Due to all that's gone on since the white man came, I think that definition has become blurred. Xtian influence, new age influence leaves those seeking getting the wrong message. And even in the attempt to get traditional right, it seems many have lumped it into one belief rather than realizing it's beliefs sacred to each nation. Ways of the blackfoot are not ways of the Nez Peirce. Ways of the Nez Peirce are not the ways of the Mohawk or Cherokee. Granted many have learned more about the old ways, yet have they learned of their nation? I had a Chippewa poster on another of my groups say recently because Chippewa had lost their ways so long ago, their elders had adopted the plains ways. I could read the pain in his words as he wrote that. He knew those were not "his" ways yet where to find the Chippewa ways. Are their ways really gone? or so few that they are hard to find? The spirits tell me that of all our brother nations, even those in the east who suffered the biggest assimilation, their ways are not totally lost, at least right now. They are there though hard to find, for an individual that is truly dedicated to knowing the traditional ways of their people, they are not lost forever. It would be a person's life journey to learn as much as they can of their people's ways but what other journey is as important? Quest for your people's ways and when you find parts of them, document them. Teach them to others of your nation. Educate the next generation so they have an easier quest for more of their people's ways. Spirits guiding, one day with the hard work of it's people, each nation's ways will be restored. The nation will be strengthened.
So again what is Traditional Native American Spirituality? It's the ways of your people, as far back as when mother earth gave birth to man. How will you know the ways of your people? The spirits will tell you. Your heart will tell you, the yearning beyond teachings that don't fit will tell you. Our oral histories and traditions might not be here today as they once were but the spirits know. Let them guide.
And I want to relate a story of two of my circle and their journeys. I will say it singular because though different individuals, their journeys were similar to the point where they joined. She was first raised as white ,taken to xtian churches and they attempted to teach her their ways, but from first breath her spirit told her these were not her ways. Denial of native blood until later in her journey. Then she was told she was of mohawk blood but even then, that didn't fit. As she came across plains ways, her spirit yearned towards them. they felt right, not the mohawk ways. One on the deathbed of her elder was told the truth. One of her elders was not "white or mohawk" as the family related but Lakota. For her at that time, the journey fell into place. The yearning, the understanding of the plains ways and the honor of fully embracing them. She traced her ancestry with the new information and the Lakota bloodline proved true. The second one had also been questing and seeking the truth of her blood. She'd found the same roadblocks Yet the spirits had brought the second one into the circle of the first, they came from the same area and had some common family names in their background. As they discussed those names, came the realization they were related, then came the amazing surprise that not only were they related, but through this same ancestor that was Lakota. The second one had found her way back to her people and ways through what most would seem an unusual connection but the spirits provided. They led both to the ways of their spirits and hearts. Both proudly walk as Lakota today and continue to discover the ways of their people. And they will pass on their ways to their children making sure that what has been so hard fought in relearning is not lost again. The lesson in this is never give up, follow the roads less taken when the spirits tell you to. And one day each one of you who is seeking will find your people's ways. That is what Traditional Native American Spirituality is about. Knowing, Honoring and Following the Sacred Ways of your own people.
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