Why?" Who can explain it? Who can tell you Why? Fools give you reasons; wise men never try."
Rogers and Hammerstein, South Pacific
Have you ever wondered why?  why do people hurt each other? why are there such tragedies in the world? why is there disease and poverty? Why is there lonliness and sadness and so on , so many people have asked me these questions lately  so right or wrong ,this is what I have come up with ,

God ( or whatever your name for Him may be )  is not a vengenful God, He is a loving God who holds us in the palm of his hand. We are all, each one of us, born with the gift of free will and as such have the opportunity to to pull together in this world to help each other in this life ,for no man is an island.  Each one of us has chosen a path and this path was chosen long before we were born. yes, you chose your path, the one you are living right now and you chose it because you wanted to experience all the things in your life that you have.
Alot of people feel that God can stop or should stop all the suffering in the world and He can ,there is no question about that, but if He steps in and eliminates suffering or any other choice that we make He is taking away our right to self determination and
with it free will. 
It is our resposibility to make the changes in this world to make things right and to make it a better place for everyone and the future generations as well . So,  if we see someone who is suffering we need to reach out do something about it, if it is within our power to do so. 
 Also, We must  realize is that we don't have all the answers and that is ok...  but what we can do, is to accept that these things are going to happen because even though WE may not understand  ,God  does know,  He sees the bigger picture and whatever happens , just may be apart of someone elses path that was agreed upon long ago and it just isn't for us to understand all the ins and outs. Yes, I agree as empathetic people it is so hard to see others suffer so and we can feel their pain and the pain of the world. But , if we say we have faith and we believe then we must do so without question. We must do all that we can humanly do,  then release the pain  and put the situation into Gods hands and allow Him to do as He will do .

                                                  Compassions's Grace

Compassion comes all shrouded in lace. She comes loving the whole human race.
She comes loving beyond the fear , beyond the tears of the circumstances that life presents as tests.
She comes embracing the tests and trusting through faith that love will overcome all the pain and strife that seems to come her way.
She has learned the lesson that with acceptance there is freedom and  the acknowledgment of  the sorrows along with rejoicing in theJoys as well
there is a fire that feeds the soul and  she always lifts the heart in praise, knowing
that soon a great wisdom will come and it comes with Holy Grace. 
Sharon Littledove (c) 2008
 

The sun has broken in your eyes 
and will follow in your grace
Angels in the dark night will watch over you
until the dark night delivers the day,
In tenderest arms they hold you tight.
 
Oh Child of my love,
I release you into Gods almighty hands.
To follow the path your precious heart demands.
And upon Eagles wings you are lifted high
Just remember who you are and hold your head up high
and speak your truth ,my darling child
for your beauty reaches so far and wide.

I am always near, and will always love you
but now that you are grown our paths are no longer one path 
Now, you must walk your own
See this path before you with your heart and soul, not with your eyes.
See it with love, and though the night is dark, your true path
will always be visible and bright.

Spread your wings and fly my beautiful Angel Child
it is your time to fly, it is your time to shine.
Rise up and meet the sun for a new day has begun
always know ,how very proud of you I am my little one


The sun has broken in your eyes 
and will follow in your grace
Angels in the dark night will watch over you
until the dark night delivers the day,
In tenderest arms they hold you tight.
Sharon Littledove(c) 2008

I  feel sorrow for the agonies of this world but I know in my heart that  I am only one person and no one person can change this world  ,But I know I CAN make a difference.  I do this by placing one foot in front of the other , reaching out my hand and saying" Yes Lord ,this one will."..By my love and by my actions towards others .. I say yes Lord, I will be the Instrument of your peace and if I do that and you did that and Tom does that and Sue does that and Joe down the road does that and and so and so does that and on and on , before you know it just saying those simple words "Yes Lord this one will " we together have healed hearts ,and mended  fences, and fed the poor, all along the path as we walked.  And while we not only say those words we live them as well. We are touching hearts and lives and making a difference just by our existence...  The key is to Live your life doing ordinary things in an extra ordinary way. When we feel weak and we stumble or feel as if  we can no longer take another step ,  think of the one who said " I am the way ,The truth and the Life" for it is through his words and examples that he shows us how to, not look upon the world for your strength  but rather ,look to God  who is our true source of strength and light and life.  It is through Him that we are given  the true source of our strength and the Divinity that is within each one of us for we truly are one with God ,He is in us and we are in Him.  Sharon Littledove (c)2008

My dear friends
we love you so very much,

As you learn to surrender your worries, your fears, and your need
to know how everything in your life must work, you release your
spirit unto God, and you make room for miracles to unfold in your
life. Your spirit dear ones is free. Your spirit is free to focus
upon anything it wants but your human mind has a a tendancy to hold
on to beliefs, ideas, and patterns of thinking that limit you.

