Manataka American Indian Council
ZINTKALA OYATE
PETER V.
CATCHES
Meets
Lee Standing Bear Moore
By Takatoka
This is a story about the meeting of two men --- from different places but with one heart.
Peter V. Catches, Jr. (Zintkala Oyate) is Keeper of the Spotted Eagle Way of Lakota medicine, its oral history, sacred rites, and experiential teachings. Peter has conducted the Spotted Eagle Sun Dance at his home on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota for 28 consecutive years. He is the descendant of 37 generations of medicine men. His family name, Catches-the-Enemy, was shortened a few generations ago.
Lee
Standing Bear
began his acquaintance with Peter during a ride from the Houston Airport to the
Rothko Chapel. Their hostess and mutual friend, Ingeborg Hayes,
also known by many as She
Who Brings Cultures Together, was driving. Both Zintkala
and Standing Bear know her as "Sunshine." She is International Administrative Coordinator at
the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
Peter Catches and
Lee Standing Bear were asked to officiate
sunrise services the next day during a Peace Vigil at the Rothko
Center near downtown
Houston. Event organizers decided the ceremonies should be led
by American Indians and this prompted Ingeborg to suggest Peter and Lee
for this honor.
The drive to the
Center took nearly an hour. Sunshine and Peter sat in the
front seat as Bear sat in the back. They all chatted about the
reservation, Manataka, Houston, the upcoming event and a dozen other
topics, but the back of Peter's head caught Bear's eye. His attention
was drawn away from the conversation several times as Bear stared at
the beautiful spotted eagle feather hanging from Peter's long black
hair.
Bear
was mesmerized
and could not help but sneak a quick touch. Then another and
another. Careful not to be seen, Bear stole one more brush along
the edge of the magnificent specimen. Bear was nearly caught when
Peter moved his head with a quick jerk. Somehow the
situation struck Bear funny, so he gave the feather a sharp little tug
pulling his hair. Again, Peter moved his head but said
nothing. This was fun for Bear!
Throughout the trip, the beautiful feather mysteriously
moved from place to place on Peter's back as he absent-mindedly
shook his head or brushed away little spirits. This is
the way the two men began their weekend visit.
The Rothko
Chapel is an internationally known, non-denominational peace,
worship and meditation center. Dignitaries such as President
Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, His Holiness Dali Lama, and
ambassadors of many nations have participated in ceremonies and
events at the Rothko. In 1966, the site was consecrated by the
Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox Catholic, and Protestant religions.
According to its brochure, the Rothko is a Tree with many
branches with "...mysterious beauty…" and "...hospitable shade to
everyone".
Sunshine
escorted Bear inside the large chapel while Peter rested in the shade to get off a bad
foot. He was wise to check things out before going inside. The
building is an octagonal cement edifice with large all-black
paintings covering most of the gray cement walls inside - "better
to meditate by" they said. The subdued lighting and air
conditioned coolness made the walls sweat slightly. Rows of
small unadorned concrete benches stretch across the bare
floor.
Bear's
throat was
full of ooohs, mmms, and ugghs throughout the tour. He could not wait to get outside to the yellow sunshine,
blue skies, green trees and brown earth. Once outside Bear said
to himself, "That place gives me the willies. Gray cement and
black to meditate? White would have been better."
Deeepressssing.
In a few
minutes, volunteers began to gather to discuss plans for the event
set to take place at 6:00 a.m., Saturday. Peter and Bear sat
around a make-believe Fire Circle to relax. Between
swatting mosquitoes and shaking hands with visitors, Pete whispered to
Bear, "You know that place gives me the willies." "Me
too!", Bear growled softly. Then both men had fun as
they proceeded to mentally
and sometimes verbally to take the building apart to allow Mother
Earth to see what is inside.
Their
first meal was a light lunch at a fancy deli near downtown. It was made
more enjoyable
with good conversation. Sunshine pointed out
the namesake of the Center was a wealthy artist, Rothko, who
committed suicide before the building was completed. Peter and
Bear retired to the sidewalk patio to smoke and talk while the others
discussed the upcoming event. The two men talked about working
with people in South Dakota, Lakota and Kituwah ceremonies, the
birds, Manataka, water, and Pete's book.
"Sacred Fireplace"
(Oceti Wakan) was written by Peter and
his late father, Pete Catches Sr. (Petaga Yuha Mani - He Who Walks with
Hot Coals) who is credited with reviving the traditional Sundance
ceremony among the Lakota. In 1964 Pete Catches Sr. was named Sundance chief
by the Oglala Sioux tribal council, the only such distinction in
tribal history.
