Tell Your Story

Rev. Mervin Wolfleg, photo by Lynn Ross/Anglican Journal

"We want to tell our own stories, in telling our stories we heal," said Rev. Mervin Wolfleg, of the diocese of Calgary, "If you want to heal with us then tell your own stories," he added.

The Serpent and the Eagle

A little boy asked his grandmother why life is sometimes so painful. His grandmother looked at him, considering a moment before speaking. “We all have an eagle and a serpent inside of us. The serpent brings thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, and the idea that it is other people that cause us to feel that way.” She paused, and then continued. “The eagle flies high, sees far, and hopes to learn from the Great Spirit and to follow the Spirit’s way.” “My grandson, life gets difficult during those times when the eagle and the serpent are locked in a necessary and mortal fight to the finish.” The grandson pondered for a while what his grandmother just told him. Then he asked, “Which one wins?” Grandmother answered, “The one you feed wins.”

Adapted from a story about two wolves fighting within us.

Hear and Understand

Respect means listening
until everyone
has been heard and understood,
only then is there a possibility of Balance and Harmony, the goal of "Indian Spirituality."


- Dave Chief, Grandfather of Red Dog

Not Enough to Depend on One's Self

... I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself.

Lone Man (Isna-la-wica) Teton Sioux

Time for Thought

Praise, flattery, exaggerated manners and fine high-sounding words were not part of Lakota politeness. Excessive manners were put down as insincere, and the constant talker was considered rude and thoughtless. Conversation was never begun at once, or in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation.

-Chief Luther Standing Bear (Ota Kte, Mochunozhin) , 1868-1939

Wisdom of the World

"In an eagle there is all the wisdom of the world."

Lame Deer, Minnicoujou

The Grass is Still Growing There

"Traditional people of Indian nations have interpreted the two roads that face the light-skinned race as the road to technology and the road to spirituality. We feel that the road to technology.... has led modern society to a damaged and seared earth. Could it be that the road to technology represents a rush to destruction, and that the road to spirituality represents the slower path that the traditional native people have traveled and are now seeking again? The earth is not scorched on this trail. The grass is still growing there."

Speak the Truth

"It does not require

many words

to speak the truth."

Chief Joseph

Respect and Spirituality

Gerald Sitting Eagle
of the Siksika Nation near Calgary, Canada,
said Blackfoot spirituality
could be summed up in one word;
respect.

Respect for one's elders,
respect for all two leggeds,
respect for the four leggeds,
the winged,
and the swimming people.
Respect for Mother Earth and
All Our Relations.

Alison Parry and Gerald Sitting Eagle of Siksika examine some Blackfoot material.

Library of Life

"Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of the earth. We learn to do what only the student of nature ever learns, and that is to feel beauty. We never rail at the storms, the furious winds, the biting frosts and snows. To do so intensifies human futility, so whatever comes we should adjust ourselves by more effort and energy if necessary, but without complaint. Bright days and dark days are both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Indian reveled in being close to the Great Holiness."

-Chief Luther Standing Bear

Good and Bad

Rev. Mervin Wolfleg, photo by Lynn Ross/Anglican Journal

"Good is Good and Bad is Good."

All Things Tell of Tirawa

In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell men that He showed Himself through the beast, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and moon, should man learn.. all things tell of Tirawa.

- Eagle Chief (Letakots-Lesa) Pawnee

All Creation is Sacred

All of this Creation is Sacred
And so do not forget
Every dawn as it comes is a holy event
And everyday is holy,
For the light comes from "WAKAN-TANKA"
And also you must remember
That the two-leggeds
And all other peoples
Who stand upon this Earth
Are Sacred and should be treated as Such

"White Buffalo Woman" Sioux Sacred Woman, quoted by Black Elk , (Oglala Sioux)1947.