TO THE ELDERS AND THE SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS

This was a legend told to me by Papa "War Eagle"

As life goes on we as elders have many good memories and some sad moments in Life. We have learned the virtue of patience and understanding.

The story I am about to tell you is to leave you with understanding about Spirit and Life.

An old man with many moons gone by was sitting by his village one morning, when a middle aged brave from the East came. The old man, face etched with wrinkles that weather and time had given, gave a cordial greeting to the passerby. He said "aseco" which means Hello in Cherokee. The old man asked the brave how he was doing, how his family was, and his village? The brave with a scowl on his face said, "Whip kids, wife mean, everybody fight and argue. Oh by the way, we had a stranger approach our village last evening asking for food and lodging. We chased him away with rocks and sticks. Then the brave asked the old man how he and his village was. The old man answered, "The same as yours, pass on your way."

As the sun became higher and higher and began to warm Mother Earth, a young brave from the tribe to the North came by the old man. The old man gave the same greeting to this young brave. The brave answered, "Oh, it's a beautiful day, see now the Father Sun warms and nurtures Mother Earth, the birds are singing their songs to brighten the spirit within us. When I awoke this morning, I heard the children laughing with the Chief, Medicine man and elders, our camp abounded with joy, love and happiness.

Oh, by the way old man, we had a visitor last night. We welcomed him to our camp. We shared our food and campfire with him. We drummed, danced and shared our songs with him. We gave him a war buffalo robe to sleep on in our tipi. The women made him a new pair of moccasins to cover his feet. They made him a new shirt to travel in comfort. In the morning, we gave him jerky and pemlican to ease his hunger on his journey. A funny thing happened though as he left our village. He turned with a smile and waved goodbye and a thank you and walked into the wind and faded away as if traveling to the spirit world.

And old man, how are you and your people of your village today? The old man looked up at the young brave with a tear in his eye and said, "Your village is as mine, welcome my son, you see my son died five years ago last night. Thank you for treating his spirit with kindness and love

Then the old man quietly sang his death song and went to the spirit world to be with the Great Spirit and his beloved son.

Of an old tradition for you who don't know or understand the Indian ways, we who believe it is time to pass over to the next or spirit world have prepared a song to sing to this world to give thanks for letting us experience our love and friendship with our many friends and relations and to let our ancestors and Great Spirit know we are ready to make the last great journey from Mother Earth. Our bodies remain to return to Mother Earth as our spirit goes to the happy hunting grounds.

*****End of legend and explanation by Papa "War Eagle"

Papa Dearest, High up in the Spirit Path of blue you watch over your Little Bird who is here below on the red path of Mother Earth. You taught me so much while you journeyed here with me. It was you who said, "You can never take your love from your heart and try to put it into words and have another understand just how deeply you love someone." You talked about hoping that the seeds you planted during the spring and summer times would endure through my winters of life. I remember when you shared how you picked my name for me, "I named you Little Bird for a reason. You told me, "I saw a wild yellow canary and it reminded me that you have much spiritual beauty inside..." You told me how important the spiritual beauty inside of us is and how that is very strong inside of me. You told me how a "little light" was placed inside your heart when each of your children was born and how that light was there and brighter each new day for me. You taught me of the Native ways of the path that I would walk...You said to me, "I hope somewhere down the line you will find that I have made a mark on your life." Papa, you have shaped my life in more ways than I "could ever put into words"...MVTO Papa, MVTO.

You told me Papa that I would always be able to call on you and that

you would be with me no matter if you were in the Spirit World or this one. Sometimes, I have felt the responsibility of walking as a Shaman Chief's daughter and yet the times you have been there...If I were to put them here Papa.... Well, it was you who taught me to be careful of what I say so that I do not get "in trouble". I remember so many wondrous memories Papa....

MVTO for always being there and even now....I know....you are much, much more as well as the wind beneath my wings. MVTO for keeping me safe and always watching every wind that is placed beneath my wing :-) And the rest you have to read my heart for. MVTO

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