God is all that is. God is unlimited. God contains within his heart
every soul upon your planet and those that span the cosmos. God can
see solutions to your problems that you cannot possibly imagine.
God can see possibilities for your life that you wouldn't even
dream about. God's solutions seem miraculous only because the human
mind cannot conceive of the elegance and interconnectedness of His
plan for your lives.

Give your worries to God. Give your concerns to God. Choose to
believe that God does care about your hearts, your bills, your well
being, but most of all dear ones that you would come to know
yourself as an expression of His love here upon the earth. God's
love is joyful. God's love is expansive. God's love is eternal.
God's love does not even know words such as unworthy, impossible,
or unreachable. God's love does not see death but rather
transformation. God's love does not see problems, but rather
possibilities. God sees each of you, in your times of glory and in
your times of struggle as perfect, whole, and complete.



Each of you is a living work of art that becomes more and more
beautiful as you release the illusions that hold you bound and
allow your light and your true colors to shine ever more brightly.

Give all your concerns to God dear ones, from your simplest needs
to your grandest desires, and trust in His love for you. He may not
solve your problems or deliver your dreams in a manner you expect.
His timing may not be the timing you insist upon. And yet, His
solutions for your life are lasting ones that support not only your
physical well being but also the need of your spirit to know His
love as part of your own hearts. No matter what the circumstances
of your inner or outer world, dear friends, you are, always have
been, and always will be loved, supported, and cherished

we love you so very much ,
~ The Angels ~

  

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet
someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked
inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the
wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked
as if it had been in there for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it
was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find
some clue. Then I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written
almost sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue
stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a 'Dear
John' letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be
Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her
mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love
him. It was signed,Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the
name Michael, that the owner could be identified.
Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone
listing for the address on the envelope.

'Operator,' I began, 'this is an unusual request. I'm trying to
find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me
if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in
the wallet?'

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a
moment then said, 'Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I
can't give you the number.' She said, as a courtesy, she would call
that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to
connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the
line. 'I have a party who will speak with you.'

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by
the name of Hannah. She gasped, 'Oh! We bought this house from a
family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!' 
'Would you know where that family could be located now?' I asked.
'I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home
some years ago,' the woman said. 'Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter.' 

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number.
They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living. I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home. 
This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?

Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, 'Yes, Hannah is staying with us.'
Even though it was already  10 p.m ., I asked if I could come by to see her. 'Well,' he said hesitatingly, 'if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television.' I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. 
The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah. She was a sweet, silver-haired old woman with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. 
I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter.
The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, 'Young Lady, this letter was
the last contact I ever had with Michael.' She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, 'I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor.'
'Yes,' she continued. 'Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And,' she hesitated
for a moment, almost biting her lip, 'tell him I still love him. You know,' she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, 'I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael...' 
I thanked Hannah and said good-bye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, 'Was the old lady able to help you?' 
I told him she had given me a lead. 'At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet.'

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, 'Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times.'

'Who's Mr. Goldstein?' I asked as my hand began to shake.
'He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks.'

I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office.
I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up. 

On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, 'I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man.'

We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, 'Oh, it is missing!'

'This kind Lady found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?'

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, 'Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward.'

'No, thank you,' I said. 'But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet.'

The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. 'You read that letter?' 
'Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is.'

He suddenly grew pale. 'Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me,' he begged.

'She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her.' I said softly.

The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, 'Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow.' He grabbed my hand and said,'You know something, miss, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. '

'Mr. Goldstein,' I said, 'come with me.' 
We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her. 
'Hannah,' she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. 'Do you know this man?' 

She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word. 
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, 'Hannah, it's Michael. Do you remember me?'

She gasped, 'Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!'

He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. 
The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces. 'See,' I said. 'See how the Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be.'

About three weeks later I got a call at my home from the nursing home. 'Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!' 
It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall.
They made me their Maid of Honor.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

And dreams do come true. Miracles do happen.

