Hi, I am Elaine, As a child I was told I was many different nationalities,I do not know from where I came but this is true My Heart is Native American always has been always will be.I Believe The Great Spirit put me on this earth for a reason.I have always walked on the earth with great respect.I enjoy being out in the Garden we have been givin and taking care to respect every creature put here.I respect the rights of others and know we all are different yet we are all connected.I hope the pages I have put together help you to understand me .for this is who I am . This is My Heart


As a young girl I was told stores by my grandmother.I did not care to hear.For what did old people know anyway?Now I long for the voice of my grandmother how I wish I would have listened.She was a very proud woman with a very caring heart.

I always knew I was different for everyday would find me deep in the woods with the animals.I learned to walk softly,I learned to pick and eat berries.I learned that when I lay in the tall grass and look up to the sky that my mind filled with much knowledge. People laughed at me,So I learned to keep quiet and not speak what was in my heart.I became a loner and the more I was alone the closer I became to (The Great Spirit) I learned that when I told (The Great Spirit) of my troubles they no longer troubled me.I became free something that some still do not understand.I learned that all things are connected and we all have a purpose. I learned there is good in everyone (Some just hide it better) The most important thing I learned is (a person can not learn if they will not listen) My Grandmother died never knowing how close I felt to her How I wish I would have listened.
(Somethings I remember)

It matters not what color a person is
Look for the good in people

Harm no one

Gossip is the devils tool

Never touch what isn't yours

The earth belongs to no one (yet everyone) take care of it.

You can not change anyone but you can always help them.

Never pretend to be someone you are not
Be true to yourself

You can hate what a person does as long as you do not hate the person.

What ever you send forth always comes back (Send forth Love)

I feel my Grandmother was very smart How I wish I would have listened (More)


The Medicine Man says,
"Hear your own heartbeat.
Put your ear to your own heart and
listen with a sharp ear."


Oh Great Spirit,
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!

I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset
my spirit may come to you without shame.

--Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota Tribe



ODAWA CODE OF ETHICS
Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for: all life, the life within you, the good things the Creator has given you and others, and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seed for the courage and strength to be a better person. Seek those things that will
benefit everyone.

RESPECT: Respect means to feel or show honor or esteem for someone or
something; to consider the well-being of, or to treat someone or something with difference or courtesy. Showing respect is a basic law of life. Treat every person, from the tiniest child to the oldest Elder, with respect at all times.
Special respect should be given to Elders, parents, teachers, and community Elders.
No person should be made to feel put down by you; avoid hurting others hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison.

Touch nothing that belongs to someone else, especially sacred objects, without Permission, or an understanding between you. Respect the privacy of every person. Never intrude on a person's quiet moments or personal space.
Never walk between people who are conversing. Never interrupt people who are conversing. Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers, or others to whom special respect is due. Do not speak, (unless invited to do so), at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt.) Never speak, about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not.

Treat the earth and all her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the beliefs and religions of others.
Listen, with courtesy, to what others say, even if you feel that what they say is worthless. Listen with your heart. Respect the wisdom of the people of council I. Once you give an idea in a meeting or to the council, it no longer belongs to you. it belongs to the people.
Be truthful at all times, under all conditions. Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give them your best food, blankets, the best part of your service. The hurt of one is the hurt of all. The honor of one is the honor of all. Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as fellow members of the human race.
All the races and tribes in the world are like the different flowers in one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator, they must all be respected.

To serve others, to be of use to family, community, and nation is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important task. True happiness comes only those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.
Observe moderation and balance in all things. Know those things that lead to your well-being, and those that lead to your destruction.
Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart.


THE INDIAN TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Remain close to the great spirit.
2. Show great respect for your fellow beings.
3. Be truthful and honest at all times.
4. Do what you know to be right.
5. Look after the well being of mind and body.
6. Treat the Earth and all that dwells there on with respect.
7. Take full responsibility for your actions.
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
9. Work together for the benefit of all mankind. 10.Give assistance and kindness whenever needed.


