MANATAKA ORGANIZATIONAL MESSAGES

LETTER TO THE EDITOR...  

The experience at Manataka was life changing.

Dear Manataka, 

I joined Manataka a couple of years ago and attended my first gathering last summer. It's funny how sometimes you do not realize that something is missing or 'broken' in your life until you find what it is that was lost. 

I am 39 years old and have never been a part of any 'organized religion'. When my daughter was born 15 years ago, it was such a powerful experience, a gift from a higher power that I wanted to express my thankfulness for this beautiful, healthy baby girl that had so blessed my life. I tried going to my husband's church and while the people were all really nice, my spirit was not being fed or nurtured. I thought it was just me and eventually stopped going. I then tried going back to my old religion (Uni Uni) but still felt out of place and also they scoffed at me for bringing my baby girl to church with me. Apparently they wanted the babies in the daycare downstairs. No way! So I never went back.

After 14 years or so I was led to Standing Bear. With his patience and guidance he led me to Manataka. I ended up joining and attended my first gathering last summer... all the while Hawk was with me, watching over me to make sure I followed this path. 

The experience at Manataka was life changing. My spirit soared all weekend, I felt like I was flying with the Hawk who guided me there. I knew then that was what my soul needed! Thus began the healing of my spirit! Never had I felt such a connection to people, to Creator and to Mother Earth. I realized then that I was NOT crazy or that I lacked a 'spiritual' side at all. I just had to find the right path... the path that truly connected me more deeply to my surroundings. I began to see people in a new light... I began to be more accepting and loving. Walking through the woods I would often stop and listen to the trees, and/or enjoy the beautiful songs of the winged ones. I hugged my daughter more, loved my husband more deeply and also found a new pride in who I was.

Even though the path over the past year was not always easy... I have grown. My spirit is healing. I can feel things changing, feel my ancestors on the wind before the storm. I take pleasure now in the sparkling crystal snowflakes of winter, marvel at the birds and animals who survive the harsh winters and sing with the birds at the coming of spring. Yesterday I gazed in awe at the now green, lushness surrounding me... enjoying the summer life dance of the trees and grass!

I have also connected to Indians in my area... I have attended powwows (here in NH) ... and always I am treated as one of them. I feel love and acceptance in their circle just as I do at Manataka. I love watching the young ones dance happily around the circle... for them it's pure joy and love of the sacred drums. I see beauty in the elders dancing around the circle, one woman so beautiful (even with her white hair) that I had to tell her. That is how I long to be when I am an elder... dignified, confident with an aura of quiet beauty.

So thank you to all my brothers and sisters at Manataka for accepting me, for showing me the path that would heal my soul! I have received so many blessings since returning from Manataka that it's just amazing. Thank you Elders, Standing Bear and members of 'The Red Road'. I love you all dearly.

May your spirit soar on the breath of warm winds.  

Little Sister, Bonnie Delcourt   

LETTER TO THE EDITOR...

White Wolves to Give Away

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I need to ask for help from Manataka.  If you could put this into the Smoke Signal newsletter.

I need a good caring home for three white female wolves - ages 1 to 3 years.  All have had shots and fixed.  They do not need to go to the same home.  They are housebroken.  They are very sweet and lovable and they like to sleep at the end of my bed at night.  

Because I have medical problems I need to give them away to loving homes.  I live in North Central Arkansas and do not have a phone or email.  Please write to:  Lynne Wilborn, 193 MC 8068, Flippin, Arkansas 72634.   Thank you.  ~ Lynne Wilborn.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR...

Dear Manataka:

We all had a wonderful time at the Summer Gathering.  It did our hearts good to see everyone.  Thank you for everything -- the Pipe Ceremony, Bear Dance, music, drums -- the ambience of it all.

My children traveled there to receive their Spirit Names and this was very important to them, but Wow! It had much more of an impact than could have ever been imagined.  I mean each name given struck a deep note within.

Grandmother Dottie Furr burst our hearts with Dottie being "Little White Dove" the same as my baby Jada.  

Sheri's name was really fitting -- Young Deer Wolf.  Her whole house is decorated in deer and wolfs and we always talk about how young at heart and light hearted she is.  

Rio (Red Bird Sings) has her bedroom painted all red and collects red birds.  She is also a singer and has always been a very kind child.  