Our old teachings are that everything in the universe is in harmony as long as we keep The Sacred Hoop intact.  The Sacred Hoop is the circle of all life, all four directions, Mother Earth, and all that live upon her. This includes  the two legged, the four legged, the winged ones, those that live in the bluest waters, those that crawl on the ground, and all plant life. Everything is apart of the sacred hoop and we are all related one to the other . We are so intertwined with each other that our very existence and our survival depends upon maintaining a balanced relationship within the sacred hoop. This circle is the universe and represents all of creation.  We are all united as relatives that is why we say " All my Relations"... when you have problems, I have problems. When the hoop is whole we are safe and all life thrives but it has been broken by mans greed and not caring for his fellowman , the earth and all that live upon her.
Each tribe has it's own teachings and values that children are taught as they are growing up and if we accept, honor, respect,and abide by these principles then we are keeping the hoop intact.

There is a remarkable difference between Western prophecies and those of native peoples. When Western prophets see into the future they envision Armageddon. The end of the world. When native prophets look down that same path they see the completion of a great cycle. A change of worlds.

The reason for these vastly different views is found in the way time is experienced. In the West time is history. There is a past, a present, and a future; a beginning, a middle, and an end. Like a stick. Native peoples experience time as a cycle. There are four stages, such as the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Like a hoop. Each stage is a preparation for the next. At the center of the hoop is a still timelessness; the eternal present around which the cycles revolve. The visions of native prophets occur at that center point from where the cycles of change can be seen. There is no end.

For the Indians of North America, the last quarter of the 1800s was the winter of their culture. All that they had known had fallen away, like leaves on a tree. In 1863, among the sacred hills of South Dakota, was born awachasha wakon,a holy man of the Oglala Sioux. His name was Black Elk. As a young man his father told him a story that had been passed down from the grandfathers.

In the time of the ancestors lived a Lakota holy man, Drinks Water, who dreamed of what was to be. In a dream Drinks Water saw all the four-legged go back into the earth and in their place a race of two-legged strangers wove a web around the Lakota. Then, in his dream, Drinks Water saw his people living in square gray homes, on a barren land; and beside those homes, the people starved. Soon after his vision, it is said, Drinks Water returned to Mother Earth. He died from sorrow.

Drinks Water's vision occurred long before the coming of the whites with their fences and houses and their slaughter of the great buffalo herds. At the time his dream must have been incomprehensible to his people. What Drinks Water saw was a change of worlds and it was more than he could endure.

For over a century,  Indian medicine men  have prophesied the end of an earth cycle, the disappearance of the white man, and the return of all living things which had vanished under the pressures of the present world. The return of The sacred Hoop.  The time, we are told, is near. As we observe governments, industries, and ourselves, we can see a system of waste and pollution so widespread as to cast a shadow across the generations to come.   Fortunately, we are aware of the need for change. The question is, whether the necessary changes in our institutions and ourselves will occur faster than the production of pollution generated by our old patterns of behavior.

Like a dormant tree enduring winter, the Indian's respect for the earth, their desire to live in harmony with nature, still lives, waiting to bloom again in the next world cycle. Only by honoring Mother Earth,  can we avert disaster. We have their example and their prophets to guide the human family into the new world.  The Sacred Hoop returns  and will remain intact bring balance and harmony back to the Earth Mother and to ourselves allowing for peace to reign for We are all one with all creation.  It is so.!!

 
As the warm breezes blow  gently over the land , 
soft ,quiet sounds are heard in the calm of the night.
There is a rumble of thunder that echoes in the distance
as lighting paints across the sky.
And the tree tops sway and dance with grace
in the calm of the night.

In the twilight of the night, there he stands all alone
on top of a hill where the ancient ones are
offering up his pipe and the curl of the smoke 
rises up to the Great Spirit in the calm of the night.

He prays to the Four Winds, to the Sun and the Earth
For All his Relations,Then , he offeres the people the Sacred Pipe
Like shades of the past, he remembers the life of his ancestors.
A people full of life, a culture that will live on forever
all is calm and all is right.
as the curl of the smoke rises up to the Great Spirit
In the calm of the night

Sharon Littledove (c) 2008

Early European explorers and missionaries interpreted the Indian woman's role as a powerless servant in a male-dominate society. Today, many still assume that the early Native American woman was regarded as little more than a slave of her husband; a downtrodden, submissive beast of burden whose work was never done. Some researchers theorize that the social structure of the Indian culture was much more matriarchal than was observed by European historians. Early Native American societies revered women as the life-giving force to future generations. They were the foundation and the pride of Indian culture. Many songs and myths passed down from generation to generation, as the phrase, "Mother Earth" when making reference to gifts provided by nature. Because life begins with birth and mothers nourish that life, it seems fitting that numerous Indian legends tend to include women when referring to their origin.
The ultimate achievement for a woman in Native American societies is being a mother and rearing a healthy family. Even though many Indian women attained distinctions as religious practitioners, medicine women and skilled artisans in craft work, in no way did these tasks affect their role as bearers and raisers of children.