Seven Sacred Teachings
Seven Grandfathers Nezhwahswe Mishomisuk
1. Wisdom ----- Nbwaakaawin
2. Love ------- Zaagidwin
3. Respect -------- Mnaadendmowin
4. Bravery ------ Aakdehewin
5. Honesty ------- Gwekwaadziwin
6. Humility -------- Dbaadendizwin
7. Truth ---------- Debwewin


The Trail of Tears
Many of you may think you know what the Trail of Tears was all about, perhaps some of you do. Something my Blood Brother, Ron LaFitte (Warrior), sent me recently made it abundantly clear that the story must be repeated. Once again, this is what happened. Remember, this was but four generations ago.
On September 15, 1830, at Little Dancing Rabbit Creek, the Chiefs of the Choctaw Nation and representatives of the U.S. met to discuss the impact of a bill recently passed by the Congress of the U.S. This bill, with all the same good intentions of those today who believe they know better than we how to conduct our lives, allowed for the removal of all Indian peoples to the West of the Mississippi River. It had been made clear to the Choctaw, that the Whites in Washington cared little for our situation, that either we willingly moved, or by military force we would be moved. We were not ignorant savages, but industrious farmers, merchants, and businessmen of all types. We were educated people, many were Christians. We had an organized system of government and a codified body of law. Some of these people were not even Indians, many strangers and orphans had been taken in over the years.
The Chiefs and Warriors signed the treaty, realizing they had no option. For doing this the government officials guaranteed, in the body of the treaty, safe conveyance to our new homes. (Do not forget for a moment that in this treaty, the Choctaw traded 10.3 million acres of land east of the Mississipi for 10.3 acres in Oklahoma and Arkansas that we already owned under previous treaties) Further, it included provisions and monetary annuities, to assist the people to make a new start. One half of the people were to depart almost immediately, the rest the next year.
After the signing of the treaty, many saw their land and property sold before their own eyes. The "conveyances" promised turn out to be a forced march. At the point of a gun, the pace killed many of the old, exposure and bad food killed most. Rotten beef and vegatables are poor provisions, even for the idle. Many walked the entire distance without shoes, barely clothed. What supplies were given had been rejected by the whites. This cannot directly blamed on the goverment, nearly all of this was done by unscrupulous men, interested only in maximizing their profits. They government's fault lies in not being watchful of those taken into their charge. Many of the old and the children died on the road. At each allowed stop, the dead were buried. Hearing of this many escaped. They knew that as they signed the rolls, to be "removed", that this might as well be their death warrants. They took refuge in the hills, the swamps, and other places too inhospitable for the whites. Even as this ocurred, those in charge reported their "peaceful progress" to Congress, who looked no further.
Those of us who evaded the rolls were accepted by neither the whites nor the "papered" Indians. Still others claimed to be "Black Dutch," Spanish, Creole, or Black. (My own granfather later lied to the census taker, saying he was one sixty-fourth. At that degree, he could still live and own land on the reservation. He was "enrolled" at that number. Granny claimed to be Black Dutch). Many others fled to Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana, even into the swamps of the Okeefenokee.
The "fertile lands, alive with game, lush with forests" turned out to be bone-dry and covered in alkalai pits, and a strange black ooze that stank and caught fire easily. Blistering hot in the summer, freezing in the winter, this land was still their own. And then the whites decided they needed more land. Again, pressure was brought to bear on the Choctaw. By this time the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Cree, Kickapoo, Seminole, Wyandotte, Lenapi, Mohawk, and others whose names you would not recognize, had their reservations shrunk around them. The Choctaw had only been the first to be removed, the goverment drunk with power and in fit of lust for land, had removed nearly all. The Mississippi Band of the Choctaw had temporarily avoided displacement, but had their land stripped down to 500 acres, but within five years none of that land was in Indian hands. Already Arkansas had begun to be settled by whites, who ignored the treaties. Even those who fled to California were being displaced by miners, famers and ranchers. The discovery of gold galvanized the vise forming around the Indian people, so that expansion from the East was equalled by expansion from the West. The altruistic government, in love and charity removed many of the young to "boarding schools" where they were "civilized," which meant being given white names, speaking only English, and being forbidden to worship their "pagan" gods. To this day most Indians, even full-bloods, are not fluent in their own mother-tongues.
The final blow came when the white decided he needed the black ooze and again the process accelerated. By that time, Custer, making illegal sorties into the Black Hills, had discovered gold there too. The Lakota watched their lands, cut to almost a third and then again until nearly all was gone.
In the 1880's, came Wovoka, who offered a message of hope and peace. With him he brought the Ghost Dance and all tribes listened to that Siren song. At the peak of this frenzy came Wounded Knee. There, unarmed and innocent men, women, and children were murdered by scared Cavalry, who never took the time to find out what this was all about. Adding insult to injury, Medals of Honor were given to these men. Every white child knew, "the only good Indian is a dead Indian." Even now, when the tribes speak of sovereignty, men like Senator Gorton wonder why. All we ever asked for was the dignity of free men, to live at peace, and worship God in our own ways. I Borrowed this page from The Trail So My Grandchildren Will Believe http://www.peaknet.net/~aardvark/thetrail.html
My Grandmother told me of this Time so When I Found It I Just Had To Add It To My Page.