Cyrena (Little Spotted Beaver) looked like a little beaver at birth.  She was all brown, with brown eyes and hair, dark complexion.  She was very different from all her blond-haired, blue-eyed siblings.  When she was a baby she gnawed her wooden crib.  She would chew and chew at the wood and we called her "Little Beaver".

I have enclosed a picture of my son, Jimi, who is shown leaving the sacred circle right after receiving his Spirit Name, Brave Brown Bear.  In the photo, he is reading his name on the certificate.  His hair is styled like a brave because that is how he asked to wear it to Manataka.  So I let him cut it two days before the trip.  You can see there is a mysterious brown bear print right over my son in this photo.  Do you see it?  It blew my mind!  When I showed the photo to Jimi he said, "Woe, that is wild"  Since then he has come to notice a lot of his bear-like characteristics.  

Brandon and I are making our gifts for our Spirit Names.  Our children names give them such a good sense of identity and being teenagers it has such a positive and spiritual effect.  Thank you.

Well, I could write on and on because there is so much to tell about our wonderful journey from Georgia to Manataka.  Thank you again for the Gathering -- for giving your time to us.

~ Charlotte Davies & Family

POLITICAL FRONT:

Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians of Alabama Close to Federal Recognition

Congressman Jo Bonner has introduced a bill H.R. 3526 in U.S. Congress for federal acknowledgement of the Mowa Band of Choctaw . He introduced it on 28 July 2005. My Choctaw brother has asked me to ask friends, relatives and supporters to e-mail their U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives asking them to support this bill.

To contact your U.S. Senator, go to:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

To contact your U.S. Representative, go to:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

To contact Congressman Jo Bonner who introduced the bill, go to:
http://bonner.house.gov/hor/al01/home.htm

Obviously, the more nationwide public support we can generate, the more likelihood it will happen.

Thanks,
HinTamaheca

Two Cheyenne guys on relocation spied a sign in a cafe window that said "hot-dogs". Thinking they were some other kind of dogs, they ordered two to go, and went to a park to have lunch. The first Cheyenne guy looked inside
his sack, and then threw it down in disgust.  "What part did you get?" he asked his buddy.

IN THE NEWS...    

Cherokee man killed in Iraq suicide attack
Dawes was a former marshal and army veteran

TULSA OK
Sam Lewin 8/24/2005

A former Cherokee Nation Marshall has died in Iraq.

Mike Dawes of Stilwell was killed Aug. 23 by a suicide bomber in the town of Baqubah. At the time Dawes was working as an International Police Liaison Officer with DynCorp International, a private security firm based in Texas. The firm reports that a suicide bomber walked into a dining facility at the Diyala Province Police Headquarters at about 1:30 p.m. and detonated the explosives.

Dawes died at the scene. Nine Iraqi police officers were also killed in the attack.

Dawes had worked in law enforcement for 16 years, and he had completed two civilian police missions with DynCorp in Kosovo. A veteran, Dawes served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969.

One of his sons recently returned from a military tour of duty in Iraq.

"This is a tremendous loss. Mike has proven himself time and again to be the ultimate patriot. He gallantly represented us working as a Cherokee Nation marshal," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. "Mike went on to work in hot spots around the globe; he devoted his entire life to protecting people. Mike Dawes was a great patriot. It is numbing when we lose someone of his stature in the service of our country. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children."

Dawes is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.


NTN Article#: 6898
http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6898

Ken Adams is chief of the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe. The Upper Mattaponi Tribe is part of VITAL,  an organization composed of six Virginia tribes seeking acknowledgement from the federal government.  http://www.co-opliving.com/

Elder's Meditation

"There are many things to be shared with the four colors of man in our common destiny as one family upon our Mother the Earth." ---- Traditional Circle of Elders, Northern Cheyenne

The Elders tell us the time will come when the four colors of Man will unite into one family. According to prophecies, we were told this would happen when the Sun was blocked in the Seventh Moon. There was an eclipse of the Sun in July, 1991. We are now in a new Springtime called the Coming Together Time. Each of the four colors of man has knowledge that the other colors need to heal their families. Let us all be willing to sit in a circle and respect our differences. 

Creator, let me be willing to have an open mind

 -- Elders.meditation@whitebison.org

HEALTH FRONT

KISS YOUR VITAMINS GOODBYE!