Although infant mortality was probably very high among early Native American women and many women undoubtedly died in childbirth, every precaution was used by prospective mothers to ensure safe delivery and healthy children. Early Plains Indian women relied on herbal medicines, myths and superstitions to guide them during their pregnancies. Older women in the tribe warned first-time mothers to avoid certain foods and to be careful of their personal behavior. According to Indian custom, both were believed to be the cause of a difficult delivery or defect in the unborn baby.

During labor women usually gathered among themselves for the ritual of birth. A prospective mother was generally assisted by her female relatives or other women of her tribe who were mid-wives and had knowledge of birth customs. In some tribes, however, it was the custom for the expectant mother to leave camp and deliver her baby all alone. Generally, the Indian culture insisted that both mother and baby remain in seclusion for a specified time. The seclusion was probably a welcomed break to the new mother from her vigorous duties.

Plains Indian women relied on natural means to feed their babies. In caring for their newborn's needs, the women used materials provided by Mother Earth. One such item was dried buffalo manure. The women pounded the manure into a fine powder and used it as an absorbent to swaddle the baby in; when the child was soiled the swaddling was changed with a fresh supply of powder.

Plains Indians parents had a deep affection for their children and, for the most part, were permissive; grandparents administered the discipline. Customarily, rituals were performed to welcome the newborn member into their community. But due to the high infant mortality rate, these ceremonials were often delayed until the newborn was about one year old.

The bond between mothers and daughters was very special. However, much of the training of young girls fell to the grandmothers, who taught them to sew and cook, to tan hides, make their clothing and to fashion and decorate items. Grandmothers also instilled the tribe's moral values and traditions in their granddaughters.

Instructions on proper conduct intensified as a girl approached puberty. Her mother and grandmother would increase the amount of tasks assigned to her; tasks that would prepare her for her lifework. She no longer enjoyed the freedom to run and play games with the other children. She would be instructed to stay near her lodge and could only venture out in company.

Girls, as well as boys, had certain rites of passage into adulthood. Ceremonial rites of initiating adolescent girls into womanhood were usually performed by their grandmothers, with the assistance of their mothers. The ceremony also prepared young women to receive suitors.

The marriage of a Plains Indian woman was usually arranged by her family. Marriage was viewed as a social contact for sharing responsibilities and child rearing. It was not expected to be a marriage of love. However, Plains Indian women had the right to refuse their chosen mate, but very few probably exercised that option. If a man fell in love with a young woman, he did everything in his power to impress her family. The suitor would bring gifts and horses and leave them in front of her lodge. Then he waited for a response from her family. If the proposal was rejected, the gifts, including the horses were returned to the suitor. If the proposal was accepted, the gifts and horses were taken by the young woman's family. Marriage preparations were made by both families and the newlyweds were received into the community with a wedding ceremony and feast.

Depending upon the custom of the tribe, the couple generally lived with the bride's parents. (Plains Indians traced their descent in the maternal line and children belonged to the clan of the mother.) When enough household goods were gathered by both mothers, the bride and their relatives, the newlyweds were able to live alone. The bride's mother generally set up a new tipi for her daughter and son-in-law close to her own dwelling; in which case, a new family joined the community.

