Iroquois Faithkeeper....

Today, I received a e-mail from a Chief that I met at the Wolf Den Pow-Wow in Pomfret Center, CT. He was visiting with a vendor named David Littletree. David is Onondaga and Mohawk and we have know each other for about 2 1/2 years. Once I was told that David had his Chief in attendence, I made it an issue for me to approach this Chief and tell him that I was truly honored to be in his presence and that I was third generation Canadian Mohawk, living in the States. We had general conversation for perhaps half an hour, and I returned to my vending booth.

The Chief that I had the opportunity to walk among and talk to, was none other than OREN LYONS! But, I didn't know that at the time. Oren, is a world renown Onondaga Chief and Faith Keeper in the Iroquois Nation.

In his e-mail. he said to me that he enjoyed our meeting and noted my sincerity in my heritage. He continued by saying that the future of the Iroquois people was dependant on people like me. I'm in awe that this great, world renown Native American Onondaga Chief has acknowledged me. for who I am and what I represent.

I certainly do have alot to evaluate during my trek into the wilderness in a few days! I need the guidence of Creator more now than ever.

2008 Memorial Day Parade, North Providence, RI, Native Veteran's

This picture shows Cloud Snake, his wife Gentle Heart and I waiting for the 2008 North Providence, RI Memorial Day Parade to start. Cloud Snake/aka Arturo Lopez is Aztec. His wife Gentle Heart/aka Jessica Lopez is Delaware, and I of course am Mohawk. The Cross on my Kilt, indicates that my ancestors were Praying Mohawk's.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS...

The Buzzard, The Bat, and The Bumblebee


THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.


THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

TODAY is Creator's gift, that's why we call it the PRESENT.

The Time To Heal.

This is a topic that I have been thinking about for some time, because it bothers me to see people in discord. Who benefits when someone holds a grudge? No one. Everyone has family members, or friends that they don’t get along with at times, but most of the time we can get past that. I still see people who have grudges against a brother or sister, parent,child or perhaps a friend. This means that everyone else in the family or your circle of friends, has to choose sides. How fair is that to them? How fair is that to you?

Forgiveness is a powerful force. The equal to that force is the power not to forgive. You have the power of choice! Even if you don’t believe in Creator, this holiday season would be a good time to make that call or write that letter. Don't miss the chance, that can never be gotten back. Don’t let that happen to you. Remember, we are all brothers and sisters. Don't let a grudge ruin your life's happiness. I’ll take the heat if it doesn’t work out. Tell them Broken Feather sent you.

Meal Of The Day

Would you refuse a hungry child on your doorstep. I was the guest speaker at a gathering of children recently. During the course of the evening, the children were given some boxed juice and a snack. The look and actions by some of the children in attendance, spoke volumes. I could only bring myself to believe that this was the meal of the day, for some of the children. In this day and age how can this happen. What causes a parent to neglect a child in such a way. To be hungry, robs you of your soul. To be hungry is the slow assassination of mankind, but it's especially dispicable when children are involved. Because of that evening, I will always look at a child in my presence and wonder if that child is hungry and what I can do to alleviate their pain.

Regeneration.......

A good example of our oneness with mother nature is the fact that we are all one and interdependant with one another. A human exhales carbon dioxide and the trees inhale our wasted breath. The tree takes our waste and regenerates it into oxygen, for the humans to continue their path in life. This is just a basic example of our connectidness to all things. All things have a spirit, and I believe that the spirituality of all things is a part of who we are as Native Americans. In the span of evolution, we are only on the earth for a few short seasons, but it is in the afterlife where we shall flourish.

Forgotten or Neglected Instructions!

When columbus discovered this land, you could drink from all the streams, rivers and lakes. Today that is not possible. The streams are polluted by the residue of the White Man's factories, industries and agricultural practices! Pesticides,waste petroleum fluids, and heavy metals pollute our precious water supplies. Not only do the waters become contaminated, but the fish and marine mammals ingest all this pollution and become contaminated themselves. The White Man simply has never learned to adhere to the Instructions given us by Creator, on how to live on earth in harmony with all things!

Greed is an infliction brought to the new world by the Europeans! If I as a native, discover a blueberry bush bearing fruit, I'll take what I need and leave the rest for others. If a whiteman discovers a blueberry bush he strips it of all its fruit, and has no regard for others.

As early as the 1950's, it has been told by Native American Shaman's that the world as we know it is in peril. I'm begining to see a melt down of the internal infrastructure of this nation, by greedy bankers and wall street investors! Again I say, European's culture of greed is at the bottom of this breakdown in our society, which has lost its way of balance with nature.

We as citizens of the United States of America like to think of ourselves as invincible to the rules of nature. The strongest force on the planet earth is Mother Nature. Just look at tidal waves, hurricanes, volcano activity, blizzards, and other forces of Mother Nature. We are not the masters of Mother Earth. Mother Earth is in charge and we need to be prepared for all the wrath that is being brought unto us in this century!

Unless the status quo changes on this planet, we will cause the distruction of mankind. Earth will survive, but man will destroy civilization as we know it.

Beware, the worst is yet to come!

Edward Broken Feather