Or the Next Day, is a Time to Awaken the Heart
Curator’s Note: This insightful post reflects on the significance of Native American Heritage Day, coinciding with Black Friday, prompting a pause amidst consumerism to reconnect with our hearts and relationships. It invokes the Lakota phrase “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ,” urging a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with others. The author expresses regret for the delayed sharing of Native American stories, which were originally meant for Heritage Month, highlighting the wisdom of Native cultures during challenging times. The piece emphasizes the importance of listening to indigenous voices and learning from their experiences and perspectives.
“I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be one.”
– Crazy Horse, as he smoked the Sacred Pipe with Sitting Bull for the last
Native American Heritage Day, ironically, is on Black Friday. The best, and frankly, only good reason I can think of for this timing is to pause, ‘midst all the advertisements, to travel, if only between the discount for dog food and the blurb for a free course on self-publishing, into a valley of remembering and understanding who we and others were before we became shoppers with four different ways to pay.
To journey from the mountains of our smart heads to the gardens of our hearts – the hopeful contentment of our souls. To be silent for a few moments. To remember the Lakota phrase Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ, “All My Relations.” What could that mean?
Can we try out seeing the inner essence of all people we meet as connected with our own? To see with new glasses, and hear with new ears a sacred way to view and listen to each other, from the drumming, hoop dance, and stories from Native American sources?
The following stories are offered for you, I regret, late, on Native American Heritage Day. I’m afraid I was distracted too by the ad for special olive oil and the news headlines and scrolling. The following stories, that explore the richness of Native American wisdom, were originally written for Native American Heritage month.
Why Native American Heritage Month Matters Now
https://digitalmehmet.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=51036&action=edit
Why Native American Heritage Month Matters Now – Part Two: The Wisdom of Our Inter-connection Beyond Culture
https://digitalmehmet.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=50997&action=edit
Chester Kahn was a gifted Navajo artist and educator.
Native American Grounding and Prayer
What can you and I learn from Native cultures? I hope you enjoy these stories and that we carry the wisdom of the indigenous peoples to light our way through living in a time of world challenges.
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