Following the
first meal, Sunshine became a magician and made
bountiful amounts of food appear of out thin air that kept Peter and
Bear full and sleepy
throughout the weekend. Both men look like they enjoy eating. In the evening a group gathered at the Olive
Garden Restaurant. It was during these pleasant interludes that
the two Indians
really began to know each other. After meals, they sat
around a table and told stories, sang to the drum and allowed
little glimpses of their hearts to be revealed.
Ceremonies the next morning went fairly
well. Prayers were given in the Circle by a Buddhist
monk, a Muslim teacher, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, a Baptist
minister and a host of others. Peter performed the sacred Pipe
ceremony and Bear told the story of Manataka. The event was a
beautiful affair and the circle of friends joined there brought many
blessings and good spirits to the occasion. The crowd
was small and they had to stand or sit on the concrete for nearly
three hours. That's dedication to the idea of peace!
Bear
later recalled the beautiful faces of the people gathered there. Wearing
many different colors they stood and prayed, holding hands in the
sacred Circle. Their countenance was sweet and airy as a field of
wildflowers. Their prayers were real, honest and powerful. This was
a event to remember. Too bad we do not do this on a daily basis
wherever we are.
It was hot by 8:30 and the mosquitoes began
to pester Peter again. Bear knew Pete was wondering why the
little buggers did not bite Bear.
They ate, slept,
drummed, told stories, ate and lounged around the rest of the
afternoon until evening when it was time to go eat again at an
exciting seafood place on the bay. As Sunshine drove into the
parking lot, Peter caught site of a brightly lit Ferris wheel and
insisted everyone go for a ride. "I want to say I did something
while in Houston…," he said. Sunshine, Peter and Bear climbed
aboard and swung at the top under bright stars while looking out
over the black ocean water. "That was fun,"
Bear said.
That night,
the two men sat alone outside under the stars in Sunshine's backyard and
spoke of creation and the blessings they had received. Peter
did not
really sit still though. Slapping mosquitoes and itching broke
the silence between words. Finally, in the darkness Bear said,
"Ya know, I brought them…" Peter's head quickly jerked in
Bear's direction and a glint came to his eye. He smiled... and
swatted another one.
"When you
journey to Manataka honored brother, well will show you mosquitoes
ten times bigger than these little squirts," Bear said.
"Uggggh," Peter grumbled. Their talk wandered over a
dozen subjects in search of the unknown. Indians are
curious folks you know.
The next morning
Peter and Bear enjoyed a large breakfast and guests. Afterwards, they sat
speaking quietly. Peter shared more about his path and Bear spoke of the
deep mysteries and read a poem and prophecy about Manataka.
When it came time to depart at the airport,
Peter looked at Bear's big black hat with seven feathers and said,
"That one sure is nice, what is it?"
"Aha, it comes from the
wilds of Central America," Bear said plucking the blue, orange, yellow
and green feather from the hat and holding it in his hand. "It came to me by way of a Mayan
priestess and wonderful lady who knows some secrets of the Manataka
Stone," explained Bear.
The Guacamaya feather is given to a person who
speaks with spirit in their heart. It is the most sacred feather of
the Aztec and Maya and the bird is nearly extinct. The Guacamaya
bird is huge and aggressive when approached, but if the bird is
respectfully asked for a feather, she will remove a feather and fly
away leaving her present.
"The Guacamaya has rainbow colors
to remind you of Manataka. When it speaks, it repeats what the
spirit is saying. This feather is now yours in remembrance of our
meeting, the honor and respect I felt in your presence and the
blessings you will bring to Manataka in years to come," Bear
said tearfully.
A
week later Bear mailed Peter a quick thank you note with two very large
mosquitoes hawks taped to a note saying, "Baby Arkansas Mosquitoes"
Two weeks later a package arrived from Peter. Inside was a
beautiful, perfectly formed Spotted Eagle Feather used in the Oglala
Lakota Sundance for seven years. Bear proudly slid the new feather into the
brim of his big black hat - a new friend had been won. Today,
that eagle feather rests enclosed in red cloth in a honored position on Bear's
gifting table. Mitakuye
Oyasin!
Some might say
the Bear disrespected Peter as he pulled on his hair and joked with
him about mosquitoes. Bear
recognizes the awesome privilege of meeting Catches-the-Enemy and
will forever remember the quite words they spoke.
Besides, Zintkala Oyate knows a few jokes too.
Peter shares
the wisdom of generations and his open heart to anyone who can
read. If you are interested in learning about the special
ceremonies and paths of the Spotted Eagle way, click below to order
this inexpensive book, "Sacred Fireplace". Every morning I
read a passage or two to start the day.
--
Bear SACRED FIREPLACE
CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE...
