Arsenic in the Water

Can anyone or does anyone want to believe that the Federal government cares about it's citizens, let alone the first nations people who inhabit it's state boundaries?
We or I have just found out recently that there are traces of arsenic in the small community of Inger's water supply.
I will digest that thought more later.

Now, I ask the people out there in the larger world and First Nations, how come our Elders are not as they once were? How come the modern day education system has run them over and laughed at our Elders, all in plain sight?
Why have we allowed our elders to be silenced? Why do we teach our children that school is more important than an Elder?
Why has not our Elders of Inger and the surrounding community's BANDED together and discussed, meditated and prayed on this important matter??........Arsenic?
How can we call our selves by Tribal affiliation, if we do not empower, utilize and help resurrect our Elders words of guidance and wisdom?

Who are the hypocrites out there?

I know I am not a hypocrite, are you?

Native Sugar- Where is everyone? Part one

I just finished up the long and rewarding work of making maple syrup. It was a last minute effort and I had to remember that time, patience, belief and Spiritual guidance was on my side.

Our tribal worlds and communities are in bad shape. Alot of people despise the white man but they live and choose to live in a system in which that same white man dictates everything from; our means of waking up, what foods we eat, our forms of entertainment,what is hip and cool and last but not least, the way our communities function!

Being in the bush is always a treat and learning experience. Maple tapping, was a community project that I wanted to re-initiate. Plus, I was driven by the spiritual process's that go into the time frame of "iskegamizigewin."

Being a Spiritual being is very hard and rewarding at the same time. So, when it came to tapping Maple trees, I had to envision my plan and start with the most basic needs and work up to the more less important needs.

The first two things I needed were negwakwaanan and mukukoon, taps and pails. I estimated that I could tap(ninozhiga'ige) about 50 ininatigoog (Maples). So, instead of bring more trash and white mans garbage onto the reservation, I kept in mind that i wanted to use what resources were already established and what were available.

Upon looking for pails, sap buckets and cans- I found myself starting to look for milk containers. Because Milk containers can keep the rain and extra water accumulation out, I had to break my personal code of ethics and purchase band new water containers. It was a safety concern a long with a health concern, because if you have bad milk, chances are the container that was used, if it were plastic, tends to hide and harbor that bad milk. Plus, i found out, that the milk taste tends to leak into the sap water.

At the same time I was spreading the word into the community about containers, I was thinking about Opwaaganatiigoog or Sumac trees. I needed Sumac to make my taps. I remembered seeing some in the community, where, I didn't quite remember. Too my embarrassment, there was some right behind my mother in laws house.

Next, was the process of producing 50 plus taps and shaping them down to a particular size and shape. So, I got a grinder from an elder( who was very supportive of my efforts ) not to forget to mention; two containers that held a total of 80 gallons, a few chains, a power saw and a hand saw.

So, by now I had pretty much everything I needed to get the ball bouncing, just by the gesture of that one elder, a lot of roadblocks were prevented.

My brother Jerry Smith was the individual person that got me interested into Iskegamizigewin. Looking back on some of my college days, he and a few other people helped shape me into the individual that I am. Being me is very hard. I am a human in a very Spiritual travel and sometimes the Spirit of living things can communicate certain knowledge, to which there is no guide, blueprint or trail. Just overwhelming feelings that get entangled into modern day living, desires wants, needs,etc.

And that is the whole point of being in the bush, to listen and get a new identity of self, surroundings and natural life's.

I believe that we are in hard times. Many of our children and adults can not make it in the bush. When you are in the bush, you give up many western luxuries. Most of theses things are pretty basic; water, food, electricity, etc.

I have finally came to the conclusion that most of our Aboriginal peoples lifestyles, that are reservation based are doomed. There are a labyrinth of complacent attitudes, beliefs and ideas, that reinforce the blueprint of this country in regards to what a citizen is and what it means. I mean, everybody wants answers, but no-one wants to put there ideas forward. So, when it comes to the Elders, the elders are so complacent to society's demands and attitudes , that they, in all retrospect have no unified voice and Warrior like motivation.