POETRY CIRCLE

Mending the Hoop

By Carol Perez Petersen

They stand with shoulders touching
fringed shawls flapping, frosty breath singing
mother earth rising up through the ghost dancers
 
We set the crystals in a circle to the eight directions at the foot of a stairway to heaven
Earth dust, star dust we are all made of this. 
Eagle singers cry for love and drum strong the heart
 
The ravens and the owl hovered in the feathered crowns of the Stone Chiefs
while the bear stuck her nose out to sniff.
 
We made honey in the light of our hearts and set a sweet arrow of peace making to Big Bear
Giving voice to the unspeakable
the cries we all had when we were left behind dipped into the song of many nations
making a feast for all my relations
 
The big dipper where the north star shines
is a white lightening moon bear dance
A golden sun grizzly bear dance
A red heart calling red bear dance
A rolling hills black bear dance
 
I turned my head and saw you and you reached out with your arm
and tightened your body next to mine
I looked up above and there were the children drinking rain and breathing love
Then came the eagles
riding on a thermal from the eight directions
and they sang back to us and into the heart of our Earth Mother
 
This was a day the watchers on their painted ponies held banners to the Great Ones
Blue star kachinas mending the sacred hoop
A good day to weave heart light into the fabric of her sacred robe
Her garment is of the sun glittering with the warming glow of rainbows.
 
This is our heart dance of gratitude
It is the Medicine of The Great Bear
Strong and persevering
Keepers of the violet wisdom, soul breath of the Mother
In your honor we dance in beauty.

MORAL OF THE STORY....

THE BLACK PEBBLE

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.  The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the
matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and
put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and jail. 

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers. What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an
extremely advantageous one.

Moral of the Story:
Most complex problems do have a solution -- if we think. 

~ Submitted by Crystal Harvey 

Q: What do you call a Sioux guy out walking his dog?
A: Vegetarian

MISSING CHILD ALERT

If anyone anywhere knows anything, sees anything, please contact the original screen name that sent this, which is CMINEO0295@aol.com

LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AND THEN FORWARD. I have a 5 year old son named Christopher John Mineo Jr, nickname C.J.  I am from Brooklyn N.Y. He has been missing since May 11  I am including a picture of him. All prayers are appreciated!!

It only takes 2 seconds to forward this on, if it was your child, you would want all the help you could get.  Please. ~Christopher John Mineo Sr.  Contact:
Stephanie M. Lawton, Office Manager, New York State Independent Living Council
111 Washington Avenue, Suite 101, Albany, New York 12210 All prayers are appreciated!!

THE HAWK SPEAKS

"My heart was saddened by the news of the passing of Chief Bill 'Little Horse in the fall of 2004.  I have fond memories he left behind with me.  I first met Little Horse at the fall gathering at Manataka 1998.  He was so full of energy that day!  

He welcomed me to the gathering and as as we talked, I said, "I am part Indian!  Little Horse looked at me for quite some time, his eyes were connected to mine as he looked through the windows of my heart and he spoke. "Let me tell you, no man is part Indian! Either you are or you are not Indian! And I can see that you are Indian."  From that day forward I have never been part Indian.  Wado (Thank you) Little Horse.  Your encouragement made me a better teacher (di-de-yo-hvi-s-gi) and a better person.  I will never forget your words of wisdom and I pray that Grandfather may give to you the peace and happiness that you have earned while you walked here upon our mother, 'The Earth.  (ta-wa-do-gi)."  

~Hawk With Seven Eyes Hoffman

Bill Little Horse Barbour was an member of Manataka and a Honorary member of the Elder Council.  

A Mescalaro Apache, Bill Little Horse made over 400 movies and made his first movie with cowboy star Tom Mix.  He made six movies with John Wayne and was in "The Kentuckian" and "A Man Called Horse."  He also appeared in television shows such as Wagon Train, Rawhide, Death Valley Days and Bonanza.

Little Horse holds a place in the Guiness Book of World Records with his famous bull whip show.  He is the only man to ever take a silver dollar from his own mouth with a bull whip.  He was given his first bull whip by cowboy movie star Gabby Hayes who also taught him how to use it. 

VENDORS WANTED TO SELL 

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• GREAT SALES ITEM - COLORFUL - AUTHENTIC 

• GUARANTEED EXCLUSIVE POWWOW TERRITORY - NO COMPETITION!   

Manataka has access to the world's largest stock of licensed and 

authorized American Indian Tribal Flags.  

SHOW PRIDE IN YOUR TRIBE ... FLY IT HIGH!

