We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God, as the Catholics and Protestants do. We do not want that. We may quarrel with men about things on earth, but we never quarrel about the Great Spirit.

Chief Joseph

I have been asked many times in my life what my religion is. Or what is your religious preference? For an Indian that is a loaded question you could say.

For a very long time I had trouble answering that question. If I said I was American Indian I could be shunned or persecuted and if I said I walk the red road, then I got this look of oh man your a demon worshiper or something to that extent. If I did not answer then I was hiding from my own ways of life, my pride and honor for my own people. So I have come up with an answer that helps people to understand what I am about and not scare them away.

You see walking the Red Road is not just going to pray on Sunday or when you're in trouble. It is a way of life. I get up every morning and thanking Creator for this day .. I pray everyday and I pray often for many reasons and things. When there is negativity around me I smudge and pray for it to leave. And there are many other sacred ceremonies I participate in on a daily basis. I pray before I go to bed and thank the Great Spirit for that day even if it wasn't so very good of one. At least I had that day here on our Mother Earth.

So what I do is not so very different from what most spiritual people do. And what I do and how I live I call a life way. So when people asked me that question I proudly reply.." I don't have a religion I have a Life Way." And the response has been wonderful. It is much easier for someone to understand a way of life you live than for you to try and explain why you don't go to church. Or why your church is different than thiers. My way of praying should not matter, what should matter is that you do pray! That we integrate it in our everyday life. That we ask our Creator to guide us in everything that we do. If you only pray in times of need then the need will always be there. But if you pray for guidance everyday then your needs will be taken care of and you will be thanking Him for the blessings instead of asking for help in time of need. This is my life way and this is a part of what walking the Red Road is all about.

I think that there are many of you who will understand this and respect it and I thank you for that. If anyone has any questions about this feel free to e-mail me and I'll go into this further. I will help out in anyway that I can.

May you find your balance within this life and always respect others for who they are. Be proud of who you are no matter what race or religion. And pass that pride and honor onto you children!

Mitakuye Oyasin....We are all related