For example, just recently the community of Inger was told that they had arsenic in their water supply. Now as a Aboriginal person, i have to ask myself a few things about this situation: 1.) What is this arsenic and how did it get their? 2.) Is this propaganda to keep the status quo of Fear tactics? 3.) Does this mean their is going to be more fluoride introduced into the water system? ( If you don't know about fluoride and it's devastating effects, Google " fluoride " or look into the e-book @ policestateplanning.com and look up chapter 14 and read about " population control " 4.) Why aren't the elders of the community praying for this matter? Why are they not having some type of community gathering and feast?

To be Continued.....

Old White Bird Part Nizh (2)

As I sat there and ate my lunch, my first intuition was to move my self to a table in which two elderly men sat. But, I stayed where I sat and visited with some young Native guy about his some of his experiences in California. As i sat and listened to this other Native, I could not help but wonder why he needed to continually say that he was bored and that he needed to move back to Cali. As if Cali. was going to solve all his problems and make him not " bored " anymore. As soon as our conversation started it had ended, that fast. He was on a mission, it seemed as if my gesture of good thoughts did not phase him, he was not impressed by old people and the Native ways, they were not the answer he need in life. So, away he went-looking for what he desired.
So, I sat there at a table alone. Wondering if i should include myself with the elderly men that sat behind me. What the hell, i grabbed my plate and silverware and moved myself to their table.
" Aaniin " i said. That's a friendly gesture meaning hello or hi. Both elders looked at me and said hi and hello. Old white Bird asked me where I was from. I replied St. Croix., Wisconsin and that I was enrolled in White Earth. He asked me who my relatives were in White Earth and I said the Wadena's and Durant's. He than said he was a White bird and that he had some relatives in Bad River,Wisconsin. I asked him if he was related to the White birds in Cass Lake,Minnesota. He sarcastically replied " hell No " those White birds are from Canada or something. But it seems like there was some type of history in the past with the Cass Lake White birds and the White birds he was originating from.
He than went on to say that most of his relatives passed through Sandy lake, Minnesota and that they traveled the old water ways. I told him that was great knowledge to know and have and that nobody really has that type of information anymore. He than surprisingly said " History is no good- it doesn't get you anywhere and you have to make a living. " Shit- I thought, this elder is really brainwashed into the American life form.
So, I continued to eat my lunch and listen to other Shinobs converse. As I listened, i could tell that old White bird was trying to direct certain comments to me and that he felt threatened by my presence. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't there to prove anything-but I happen to threaten people a lot in my life. My Great G-pa termed it once as " Being strong in the Traditional way of thinking and discipline."
But it was time to leave, my professional business was finished and I got to eat lunch with some elders. What a splendid day. As I was getting ready to leave, I grabbed my Jacket, pipe bag and work bag. My pipe bag is made from an Otter pelt and has leather fringes. As, I was ready to leave out the door, I heard someone say;" where did you get your otter ? " I said that it was my pipe bag and someone gave it to me years ago. Not to my surprise it was Old White bird and he than said " your lucky those old people that use to be around here never saw you put your pipe bag on the ground, they would have had your hide. " I than replied " you know I asked my grandpa about that once, when my brother had a pipe bag made from an otter. I asked my Grandpa- is it okay that my brother puts his otter pipe bag on the ground-is that disrespectful? NO, NO, NO. My grandpa went on- THINK ABOUT AN OTTER-HE SWIMS, EATS FISH AND ROLLS AROUND IN THE MUD, DO YOU THINK IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM IF YOU PUT HIM ON THE GROUND?
What I did not really think of, at that particular time, was that my Grandpa was instilling me to think and think wisely on all matters in my life regarding Spirituality and not so important events.
So, when it came to Old White bird and challenging me, in the form of a threat, I replied what my Grandpa gave me and let Old White bird have some new knowledge. As I left, I told the rest of the group-Thank you and hopefully I can have this experience again.
GaBeK

Old White Bird Part Nizh (2)