• NO FRANCHISE FEE - HIGH PROFITS -  QUICK STOCK - RESTOCK BY INTERNET

Contact MAIC Today!  501-627-0555 or manataka@sbcglobal.net

FUNNY BONES...

A man wakes up one morning to find a bear on his roof. So he looks in the yellow pages and sure enough, there's an ad for "Bear Removers."

He calls the number, and the bear remover says he'll be over in 30 minutes. The bear remover arrives, and gets out of his van. He's got a ladder, a baseball bat, a shotgun and a mean old pit bull.

"What are you going to do," the homeowner asks?

"I'm going to put this ladder up against the roof, then I'm going to go up there and knock the bear off the roof with this baseball bat.

When the bear falls off, the pit bull is trained to grab his testicles and not let go. The bear will then be subdued enough for me to put him in the cage in the back of the van."

He hands the shotgun to the homeowner.  "What's the shotgun for?" asks the homeowner.
"If the bear knocks me off the roof, shoot the dog."                                                                       

--Submitted by Kim Summer Moon

WOMEN'S CIRCLE

A STRONG WOMAN 

VERSUS A
WOMAN OF STRENGTH

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape ... 

but a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything ...

but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her ... 

but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future... 

a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be unexpected
blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face ... 

but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey ...

but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

A Woman's Prayer
By Ray Levesque, July 2004


Great Spirit, I am Mother.
I was made by You so that the image of Your love could be brought
into existence. May I always carry with me the sacredness of this honor.

Creator, I am Daughter.
I am the learner of the Traditions. May I carry them forward 

So that the Elders and Ancestors Will be remembered for all time.

Maker-Of-All-Things, I am Sister. 

Through me, may my brothers be shown 

The manner in which I am to be respected. 

May I join with my sisters in strength and power as a 

Healing Shield So that they will no longer bear the stain of abuse.

Niskam, I am Committed Partner: 

One who shares her spirit, 

But is wise to remember never to give it away, 

Lest it become lost, 

And the two become less than one.

I am Woman.
Hear me.

Welal'in

HISTORY CORNER  

50,000 Years of Anishnawbe History

By Joseph Bert Sutherland Jr.

Anishnawbe have a history that dates back to 50.000 years ago in North America (Turtle Island).

It has been many years since Anishnawbe people, were one with there surroundings. Anishnawbe and other Native American have been through a lot since the Europeans arrived on Turtle Island, the robbing of our culture, other beliefs shoved down our face.

Anishnawbe still as a people have a strong connection with God, (Gitchie - Manito) Great Spirit and no one will break that connection and bond.

The Anishnawbe people long ago and today believe that all living things have a "Spirit" within, a life force that is within all living things. The human mind is limited to understanding the fundamental concepts and many other
concepts about this world. Meaning: there is life all around us the Spirit World on this earth, sun, space, stars, and the universe etc.

After death, when we are in the "Spirit form" we will have a greater understanding about the world around us and that our question about life will be answered.

One of the greatest gift that the Great Creator give man and woman were to respect, love and to help one another. Life is very important.

The Anishnawbe people have many ceremonies, which are practice today. For example, a list of these ceremonies that are still practiced are: the Shaken tent, Sweat lodge, Vision quest, Talking drum ceremony and the Ma-day-win (Grand Medicine Lodge). There are many difference types of sweat lodge ceremonies. We also have the Seven Grand Father teachings (Sevens fires) to keep us in order.

The Meaning of the Anishnawbe Word Anishnawbe -Meaning of this word, First people, Original people, whence
lowered the male of the species, First man. In many books and websites, they state that we are Algonquin stock. However, they are incorrect, we recognize our selves as Anishnawbe. Ojibways, Ojibwa, Ojibwe, Ojicree, Cree, Chippewa, Potawatomi and Algonquin, etc. and we speak the Anishnawbe language. Lenni Lenape is another way to say Anishnawbe in old form. Many of Anishnawbe people were a big family at one time, before the whites came to this land.

To learn more go to the Mi-day-win ceremony and to other ceremonies and listen to the elders speak and you will learn the history and values of the people. The teachings I talk about are not my words, but from the elders stories. Many of us know these old stories and other stories that have been past down from generation to generation.

http://josephsutherland.myknet.org/
Joseph Bert Sutherland Jr

HEALING PRAYER BASKET

Blue = Healing

Alaris - Premature baby at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. This is a picture of a friend of mines baby. Pass this to your friends to keep her in their prayers  She was born very early.  But is very strong! Thank You.  ~ Sam White Eagle Soars.

