Dear Peacewalker,
Why must you distance yourself from your own frustration and lack of understanding by casting so many insults at Kathryn?
Please, if you say you have learned something about an Indian way of life, then please control your desire to insult and castigate those who disagree with you.
Through our words and deeds we will reveal ourselves. If the people you believe in are doing right, and you stand solidly behind them, then you should not fear the responses of others - the truth will out.
In some way, I feel responsible for the abuse you are putting on Kathryn, because it is I who has asked you to speak further about this Sun Dance. It makes me feel sad that, because I raised these questions in public, someone else is being abused.
Please, Peacewalker, you and I and Kathryn are all women - there is no need to throw around ugly, sexist comments like "fat cow" and no good ever comes out of name-calling.
I did not mean to send the message that you, yourself, claimed that Mr. Hendrickson was Lakota, only that many others have told me that. To date, I can not find any evidence that this Sun Dance is sanctioned by any Lakota elder or community . . . unless you can please fill me in?
I am not attacking you, Peacewalker. But I hope that you are aware that you are offending many Indian people on this board by claiming some authority and knowledge of Lakota culture and politics, when you clearly have little (although you clearly think you have a lot!).
To claim that Frank Fools Crow "single-handedly brought back the Sun Dance" is bizarre, foolhardy, false, and deragatory to the efforts and struggles of Lakota people on many reservations to maintain their way of life. But as far as I can tell, very few people off the reservation know much about what the Lakota Oyate have done to protect their ceremonies and pass on the history of their actions. The ones who know were there, standing beside their family members, or hearing the stories from their parents and grandparents, humbly carrying their responsibilities forward. Many of family names of those involved never appear on the internet, and I'm sure that's the way the families want it.
Peacewalker, did you ever wonder why anyone who does not speak the Lakota language would think they were able to conduct a Sun Dance ceremony? Do any alarm bells go off for you when you consider that a large group of non-native people are claiming to participate in a sacred Lakota ceremony that's being conducted by a self-claimed miqmaq in Cowichan territories where there are no Lakotas present? It gives me an uneasy feeling, but maybe there is something I don't know about the ties and bonds that have been forged between this ceremony and Lakota people.
It's good to hear you talking about this ceremony. By talking about it, my perception is that you believe this ceremony to be legitimate and, therefore, you have nothing to hide. I like that - others whom I have asked have been very secretive, leaving me to wonder if they are trying to hide something.
Do you know the names of any other leaders of this ceremony that could be contacted for further information? Please feel free to give me the info in a personal message, if preferred. I am genuinely interested.
Best, ska
