Brother Seidl,
I’m curious about something. It’s always been my understanding (correct me if I’m wrong) that Native American cultures differed from each other as much as European cultures did, and that it would be a mistake to talk about a “Native American tradition” as if every tribe or nation were alike.
Why is it not possible for a non-Native to have learned enough about a particular Native American group to be qualified to speak about it? Is it possible that the speaker might be referring to the practice of a tribe or nation that you are not as familiar with as your own? If I had grown up immersed in, say, Swedish culture, I might be a bit hasty to conclude that I would know more about German culture than a non-European could. Or are Native American cultures really more similar to each other in their customs and traditions than European cultures are?
Please accept my appologies. Of course anyone can comment. What I wanted to express was that while so many outside the First Nations were commenting – I figured it would benefit for some folks within the First Nations to give the story from actuall living tradition, rather than primarily from outside sources.
I also offer a chi-migwetch (a great expression of thanks) to you for your first paragraph. Yes, indeed our more than 550 Indigenous Nations each have their own tarditions, ceremony, stories, languages and so on, just as there are differences in european nations and in Asia or else where. I am Anishinabe Ojibwe (generaly speaking - the Great Lakes region). There are other Anishinabe groups, such as Odawa (ottowa) and Potawatomi. The Ojibwe have also been called Chippewa.
As an American, I can certainly give some thoughts on Sweden or on the Netherlands. So, I am sorry if my responce sounded as if I felt only a Native can speak on Native concerns.
If someone thinks we are New Age, that’s fine. If non-Natives tell me things about Dream Catchers that are not part of our heritage, that’s fine. If I tell a Dutch person he or she wears wooden shoes all the time – I’m sure he or she will laugh. However, I would expect that if the Dutch Person told me that wood shoes have a history in thier lands, but that I am mistaken about how I view their custom or tradition — then I would have a tendancy to think that person from De Nederlands would have and advantage over me of what they know about themselves.
I used the Netherlands as example because I used to live there. I brought back some wood shoes. There are some interesting pagan stories associated with wood shoes that I was told over there. Imagine if I repeated those stories on this forum as if I was the main speaker as verses being just one person who heard or observed this or that about Dutch culture.
what I say here is not pointed at you. These are some generalization on my part. I liked the way you wrote.
I actually enjoy the commentaries found here. It helps me understand why some Religious superiors told me it is impossible to be Catholic and Native. That is their oppinion. they can say that. I am also a military veteran. I one of hundreds of thousands others who protected free speech. Please, you honor Veterans and me when you give your oppinion regardless of what your experiences are on any given subject. If a person has a different angle - that’s how we learn things.
I knew there were but only a few folks out there who figured me to be a complete pagan as a birth rite and most unredeemable. I just didn’t expect to see as much as I did in one place. It is good that I hear these different oppinons.
I have been through too much to ever want to deny you or anyone else their oppinion. Life is too short and precious for that. Just last night a Anishinabe Village center was raided. The community had just set up for a grand celebration of Canadian Aboriginal Day. Some folks came in, busted up everyhting and spayed painted swatzikas (sp?) all over the Community centre. Their big day, today, is psent in tears and cleaning up the extensive racial violence. The Elders are holding prayer ceremonies to bring peace.
That sort of expression of personal oppinon I am opposed to. What I see here in the forum is much different. But words have a life of their own. Given in blessing they come back as such. Given out of angre they go around festering as such.
Please understand that much of what I just wrote is some generalization on many of the things that have been shared. You wrote very well and very respecting. I am quite humbled by your good manners and the way you put things. Thank you again.
I just knew I’d get a response like yours when I typed that word “evil” into my title. Oh well, I wanted to keep the title as short as possible and so that’s why I worded it the way I did.
my daughters dream catchers are pretty dusty as well. I went to go look at them after coming across this thread. I agree much of our faith comes from Pagan sources but this really upsets some 