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What the Full Moon Brings |
Hostdepartment
| Last night, my daughters and I were accompanied by our new friends as we attended the Buffalo Feed and Lakota Omniciye Wacipi (Pow-wow).It was?a very powerful experience, spiritually.Upon walking in I immediately felt the power as the drums beat, like the heartbeat of the Earth and all people, as one.I've never felt power like that, I was almost moved to tears.I used to think I wasn't Indian enough to attend these events, but now I know, that my Micmac ancestry burns very strong within me (no matter how low the quantum).Tears welled up in my eyes.It's like the born again Christians who claim to feel that power.I tried that born-again thing many years ago?and I never felt like I felt last night.The spirit was with us all and my children danced with their Lakota friends from school; we were all one people.During the grand entry the veterans and ROTC members come in first.Natives carrying American flags.Those who were willing to die for the country that raped their culture.Seeing that breaks my heart.Native Americans have the highest enlistment rate of any other ethnic group. |
| Native Americans have the highest enlistment rate of any other ethnic group.Their patriotism is very high, but so is their casualty rate.The U.S. government has no qualms with allowing young Natives to put their lives on the line for this country; but where are the promises made?Why are two of our reservations here on the top of the list for poverty in the U.S?
Walking home, under the full moon, the children playing and rolling down grassy hills, I got a phone call from my mother.Gary died.My first step-father.The man who taught me that "dads" are sarcastic and cold; that if you're different, you're not going to make it in a small, South Dakota town.I feel for my brother, Gary's son.I feel for my step-siblings in their time of grief.I shed a tear for them all and I hold no grudges.I think a lot of it was not understanding each other.I just wish there had been an opportunity to make peace or at least find some humanity in his eyes.The full moon brought much power, much spirit, and much sadness. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
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