-1990’s? I would not be here in the physical form today, had I not meet two people both Natives. They are Ed McGaa and Oh Shinnah, two very brave Natives who shared with non-natives their wisdom, and forgave our ignorance.
Because I knew my history and the suffering of Native American Indians at the hands of the white man, I choose not to pursue my spirituality with the Native American Indian. Too many controversial arguments existed then as do now about teaching non-natives.
If we ignore history, then we cheat ourselves and dishonor our ancestors. History requires us to be honest. Christianity never destroyed and eliminated the spiritual ways of the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Native Americans, and Eskimos entirely. Some ancient knowledge was lost, some modified and some knowledge went underground. Exclusion meant survival. Exclusion guaranteed that the Native elders could transmit the old ways to the young. When you recall the harsh treatment and deaths suffered by the white man, do not forget that not all the Native ways were lost solely because of Christian tyranny. Some Natives choose to adopt the Christian secular exclusion of woman in their spirituality as some still retain those views today. How much of the old traditions were lost because woman were excluded?
I am not a native. I can sympathize with the Native American Indian, but I cannot feel the pain and suffering. I can cry with you, but my ancestors blood did not spill, soil and taint this earth with the betrayal and arrival of the white man. Know this to be certain, however, these are perilous times for Mother Earth. Do NOT think that what happens in another continent, country, or big city in the US, will make you any safer because you are on a reservation. Settle your differences, allow dissention, and above all be cautious about exclusions because time is short and Mother Earth needs our prayers. Arguments about who can and cannot pray are small, and trivial. No greater moment lies before a people when one humbly comes and asks to be taught how to pray. What would the Great Spirit would think about those turned away because they are not Native?
My thanks to Ed McGaa and Oh Shinnah for this path I walk. This wonderful new path, opened by these two medicine people, would lead me to study the Pachakuti Mesa Inka tradition of Peru, and the Medicine Wheel of the Mayan traditions. It has been journey rich in knowledge, and tradition. Now I have a small glimpse of the awe, mystery, culture, and grand spirituality of the Native North, South and Central Americans that were lost.
When in this world, I walk with more respect for Mother Earth, and all life here. Because of them and other natives, I understand this world and the times we live in. That is a great gift that I, as a non-Native, was given.
In peace
Claudia
Ma 02155
(full address given)
Hello --
I have read recently about controversy over the decision of Arvol Looking Horse and indigenous elders to protect sacred native ceremonies by excluding non-natives from some participation. I am a white man myself, and I respect Arvol Looking Horse, Leonard Crow Dog and other elders who have the important responsibility of protecting sacred traditions. I believe that the words of these elders should be followed.
You do not see Jewish rabbis leading ceremonies of Roman Catholics, or even participating therein. You do not see Muslims praying with Hindus. Even Christ Jesus said that men could only go to heaven if they believe in him, and thus Christians believe that pagans cannot go to heaven. It is their right to believe that way if they wish to!
Unfortunately, many white people have lost hold of their own traditions and religious beliefs, and they reach out for "exotic" religions, like Native American spirituality, Buddhism, Taoism, and other types of spirituality. Many white people like to "mix and match" religions, taking a little of this and a little of that, and treating sprituality as some sort of religious smorgasbord, according to their whims and fancies.
If the original practicioners of religious traditions disapprove, many white people put their own emotions and their own emptiness ahead of the purity of spiritual traditions and practices of others, even at the cost of the purity of traditional cultures. This is very bad!
The world does not need white red-necks from Alabama leading Sun Dances! The world needs Lakota people practicing their own religion, speaking their own language, and praying for healing of the earth and its other cultures. Let the Lakota and the Cheyenne and the other native peoples find their own healing, and then maybe it will some day be appropriate for other nations to join in. When every Lakota child can pray to his god in his own language, then, maybe those people can teach other races to pray to the Lakota Gods in the Lakota language. That must be the determination of the Lakota people and their elders.
It appeared to me that the declaration by Arvol Looking Horse did make room for some limited participation in native ceremonies by non-natives. So, non-natives who wish to join in should honor the protocols as set by the elders and treat those protocols with respect.
In conclusion, I will say that I love this earth and am a native of this beautiful planet. I love the waters, the air, the birds, the animals, the silence, the wind, the ocean, and everything about our earth. It is sacred to me. I hope that one day we can heal this planet before greedy society destroys it. My special love is for birds of prey, and I study them and have had close contact with many hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, and other raptors. I enclose a photo of the face of a wild golden eagle that I held in a research project, before releasing the bird back to the wild. The eyes of an eagle and the majesty of this bird are sacred. I once attended a falconry meet in Vernal, Utah and a friend brought his live golden eagle to the pow wow on Thanksgiving Day right after the falconry meet. The Ute people honored that eagle and I was very touched to see people stroke the eagle with their own eagle wing fans and celebrate the live eagle in their midst that day.
Cheers!
Stan
Moore, San Geronimo, CA
September, 2003
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Please go to the following page to get the reactions of the Little Feather Center and other members. (7)
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Feb 2004 |
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