A Native is Not by Jeremy Blackwater
I have been asked what a Native is by some anglo friends so here it is.
You are not a Native if you don’t share what you have.
You are not a Native if you don’t respect elders.
You are not a Native if you don’t give thanks to the Creator.
You are not a Native if you do not participate in at least one traditional ceremony.
You are not a Native if you do not understand and speak some of your language.
You are not a Native if you don’t know at least one traditional story.
You are not a Native if you don’t like your traditional food (especially frybread)
You are not a Native if you don’t wear some of your traditional jewelry.
You are not a Native if you do not treasure sacred feathers and something to burn like sage or tobacco.
You are not a Native if you do not see the sacred in all things under Father Sky and from Mother Earth.
In this Holy Week, let us remember the sacredness of all things.