Plains Indians used various wild berries and herbal plants in ceremonial rites that celebrated the gift of life from Mother Earth and the continuation of its people. The women gathered herbal plants and stored them for seasoning or flavoring and for medicinal purposes in healing. The knowledge of herbal medicine was not confined to the women, but generally women seemed to be more familiar with various herbal potions and brews. In some tribes, a woman - usually the wife of a medicine man - learned secrets in healing natural illness with herbs by assisting the medicine man. In other tribal communities women learned the art of doctoring with herbs from their mothers and grandmothers. In general, if a woman inherited the right to become a medicine woman, her powers still had to be validated by a dream in which a spirit, in the form of a human, an animal, or perhaps just a voice, gave her personal knowledge. Women who had the gift for curing spent considerable time wandering around the areas surrounding their encampment, gathering herbs and other natural ingredients to prepare their medicines. In most Plains tribes, a medicine woman was not allowed to practice by herself until she reached middle age and older. The power to heal usually remained with a woman until her death. Like her male counterpart, a medicine woman was considered by early Plains Indians to have a special connection to the spirit world and that link is what empowered her to heal. Emotional afflictions required supernatural remedies to recapture the soul. Generally all healers called upon the aid of an ally from the spirit world to guide them in curing illness. Plains Indians believed that both physical and emotional illness reflect an imbalance between the natural world and the spirit world. A healer's task was to restore harmony and balance using herbs, poultices or spoken formulas. In some tribes, women who acquired supernatural abilities became shamans. Shamans were believed to possess the power to influence the good and evil beings in the spirit world. A woman who wished to become a shaman usually sought training from an established shaman in her community. If the old shaman chose her as successor, the younger woman took over the shaman's position when she passed away. The new shaman used the songs and the formulas she inherited, as well as her own creations, to cure disease, predict the future or control the weather. Plains Indian women gained respect and prestige by practicing medicine in their communities. The realm of medicine women in the culture of early Plains Indians was probably one of the women's most powerful roles. Early Plains Indian women lived their lives in a world of ceremony and ritual. Although each season brought different rituals and social celebrations - held in thanksgiving for the gifts nature provided - the women perceived that every part of their universe possessed the forces of creation. Daily prayers were part of the women's spiritual life. They continually prayed for blessings of good health for their families and other tribal members, for protection and for a bountiful food supply. A woman's prayers increased when her husband went on hunts and raiding expeditions, praying for success in his endeavors and for his safe return. Religion was an important facet in the lives of early Plains Indians. Spirituality gave them a deep sense of dignity and understanding for their surroundings. A woman's place in Plains Indian culture was an indispensable part of tribal life. The man and the woman were partners, he had his responsibilities and she had her responsibilities, and both were necessary for their survival. The lifestyle of buffalo-hunting tribes of the Great Plains revolved around the dangerous and risky male pursuits of warfare and hunting. The role of Plains Indian women was to support the hunters and warriors; a task that involved considerable labor. It is true that the life of the Indian woman was hard, but her value to the tribe was duly recognized. The woman's numerous tasks promoted tribal welfare. The Plains Indians lived with constant exposure to the elements, to hunger and to attacks by enemy tribes. When these nomadic peoples moved their camp site, the men rode on the outside or ahead of the group ready to defend their families against any threat of attack and to look for game along the way. The women took down the tipi and packed their possessions on the horses and travois; small children rode with their mothers in a cradleboard or sometimes the cradleboards were tied firmly to the travois, older children often rode their own horses. (Before the acquisition of the horse, the women packed their belongings on the backs of dogs or on dog drawn travois.) And it was the women who unpacked and pitched the tipi and set up housekeeping at the next campsite. Apart from being a wife and mother, this strenuous work was done in addition to their daily homemaking duties of gathering firewood, cooking food, fetching water and making and repairing clothes, moccasins, tipis and manufacturing household items. Although