Paha Sapa [the Black Hills]
This was passed on by Chief Joe Chasing Horse, a relative of the great Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. He translated it from the words of a grandmother who was present when the words were spoken.
This is a statement of Crazy Horse as he sat smoking the Sacred Pipe at Paha Sapa with Sitting Bull for the last time, 4 days before he was assassinated.
Many of these words are often repeated, but there is one line often left out, that of the “young white ones.”
I post this in honor of my Native American elders, including Grandfather Wallace Black Elk, Bear Heart and Sun Bear, who had the courage to fulfill this prophecy by passing on such beautiful Native teachings to the “young white ones” who came to them for help.
Thanksgiving prayers are common to most religious groups. Native Americans had entire ceremonies just for the purpose of expressing thanks – sometimes they lasted for days.
To me, Veterans Day, celebrated this Monday November 12, just isn’t enough to honor what our veterans have done for this country.
