Native American Protest Music and Video Lounge Featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie

Although Emerson is usually credited with the saying, it was Sitting Bull who, after one broken treaty after another, told the American government, "What you do speaks so loudly that I can no longer hear what you say."

The great tragedy is that it was learned too late.

"Whole Indian Nations have melted away like snowballs in the sun before the white man's advance. They leave scarcely a name of our people except those wrongly recorded by their destroyers. Where are the Delewares? They have been reduced to a mere shadow of their former greatness.

We had hoped that the white men would not be willing to travel beyond the mountains. Now that hope is gone. They have passed the mountains, and have settled upon Tsalagi (Cherokee) land. They wish to have that usurpation sanctioned by treaty. When that is gained, the same encroaching spirit will lead them upon other land of the Tsalagi (Cherokees). New cessions will be asked.

Finally the whole country, which the Tsalagi (Cherokees) and their fathers have so long occupied, will be demanded, and the remnant of the Ani Yvwiya, The Real People, once so great and formidable, will be compelled to seek refuge in some distant wilderness. There they will be permitted to stay only a short while, until they again behold the advancing banners of the same greedy host. Not being able to point out any further retreat for the miserable Tsalagi (Cherokees), the extinction of the whole race will be proclaimed.

Should we not therefore run all risks, and incur all consequences, rather than to submit to further loss of our country? Such treaties may be alright for men who are too old to hunt or fight. As for me, I have my young warriors about me. We will hold our land."
~Chief Dragging Canoe, Chickamauga Tsa-la-gi (Cherokee)

Notice how even back then Great Chiefs used the word "Indain", too.

But that didn't NOR doesn't make it right for those times OR for ours!

The Black Man once described himself using the word "nigger", even though it was WRONG then as it is WRONG now! To me and how my father raised me, Indian is seen the same way.

You could argue the point with him, but he passed away in 1993, so that won't happen..

As time passes, should we not become more intelligent? Or remain as ignorant as we once were?

I say we learn to be smarter! And I don't have to ask you what you believe...I know you think that, too!

BTW, did you receive my PM?

It does not matter to me how much American Indian blood is coursing through a person's being - 1/32 can be enough to stir the genuine human being, overcome indoctrination of the soul, and awaken the mind. Having any American Indian blood is cause for pride.

DNA is a funny thing - but I don't think your dog has any feline DNA on board. Genetic tests may not be able to quantify lineage, but the family tree can. I welcome those DNA orphans who are proud of their ancient nucleotides and return to the beliefs of their American Indian ancestors, no matter how remote -

I read somewhere that the majority of native (little "n") western Canadians have Indian blood in their lineage. The intermixing began in the 1600s and continues today. It can get legally complicated in Canada who is "officially" Métis and who isn't.

An Indian once told me he was really offended by people who said "I am one-quarter Indian" or "I am one-eighth Indian." He said either you're Indian or you're not. It's more about state of mind.

Your first point about the rest of us not using your native names for yourselves is well taken. When referring to the indigenous people I try to use only the names I've heard them use to refer to themselves, i.e. Ojibwa, Dineh, Chiricahua, Modoc, etc. Might this not be a good way to educate us in the correct terms? Our schools teach only the appelation, "Indian", but there are many of us who would be more comfortable calling you by the correct names.

I was recently puzzled by the Tsa-la-gi decision to remove blacks who share a measure of their ancestry from their tribes. A friend of mine, who had been so very proud of his heritage was really hurt by this, as I'm sure were others.

I suppose it's similar to white South Africans being considered true Africans even though they are white and their ancestors go back 150 years or less. As you recall from history lessons how the Boer Wars were fought by the British against the Dutich-speaking Afrikaans over African lands that actually should have been considered Zulu land who did their level best to rid their lands of both of the "white demons"! Which, until Nelson Mandela's push for independence, the African version of Dr. Martin Luther Kings, Jr., that finally brought an end to apartheid and the white rule over that indigenous people!