   
  The Legend of the Cherokee Rose
  More than 100 years ago, the Cherokee people were driven from their home mountains when the white men discovered gold in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. Their journey is remembered as the Trail of Tears. Some of the people came across Marengo County in West Alabama. It seems that after they had left the mountains, they came this far south so not have to climb more mountains.   It was early summer and very hot, and most of the time the people had to walk. Tempers were short and many times the soldiers were more like animal drivers than guides for the people. The men were so frustrated with the treatment
of their women and children, and the soldiers were so harsh and frustrated that bad things often happened. When two men get angry they fight and once in a while men were killed on the trip. Many people died of much hardship. Much of the time the trip was hard and sad and the women wept for losing their homes and their dignity.   The old men knew that they must do something to help the women not to lose their strength in weeping. They knew the women would have to be very strong if they were to help the children survive.   So one night after they had made camp along the Trail of Tears, the old men sitting around the dying campfire called up to the Great One in Galunati (heaven) to help the people in their trouble. They told Him that the people were suffering and feared that the little ones would not survive to rebuild the Cherokee Nation.
  The Great One said, "Yes, I have seen the sorrows of the women and I can help them to keep their strength to help the children. Tell the women in the morning to look back where their tears have fallen to the ground. I will cause to
grow quickly a plant. They will see a little green plant at first with a stem growing up. It will grow up and up and fall back down to touch the ground where another stem will begin to grow. I'll make the plant grow so fast at first that by afternoon they'll see a white rose, a beautiful blossom with five petals. In the center of the rose, I will put a pile of gold to remind them of the gold which the white man wanted when his greed drove the Cherokee from their ancestral home."   The Great One said that the green leaves will have seven leaflets, one for each of the seven clans of the Cherokee. The plant will begin to spread out all over, a very strong plant, a plant which will grow in large, strong clumps and it will take back some of the land they had lost. It will have stickers on every stem to protect it from anything that tries to move it away.
  The next morning the old men told the women to look back for the sign from the Great One. The women saw the plant beginning as a tiny shoot and growing up and up until it spread out over the land. They watched as a blossom formed, so beautiful they forgot to weep and they felt beautiful and strong. By the afternoon they saw many   white blossoms as far as they could see. The women began to think about their strength given them to bring up their children as the new Cherokee Nation. They knew the plant marked the path of the brutal Trail of Tears. The
Cherokee women saw that the Cherokee Rose was strong enough to take back much of the land of their people.
  From "Aunt Mary, Tell Me A Story"
To this day, the Cherokee Rose prospers along the route of the "Trail of Tears". The Cherokee Rose is now the official flower of the State of Georgia.