early Plains Indian women had no voice in tribal affairs, they ran the home and had certain rights. For one thing the women decided where their tipi was to be pitched in the camp circle, and for another, they virtually owned all of its contents, as well as the horses they packed when camp was moved. According to historical accounts, if a woman had a grievance, she was likely to speak up and stand her ground. The primary task of early Plains women revolved around providing food for her family. The harvesting of buffalo was the responsibility of the man, but once the game was harvested, it became the property of the woman. The women of the encampment often followed the men on a buffalo hunt. They waited by their travois until the harvesting was finished and then they would rush down to start skinning and cutting up the meat. Each carcass had to be quickly attended to in order to prevent spoilage, especially during the summer months. The women, skilled in cutting the buffalo hide away from the meat, were careful not to damage the hide in the process. Before the hides cooled and became to stiff, the women quickly scraped the buffalo hides clean of fat and tissue. They wrapped the meat in fresh buffalo hides and took it back to camp on their travois. The men might help with the heaviest work such as turning the animal over, but processing the meat and tanning the hide were primarily the women's responsibility. If the hunters had to travel some distance to where the herd had migrated, the men did the butchering and carried the hide and the meat back to camp where the women waited for their return. After they scraped the hide, the women pegged it flat to the ground or laced it to a four-sided frame that set up vertically. The hide was then put aside until the women had time to work with it. The meat was cut up for boiling or sliced into strips and dried into jerky, or pounded to make pemmican. Pemmican was a winter staple which was processed by mixing pounded meat with melted buffalo fat, marrow, pine-nuts and berries. The massive buffalo hides were either made into rawhide for tying all kinds of equipment together or they were tanned. Being an expert tanner was regarded as one of the most prized skills among women. Plains Indian women tanned each hide using a time-process depending on what the hide was going to be used for. Hides that had been tanned with the hair on were used as bedding or robes; these hides were usually harvested in the fall or winter when the hair was the thickest. The women fashioned hides with the hair removed into various articles of clothing, lodge furniture, carrying cases and tipi coverings. Buffalo hair was woven into rope or used to stuff various items such as cradleboards and headrests. Depending on the size of the tipi, it took one dozen to two dozen hides to make a tipi covering. Plains Indian women saved up tanned hides until they had enough hides to sew together to cover the tipi poles. The men furnished the hides and the poles which supported the tipi, but in terms of property the tipi was hers and she took pride in tanning and decorating the tipi covering. The buffalo was the commissary of the Plains Indians and virtually nothing was wasted. Buffalo bones and horns were fashioned into cooking utensils and tools, even the hoofs were utilized in making glue. In truth, during the height of hunting season, even the most industrious Plains Indian woman could not keep up with her daily tasks and all the work that needed to be done to process the buffalo. It took the labor of at least two women to keep up with the amount of meat and hides one hunter provided. Usually, every wife had someone to help her - a young girl, an elderly relative, or, additional wives in those tribes that practiced polygamy. The maturing Plains Indian women devoted themselves to daily prayer with the same reverent spiritually they had practiced as younger women. The end of childbearing years marked an important passage for women in a realm of respect and distinction. The women elders were valued for their wisdom and were regarded as the keepers of tribal history. As mothers were busy with the daily tasks of gathering and preparing food, a great deal of caring for children, both boys and girls, was given to the grandmothers. The women elders instilled the ancient traditions, lore and values of their people to their grandchildren. They helped their granddaughters master the traditional skills and crafts of their tribe. The maturing Plains Indian women completed the circle of their lives by guiding new generations in the path of their ancestors.  Early Plains Indian women were industrious with a love for children and family. Their role of wife and mother was highly respected by their tribes and women were revered as the mothers of their race. In some tribes, women could also earn respect by obtaining positions of honor and power such as skilled artisans or medicine women. But primarily, women worked in partnership with their husbands to survive the elements of nature and to provide sustenance for their families.

