Re: Native American Regalia
Ted Burton (tedbrtn@CYBERHIGHWAY.NET)
Wed, 31 Jan 1996 15:06:06 -0700
At 11:40 1.31.1996, Peter Farnham wrote:
> I wore these items of regalia--primarily war bonnets--in what I
> thought and intended to be a respectful manner. I always included in
> my remarks at the beginning of the ceremony that Chief Akela only
> shows up at our most important pack events (i.e, crossovers).
>
> I also have heard a giggle occasionally from a parent when I make my
> appearance (with reddish hair, a moustache, and glasses, I don't look
> much like a Native American), but I find that I can nip that in the
> bud by pointing out that Akela is wearing this magnificent head-dress
> out of respect and admiration for the many noble qualities of a proud
> people who have been tragically misunderstood and misused throughout
> our history. By wearing regalia, we honor them, as well as the young
> men who are crossing over to boy scouts. This stops the occasional
> giggling cold.
While there are many who might still question your right to wear such a
head-dress, the remarks you make upon hearing the 'giggles' are very
appropriate and remove your conduct firmly from bad and place it at worst
in questionable boxes. It would add something to the experience if you
would always make that speech.
Now I thought Akela was the name of the wolf pack leader in Mowgli's
experience, not something peculiar to the Webelos. Been a long time since I
been around Webelos, tho.
The history of communication among the races on this continent is one that
can be held up only as a model for people who love war. There is a story I
ran across that you have given me the opening to post again here, my
apologies to the folks who find this overlong to download. No one ever said
communication was quick & easy.
Understanding
Two men were out walking. Neither not knowing of each other's presence.
One was a red man. The other a white man. The white man spotted the red
man and hid. The red man killed a deer and thanked the deer for giving
his life up for him so tht he might eat. The white man, upon seeing this,
wondered what he had just seen and fear was instilled in his heart. But
hunger being more powerful than his fear, he approached the red man. The
red man seeing the white man and also seeing his hunger, offered him some
meat and they ate. The red man done eating, again thanked the deer and
also thanked the Great Spirit. The white man, again felt fear as he
watched the red man pray. The red man looked towards the sky and pointed
out an eagle to the white man. The red man seeing this as a sign from the
Great Spirit began to sing. The white man, NOT KNOWING OR UNDERSTANDING
the red man, felt the fear growing inside of him. The red man, done
singing, stood facing the white man and an eagle feather fell between
them. The white man, upon seeing this, picked up the eagle feather and
offered to the red man. The red man nodded no and said with his eyes, "it
is yours to keep." The red man saw the eagle feather as a sign of peace
and friendship between the two and the red man began to sing again. The
white man, NOT KNOWING OR UNDERSTANDING the red man, began to feel the
fear grow inside his heart. The fear spreading from his heart to his
mind. The fear being too much, the white man slayed the red man. The
eagle soaring above looked down and wept for both them. The white man was
left standing alone, holding the eagle feather......NOT KNOWING OR
UNDERSTANDING the red man.
Upon returning home, the white man told his son of the story of him and
the red man. The white man told his son that he had met a red man in the
forest and the red man talked to the animals and prayed to the devil. He
also told his son that he took the eagle feather from the red man as a
remembrance of his courage and Godly duty to kill the red man and he
called the red man a savage for living as he did. So the father gave the
feather to his son. The white man's son passed the stroy and the feather
onto his son and both were passed on from one generation to the next.
All, NOT KNOWING OR UNDERSTANDING the red man.
The story and the feather were lost over time but history books and films
still depict the red man as a "SAVAGE." The black child, the white child,
and the yellow child read this books and watch these films. All, NOT
KNOWING OR UNDERSTANDING the red man.
ALL, NOT KNOWING OR UNDERSTANDING......................ME.
P. S. there are still missionaries wandering around the rez telling the
children that their traditional elders paying respect to Father Sun and
Mother Earth, honoring the Spirit that Moves in all Things, are worshipping
Satan and demons.
=-=-=-=-=-=- II <<<=-=<I=-=<<< II -=-=-=-=-=-=
Alappiechsu Wiechcheu, Wolf Who Talks Fast
Tukarica Lodge 266, Chapter Adviser, Hemene Chapter
Ore-Ida Council 106, D. Eagle Rep., Post 246 CR, Troop 246 MC
------------ "a good ol' Fox too..." ------------
YIS, Doc Fox
Ted Burton
City Attorney and Prosecutor
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