FOSTERS DIALOGUE
By Ingeborg Hayes (ICH and MAIC
member)
He sang
his new made song for the earth in the Lakota language. I could hear
the rhythm of the drum even though there was no drum present. His
voice was powerful yet gentle going from high to low tones. It was a
long time since he made a song and the spirit of this one
reconnected us with the sacred earth.
That afternoon I
invited Pete Catches, an American Indian 37th generation Medicine
man from Pine Ridge Reservation to meet my son and his future bride.
Patrick had questioned my relationships with “all those Indians”. He
had seen for himself that my values had been shifting the last
twenty years. I was learning hard lessons in response to my yearning
to return to the way of the spirit and the earth.
From the
moment Peter arrived in Houston, he shared story after story. Almost
as a way of communicating. Patrick enjoys sharing fishing and scuba
diving stories, they were a good match. Pat’s Dad had Indian blood,
and it is said that his great grandfather returned to the
reservation, possibly Broken Bow in Oklahoma. Pat has friends in
other cultures like the Netherlands and the Mayan Indians in a
remote part of Guatemala. He also lived in the thick jungle of
Indonesia. Borneo was Pat’s domain as a toddler, where he had no
fear of snakes, insects or the oversized moths that were his
constant companions.
“So why don’t you put some cattle on the
land or farm it for agriculture?” Pat questioned Peter about living
on the Pine Ridge reservation. “Why is there such poverty, so much
alcohol and no progress.” Ready with many suggestions what “they”
should do with all the land to make it prosper he politely
challenged Peter over and over again about the traditional way of
life.
Peter calmly explained the governmental interference
and how it comes to pass that there is a divide within the
reservation between the Indian full bloods and those who are part
Indian. He made a distinction about when Patrick was talking
political and when not. He explained that the values and goals of
those in charge on the reservation were aligned with the government
and away from respecting the deep values and connections with the
land. It was made sure that people with those visions would be in
charge.
I was thankful for the exchange between Peter and
Patrick. I know from experience that each inch we separate ourselves
from nature, we are more drawn into the never ending economic
strife, becoming less and less human focused. Peter mentioned the
difference in thought about the little ones, that they are born
sacred in contrast with the western view of born being in sin. The
Natives teachings are not to spank a child ever.
This
dialogue beyond our own culture united a little more the circle of
humanity . Now more than ever we need to have dialogue to take the
moral highroad so to speak and connect and attempt to understand
each other – and not only focus on our economic connection but
instead become human-focused – relationship focused.
So how
do we return to a human circle? Let’s teach our children. We must
encourage them to become curious and make the walk to at least one
other culture.
If we want to be successful in the future, we
have to create an open society with schools and employment, where
people feel comfortable with difference and diversity and their
expression, indeed respect them.
Starting in our own country,
receiving the wisdom of the natives, the American Indian, with
grace, we can join hands across the world, welcoming people from
foreign countries and equally going there to be welcomed by them.
And not just in areas of business also in knowledge of the
humanities, history, anthropology, sociology etc.
The study
of other cultures needs to make up a significant part of the
curriculum in schools if we want to respect and understand them.
There needs to be national and international diversity of staff and
teachers.
The American Indians, through their legends have
wisdom stories and songs hundreds of years old. Living close to the
land they can teach us a rhytm of life that generates harmony.
Inspite that for many years they were forced to speak the English
language, only, and in boarding schools learned a curriculum solely
based on the white way.
I encourage schools and businesses to
foster open communication, greater interaction, cultural and
international experiential teachings. It is said that fifteen
percent of international students is the crucial mass for
learning.
Observing the dialogue between Patrick, a young man
educated the western way, and Peter a Lakota Medicine man and
teacher affirmed that their cultural encounter fostered a dialogue
about generalizations made about Indians living on the
reservation.
Peter Catches lives on the Pine Ridge
Reservation in South Dakota. For the past 25 years, he has conducted
the Spotted Eagle Sundance near his home on Pine Ridge. For decades
he and his father have healed and instructed both Natives and
non-Natives near their home and off the reservation.
His
father's book Sacred Fireplace (Oceti Wakan) is the life and teachings of a
Lakota medicine man. It describes his father's struggles to embrace the medicine
way. This book shares legends and the Lakota ceremonies, and reflections on the
history and culture of his people and on his dad's life.
If anyone is
interested in this book, please click here: Peter Catches
Thank
You Song
Wopida Olowan.
Ihanktonwan
Wakantanka Tunkashida,
Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
Canupa wankan can maya kuwedo.
He aheyo, Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
Wicosani wa maya a kuwedo, Pidamayaye, Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
Canupa wakan can maya kuwedo, He aheyo, Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
Wicosani wa maya a kuwedo, Pidamayaye, Pidamayayedo he aheyo.
--- Ihanktowan Oyate [Dakota Nation]