First Philosophy - TO THE WOMEN The cycle of life for the woman is the baby, girl, woman, and grandmother. These are the four directions of life. She has been given by natural laws the ability to reproduce life. The most sacred of all things in life. Therefore, all men should treat her with dignity and respect. Never was it our way to harm her mentally or physically. Indian men were never abusers. We always treated our women with respect and understanding. So, from now on, I will treat women in a sacred manner. The Creator gave women the responsibility for bringing new life into the world. Life is sacred, so I will look upon women in a sacred manner. In our traditional ways, the woman is the foundation of the family. I will work with her to create a home atmosphere of respect, security and harmony. I will refrain from any form of emotional or physical abuse. If I have these feelings, I will talk to the Creator for guidance. I will treat all women as if they were my own female relatives. This I vow. Second Philosophy - TO THE CHILDREN As an eagle prepares its young to leave the nest with all the skills and knowledge it needs to participate in life, in the same manner so I will guide my children. I will use the culture to prepare them for life. The most important thing I can give to my children is my time. I will spend time with them in order to learn them and to listen to them. I will teach my children to pray, as well as the importance of respect. We are the caretakers of the children for the Creator. They are his children, not ours. I am proud of our Native language. I will learn it if I can and help my children to learn it. In today's world it is easy for the children to go astray, so I will work to provide positive alternatives for them. I will teach them the culture. I will encourage education. I will encourage sports. I will encourage them to talk with the Elders for guidance; but mostly, I will seek to be a role model myself. I make this commitment to my children so they will have courage and find guidance through traditional ways. Third Philosophy - TO THE FAMILY The Creator gave to us the family, which is the place where all teachings are handed down from the grandparent, to the parent, and to the child. The children's behavior is a mirror of the parent's behavior. Knowing this, I realize the importance for each Indian man to be responsible to the family in order to fulfill the need to build a strong and balanced family. By doing this, I will break the cycle of hurt and ensure the positive mental health of our children, even the children yet to be born. So, from now on, I will dedicate my priorities to rebuilding my family. I must never give up and leave my family only to the mother. I am accountable to restore the strength of my family. To do this, I will nurture our family's spiritual, cultural and social health. I will demonstrate trust, respect, honor and discipline; but mostly I will be consistent in whatever I do with them. I will see that the grandparents and community Elders play a significant role in the education of my children. I realize that the male and female together are fundamental to our family life. I will listen to my mate's council for our family's benefit, as well as for the benefit of my Indian Nation. Fourth Philosophy - TO THE COMMUNITY The Indian community provides many things for the family. The most important is the sense of belonging; that is, to belong to "the people", and to have a place to go. Our Indian communities need to be restored to health so the future generation will be guaranteed a place to go for culture, language and Indian socializing. In he community, the honor of one is the honor of all and the pain of one is the pain of all. I will work to strengthen recovery in all parts of my community. As an Indian man, I will give back to my community by donating my time and talents when I am able. I will cultivate friendships with other Indian men for mutual support and strength. I will consider the effects of our decisions on behalf of the next seven generations; in this way, our children and grandchildren will inherit healthy communities. I will care about those in my community so that the mind changes, alcohol and drugs, will vanish, and our communities will forever be free of violence. If each of us can do all these things, then others, will follow; ours will be a proud community. Fifth Philosophy - THE EARTH Our Mother Earth is the source of all life, whether it be plants, the two-legged, four-legged, winged ones or human beings. The Mother Earth is the greatest teacher, if we listen, observe and respect her. When we live in harmony with the Mother Earth, she will recycle the things we consume and make them available to our children. As an Indian man, I must teach my children how to care for the Earth so it is there for the future generations. So from now on, I realize the Earth is our Mother. I will treat her with honor and respect. I will honor the interconnectedness of all things and all forms of life. I will realize the Earth does not belong to us, but that we belong to the Earth. The natural law is the ultimate authority upon the lands and water. I will learn the knowledge and wisdom of the natural laws. I will pass this knowledge on to my children. The Mother Earth is a living entity that maintains life. I will speak out in a good way whenever I see someone abusing the Earth. Just as I would protect my own mother, so I will protect the Earth. I will ensure that the land, water, and air will be intact for my children and for my children's children-the unborn. Sixth Philosophy - TO THE CREATOR As an Indian man, I realize we make no gains without the Great Spirit being in our lives. Neither I, nor anything I attempt to do, will work without our Creator. Being Indian and being spiritual has the same meaning. Spirituality is our gift from the Great One. This say, I vow to walk the Red Road. As an Indian man, I will return to the traditional and spiritual values which have guided my ancestors for the past generations. I will look with new eyes on the powers of our ceremonies and religious ways, for they are important to the very survival of our people. We have survived and are going to grow and flourish spiritually. We will fulfill our teachings and the purpose that the Creator has given us with dignity. Each day, I will pray and ask guidance. I will commit to walk the Red Road, or whatever the spiritual way is called in my own culture. If I am a Christian, I will be a good one. If I tradition, I will walk this road with dedication. If each of us can do these things then others will follow. From this day forward, I will reserve time and energy for spirituality, seeking to know the Creator's will. Seventh Philosophy - TO MYSELF I will think about what kind of person I want to be when I am an Elder. I will start developing myself now to be this person. I will walk with the Great Spirit and the grandfathers at my side. I will develop myself to remain positive. I will develop a good mind. I will examine myself daily to see what I did good and what I need to improve. I will examine my strengths and weaknesses; then I will ask the Creator to guide me. I will develop a good mind. Each day, I will listen for the Creator's voice in the wind. I will watch nature and ask to be shown a lesson which will occur on my path. I will seek our the guiding principles which guided my ancestors. I will walk in dignity, honor and humility, conducting myself as a warrior. I will seek the guidance of the Elders so that I may maintain the knowledge of culture, ceremonies and songs, and so that I may pass these on to future generations. I choose to do all these things myself, because no one else can do them for me. I know I CANNOT GIVE AWAY WHAT I DON'T HAVE, so I will need to learn to walk the talk.