So, who really is to say who is or isn't a full-fledged member of a "tribe" except the majority of those of the same "race"?

As hard as I could try, I can't change my racial heritage. What titles people place on others is not the way it should be. I can't decide for you who or what you want to be called. That's YOUR decision as to what YOU want ME to refer to you either by a personal name or a tribal name.

The problem arises when Tribes adopt those that are not of their race into their Tribe.

Is that not an honorary title? One that was bestowed upon someone by the grace of a particular People? So, as you can see, all is not "black and white" when it comes to this dilemma.

I say it should be like when a family adopts a child into their family. They become a member of that family for all time.

So it should be for the Black Brothers who have lived amongst their "Family" now for generations.

Does not the child that is adopted into a family that then becomes a parent to children believe their offspring will inherit the family lineage or does the adoptive family reject the children of their adopted family member? No, all is of one family and one family is made up of all it's members!

All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator they must all be respected.

Peace to you and yours.

Thank you for sharing that. Your Dad was a good looking man and his face shows a lot of character. One of my great grandmothers was a Syrian Jew and I, therefore, feel an affinity for many Jews from that strain, even though I wan not raised as a Jew. But from a Jewish standpoint, I would probably not be considered Jewish enough. The friend I referenced, had a great-grandmother who was a full fledged member of the Tsalagi nation and so thought of himself as African-American Indian. Still does, I think.

You have a remarkable family history, and I'll bet you have many more wonderful stories to tell. May whoever or whatever you believe in will rain blessings down on you and yours.

Thank you. But I truly feel that we ALL have a remarkable family history! Each one of us.

I would LOVE to hear yours!

I'm a "people person" at heart. I can be entertained forever listening to others speak of their accomplishments, hopes, dreams, wants and needs!

Aren't we all the same?

I was brought up thinking that!

Peace to you and yours, too!

Hmmm . I am glad to know what you think about this . What do you think of " First Nation Peoples " ? After all they were first , and "Indian " is just because some dude was looking for India and thought he found it .....

I completely respect what you say and stand corrected.

Most of us consider ourselves to be "the human beings".

But that doesn't comport with the European agenda or religions - originated and perpetuated by memes, where truth is never a requirement (see: The Virus of the Mind by Richard Brodie and The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmore and Richard Dawkins for some real eye-openers) and although my heritage is Blackfoot, this old Inuit song - one of my favorites - sets forth a general idea of American Indian values - since no money and no men are part of it, we had to be "saved" by the missionaries.

“I think over again all my small adventures,
My fears,
Those small ones that seemed so big,
of all the vital things I had to get, and had to reach.
And yet, there is only one great thing,
The only thing,
To live and see the great day that dawns,
And the light that fills the world.”

I say free Leonard Peltier - he knows what "American Indian" means - If he coins a new label for us, I would accept it.

All I can say to that is Mr. Peltier did not raise me.

My father did that. And, if I must say so, he did a FINE job!

As my pride of blood and ancestry shows.

I have go-hi-yu-hi...respect...for my ancestors!

"The Great Spirit is displeased with you for accepting the ways of the white people. You can see for yourselves, your hunting is gone and you are planting the corn of the white men...You yourselves can see that the white people are entirely different beings from us; we are made from Red Clay." -Tsali, Tsa-la-gi Medicine Man (Cherokee)

do-hi-yi (peace)

Thanks for this!
I had forgotten about this great band.

How about Windwalker starring Trevor Howard?
I love that movie!
Yes the ending is a little sappy.
But sap is good.

Me too!
Of all the artists who have covered this classic I like Buffy's best.
Thanks for reminding me.

Magnificent

Great song!

I like to think so.
This woman blows me away!
So does Iz.
I'm a little disappointed that no one but J4G posted any music.
I was looking forward to being turned on to some new native bands and tunes.

yea jan 4 gore post's hits..its hard to find native music so i choose lefffft wing hip hop

I really like this one. Thanks for posting these.

You're very welcome. Glad you're enjoying them!
Really liked your post below.