| When
we as Indian People,
hear about all the
injustice done to
our Ancestors, there
is an understood
tendency to become
angry, frustrated
and sense sadness
for them. I have
felt these
things. Now, I
ask you to listen to
an Elder, who for
many years has seen
what it can
do. Teach your
children this
lesson:
When
a tree is cut down,
it is not left to
decay in the
woods. We
remember its
strength and use it
to make a solid home
to raise a family.
When
we hurt an animal,
it is not killed and
left to decay.
The meat and skin is
used for our
survival, while the
animal is not
forgotten.
We
have been told what
happened in the past
to our people.
We cannot change
history, but we can
take the wrong and
use it to teach our
children.
Teach
them that it will
continue to hold
them back in having
the life they
should, as long as
the anger engulfs
their
thoughts. Use
the hurt to be a
strength in yourself
to help our people
survive, learn the
old ways and to keep
the dignity of our
Ancestors in the
minds of those
around us.
What the old ones
did, they did for
the relations coming
after them.
Listen well to what
is told to you and
use wisdom when
applying it to your
life.
Never
allow the honor of
those before us to
be forgotten.
We
are in the eyes of
others....what they
stood for
(c)By
.....John
"Eagle Spirit"
Campbell
Cherokee Elder
|