The Native American Code of Ethics Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strengthto be a better person. Seek for the things that will benefit others (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 somethin with deference or courtesy". Showing respect is a basic law of life. a. Treat every person from the tiniest child to the oldest elder with respect at all times. b. Special respect should be given to Elders, Parents, Teachers, and Community Leaders. c. No person should be made to feel "put down" by you; avoid hurting other hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison. d. Touch nothing that belongs to someone else (especially Sacred Objects) without permission, or an understanding between you. e. Respect the privacy of every person, never intrude on a person's quiet moment or personal space. f. Never walk between people that are conversing. g. Never interrupt people who are conversing. h. Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special respect is due. i. 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). j. Never speak about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not. k. Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world. Do nothing to pollute our Mother, rise up with wisdom to defend her. l. Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of others. m. Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless. Listen with your heart. n. Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once you give an idea to a council meeting it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the people. Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea prevail. Indeed you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed. The clash of ideas brings forth the Spark of Truth. Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time. Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions. Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests. 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 members of the human family. 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. To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation, and the world 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 talks. True happiness comes only to 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 things that lead to your destruction. Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms; in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends.

There was an old lady, from the "Cree" tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the fish would die in the streams, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, and the trees would no longer be, mankind as we would know it would all but cease to exist.
There would come a time when the "keepers of the legend, stories, culture rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient Tribal Customs" would be needed to restore us to health. They would be mankinds key to survival, they were the "Warriors of the Rainbow". There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit.

The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would spread these messages and teach all peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They would teach them how to live the "Way of the Great Spirit". They would tell them of how the world today has turned away from the Great Spirit and that is why our Earth is "Sick".

The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would show the peoples that this "Ancient Being" (the Great Spirit), is full of love and understanding, and teach them how to make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again. These Warriors would give the people principles or rules to follow to make their path right with the world. These principles would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The Warriors of the Rainbow would teach the people of the ancient practices of Unity, Love and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among people in all four comers of the Earth.

Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit with love that flows like the beautiful mountain stream, and flows along the path to the ocean of life. Once again, they would be able to feel joy in solitude and in councils. They would be free of petty jealousies and love all mankind as their brothers, regardless of color, race or religion. They would feel happiness enter their hearts, and become as one with the entire human race. Their hearts would be pure and radiate warmth, understanding and respect for all mankind, Nature, and the Great Spirit. They would once again fill their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with the purest of thoughts. They would seek the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great Spirit! They would find strength and beauty in prayer and the solitudes of life.

Their children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the fears of toxins and destruction, wrought by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed. The rivers would again run clear, the forests be abundant and beautiful, the animals and birds would be replenished. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected and conservation of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.

The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These practices would again become a part of their daily lives.

The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions spoke the loudest. Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom, and courage and those who showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs. They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained. Like the thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.

The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated, unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more.

The day will come, it is not far away. The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage. Those that have kept the rituals, stories, legends, and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth, and mankind. It will be with this knowledge that we shall find our "Key to our Survival".

This is the story of the "Warriors of the Rainbow" and this is my reason for protecting the culture, heritage, and knowledge of my ancestors. I know that the day "Eyes of Fire" spoke of - will come! I want my children and grandchildren to be prepared to accept this task.The task of being one of the........"Warriors of the Rainbow".

Inner stillness is the place where thoughts grow,where peace of mind exits . It is where the ego and attachments fall away and we are left only with what the moment has to offer. Cherish these quiet moments for  "When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself and when you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world."  True freedom and the end of suffering is living in such a way as if you had completely chosen whatever you are feeling or experiencing at this very moment. If you pick the apple bloosm it never becomes the fruit... Flowering potential is beautiful but only when it grows to completion does it come into the fullness of the Fruit of the Spirit. "... The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 If you had not suffered as you have in life, there would be no depth to you as a human being, no humility, no compassion, no understanding, no acceptance, no tolerance.  You would not know true love. Suffering cracks open the shell of ego, but there does come a point when it has served its purpose, and your suffering will stop. Suffering is necessary until YOU realize it is unnecessary. We each control our own suffering. Again,true freedom and the end of suffering is living in such a way as if you had completely chosen whatever you are feeling or experiencing at this very moment.  Growth does not have to be full of suffering .. we may have sorrow but we do not have to suffer ... there is a difference... I believe that you cannot know true happiness until you have tasted the bitter sweetness of true sorrow.  An example of this would be the death of a loved one.     I love the life that God gave me and I cherish even the sorrow,  there is a great blessing in the knowledge that I was loved by them and I will hold  that in my heart forever. He gave me a great gift; I know I was blessed in having had such special time with them.  I hold so dear all the beautiful memories  of the good times spent together. Memories of the laughter and the joy they brought to my life. Even though I feel such great sorrow because they are no longer here with me, there is true happiness also.  Just because there is sorrow,  this does not mean I have to suffer, for love remains. True love never dies.  Just as God is with us always so are the ones we love. In love there are no bounds, there are no fences.   In the Spirit we never lose anyone.  We simply hold them differently, we hold them in our hearts and souls instead of in our arms and hands. Sharon Littledove (c) 2008