Many things could be said about this subject, along with showing a basic respect for our elders, a side subject many folks give only lip service to. For beginners though, if we maintain a healthy respect for our traditions by learning what they are, thus how to pay our due respects, and this would include the observation of major ceremonial functions, both for ourselves and the families we represent, and our elders. It was those same elders who gave us the original instructions we should be observing anyway, or it should have been.
Many Neshnabe folks today though have been removed from that instruction for various reasons, but that doesn’t mean they still cannot learn what those traditions are. The same folks who should know, but don’t, for whatever reason or reasons they may cite, are the same ones who suffer the most hardship and seem to lay the blame for these things at the door of the rest of us, who are attempting to observe our traditions. We get blamed in many different ways, which I won’t go into right now.
If we are practicing an observance of our traditions and are attempting to maintain ourselves in a reasonably healthy manner, lifestyle and ceremonial life, we can conceivably expect to receive the blessings of health and help we request at our ceremonies. It stands to reason, when one is praying and observing what they should, they can reasonably expect their concept of a God to bless them accordingly. The flip side of that is when you don’t maintain a good spiritual attitude and ceremonial life, it seems we are subject to numerous maladies of this world, resulting in dysfunctional lifestyles for some.
There is a need to return to our own basic traditions and the practice, along with the respect for those traditions, and an observance of the ceremonies of our people. Then we shall observe some major changes among our people and they will begin to experience some positive blessings from observing those traditions.
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March 29th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Slowly I learn to navigate a blog comment site….Migwech, Nzheshe for these words on Tradition. I often feel as though I must start all over again….and this words that you wrote here reminds me that indeed, each day is that new beginning. to shed fear and raise my head upward and do what you have taught me….and I am grateful to your ancestors and you. iw i