To Be Separated



art by Victoria Hogan, a mixed-blood as she describes herself. (2016)

Indian Mixed Blood Medicine Circle


There are so many of us mixed blood out there in the world who feel cut off from their heritage but feel the red spirit within their hearts. That is the purpose we have come together here to learn and share with each other in this medicine circle.

So many of the ways have been lost and so many times we find that when we turn to some of the full bloods or full blood groups they are more concerned about percentage of blood that flows through a person's veins then they are keeping the old teachings alive for future generations.

In the teachings I received many many years ago as a young woman the first teaching I learned was that of the medicine wheel and it's meanings. There are 4 colors to the medicine wheel....red, white, black, yellow. If one stops and thinks about it there are also 4 colors of mankind..red, black,white, and yellow

Through Wallace Black Elk's teaching (he was old Black Elk's son).whom I met in the summer of my 17th year I was taught that when all four colors join together in peace that would be the time there could be a lasting and true peace. I have followed that all my life.

I had a dream one night almost a year ago that woke me up in the middle of the night feeling angry. I dreamed of sitting at a fire with native peoples of different tribes who had gathered to share teachings of their respective people. They were angry and had asked those of mixed blood to step away from the fire so they could begin.

I realized that many groups here on Facebook are the same way. They are more interested in blood quantums than they are about anything else and so many are turned away from the good red road that Creator would have his children walk.

I had to question within myself these actions and beliefs for do we not start and end many ceremonies with the words Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all relatives)? Then how can any be shut out, turned away or shunned. Do they not hear the teachings of our elders as they hold so tightly to what some believe is for them and them alone?

Black Elk taught that if a person has one drop of native blood he or she is native. He also taught that it is what lives within the heart of each person is much more important then the color of their skin for is not each of our hearts red?

Did not Black Elk teach that if a person has one drop of native blood he or she is native. He also taught that it is what lives within the heart of each person is much more important then the color of their skin for is not each of our hearts red?

I got up out of bed, went to my laptop and put this group together. It eased my anger enough that I was able to go back to bed and fall asleep. Now look at us. We have turned into a small nation, a tribe unto ourselves where we can hold our heads high and be proud of who we are!

We are over 15,000 in number. Can you picture a village that large in the old days? That would mean a pony herd of at least 45,000 plus. Can you smell the 15,000 cooking fires? An overwhelming thought to say the least. Of course that would have been impossible as we know for finding enough game to fill those cooking pots and finding grazing for that many ponies....lol. But as in the old days we are scattered across the land, even the continents, each with our own dialects and traditions.

This fills my spirit with a feeling I have no words for. Do each of you realize what we have accomplished here? We in a way are living the vision that Black Elk had, bring it to life so to speak.
We are here together, red, white, yellow and black sharing the teachings peacefully as ONE TRIBE...ONE NATION....IN UNITY !!! I am overwhelmed at seeing this happen.
Blessings to each of you in our tiyospia (extended family).

May Creator look upon us in a good way as we journey together down this red road, down this path to our ancestor's teachings and the ways we have felt dormant in our hearts as a big piece missing from our souls.
Welcome home!

Mitakuye Oyasin (All my relatives). Jean Wolf
Ska Anpetu Wichapi Winyan (White Morningstar Woman)

 

July 23, 2015



the 4 Colors, the 4 Peoples Circle