Baugh, Sharon Kamama - Diagnosed with cancer. Back in the hospital. Sharon was chair of the Manataka Women's Council for many years and is now enjoys Most Honored Grandmother status.

Beane,Brandi - Dental problems and severe headaches.  ~ TwoBears.

Black, Mother of Charles Lone Wolf Black -  Diagnosed with cancer.  Holding up well.  

Bowman Family - Vanderbilt Burn Center, TN.  Susie Bowman and children involved in serious vehicle accident.  Wife has 4th degree burns and lower leg amputated. Children fairing better  ~Steve Bowman via Jennifer Whitefeather Attaway.

DeJarnette, Delsin David Windwalker - 3-year old having a difficult time asthma and bronchitis.  ~Lynn Gill.  

Devereaux Family - Baker, Alida -  Mother of Henrietta EagleStar.  Getting much better now.  Jesse William, my oldest son and my youngest son, Mark Kenneth Devereaux need prayers.  Update 5-1-05: Jesse is receiving healing and Mark is now well.  Eagle Star needs prayer for allergic reactions to the local environment.  Nelson, a Navaho brother, his wife Diane and grand daughter, Julisa are in need. Thank you Manataka for all the prayers.   ~Eagle Star.  

DiDonato Family - My deceased mother's family - my grandparents and two aunts. Very serious life problems on all levels, and financial, health, emotional, spiritual - everything. Been going on for many years, just keeps getting worse.  Also please add "Pop Wilson" - my father-in-law. Type II diabetes, seriously overweight, in bad need of knee replacement surgery (bad arthritis, other problems), doesn't take proper care of himself or his diabetes, very reluctant to have surgery (many excuses), "Mom Wilson" needs prayer also.
Goodson, Brian - Bear's been praying for him daily for three weeks but needs yours too.  ~Ruth King.

Greason, James - Suffered with stroke.  Prayers from Manataka has him healed and back to work. 

Filmore, Judy - Honored Grandmother of Manataka diagnosed with lupis.  Doing much better now! 

Fowler, Sarah, 9 yr old girl with a gastrointestinal disease needs prayers now.  ~Paul & Teressa Fowler. 

Ian - A real fine man in Australia named Ian is undergoing chemo and is having a really difficult time. His family and friends request prayers for him.  ~Love and Prayers Ruth King

Irons, Larry Zink Hota Irons - Michigan:  Diagnosed with cancer. 

Jessica -- The face of this teenager was bitten by a huge dog near her eye. The bite was severe  - Update: Now doing much better.  ~ Sam White Eagle Soars.

King, Jeremy -  I want to thank everyone for the prayers for my grandson Jeremy King. Prayers were answered praise be to Creator. The doctors are amazed and have no answer for why.  ~Grandmother Ruth King

Love, Tommie -  A 4 years old with 2 large brain tumors  - untreatable at Barnes Children's Hospital of St Louis. I ask for prayers for her healing and prayers for her family.  ~Alison Klose 

Maltagliati, Juli - Splashed household cleaner into my left eye... serious infection ensued. Needs healing.  

Powell, Bobby - friend of Kimberly Stronczek stricken with crippling arthritis.

Runninbear, Bobby Joe - Hospitalized with a heart attack.  Runninbear is recovering very nicely with help from his good friends and Creator...Thank you all for your prayers.  ~Your Sister, BabblingBrook.

Vinson Family - Helen RedWing and GrayBeard - RedWing having problems with neck and back pain - rotator cup misalignment.  Walking better without a cane some.  Helen has had other symptoms crop up that are concerning everyone.  Graybeard general health ailments.  Grand daughter Reagan Vinson diagnosed with serious disease.  Pray for these good people.  

Graybeard was recently forced into early retirement by the U.S. Post Office after 17 years of good service.  The family is financially needy and needs your help now!  Please say you will help!

Did you submit a prayer request above?  If so, please send us an update.  We are reluctant to remove anyone without knowing if more prayers are needed. 

TO UNSUBSCRIBE:  Simply click the reply button, 

type 'Unsubscribe'  in the subject line and send.

  

---

Manataka American Indian Council
PO Box 476
Hot Springs, AR 71902-0476
501-627-0555
manataka@sbcglobal.net
http://www.manataka.org

 

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