Making a Difference

Last Friday I had the opportunity yesterday to refill my Pot of Life. 

I was one of the groups who presented a history of "Harrisonville" to the third grade class at Minford Elementary School. This is an annual event where the history of the area is reenacted for each third grade classroom. Minford is a rural southern Ohio town in Scioto County. In addition to my Shawnee Indian presentation, there were demonstrations on quilt making, square dancing, frontier living, military service at the time, horse drawn wagon rides and other crafts. The kids also played period games like marbles, jump rope, sack racing, checkers etc.

It was held in the multi-event gymnasium because of bad weather... but the kids were amped! As you could expect, the noise at times was intense.

I presented the history of the Shawnee in the area, shared stories and displayed artifacts of my People. I began the presentations wearing 1800's tribal wear and as each class approached my display, I looked up and without speaking a word, I motioned for them to sit onthe floor. After they settled down I stood up and addressed them in Algonquian, the regional dialect of the Shawnee. Morphing into English, T shared what I had said, and had them learn each word. We sang songs and as the presentation progressed, I took off an item of my wardrobe and explained it to them. Soon I was standing in front of them in a dark T-shirt and jeans. Putting on a blazer, I explained that this is how we Shawnee might look today. The whole journey from the historic dress to present was to show them that what some may call stereotyping, was just a display of our progression in time. The kids were fixated.

Near the end of each class, I introduced them to a "new tradition"... I made each child a "Life Member of the Friends of Chief Great Elk Shawnee Club," helped them make the pledge to follow the Club’s laws of Responsibility and Honesty and to Walk the Shawnee Way, to Help all People in Need and to be a Better Person Daily. It was overwhelmingly received.

What a wonderful opportunity to leave the "outside world" and make complete the Circle of Life by sharing and bonding with our next great generation.

For anyone who believes that there is no hope, just look into these young faces and know that they "Have the right stuff.'

Friends, if you want to share in my experience, or more importantly, your experience... join me, and make a difference in the next gen. Volunteer, share and inspire. It is our JOB! With hope and prayer, this next gen will recapture the essence of the innocent life we cherished.

Oh yes, about refilling my Life's Pot... that is based in an old Mide' tradition that teaches us we are gifted with a large Pot of Life at birth. Everything we do is put in it, and all the troubles we have drain the good from the pot, leaving it near empty at times. By sharing for your heart, the smiles and enjoyment and learned experiences of others... fill your Pot of Life to overflowing once again. Try it.

 Thanks to Creator for this wonderful opportunity.

Til next post, Walk in Balance, the elk

 

Lest We Forget How This Great Experiement Started

My friend Beth Trissel wrote today,

" In these troubled times in America, it’s wise to remember where we came from  and what our founders envisioned for this great nation. Being an American is a sacred privilege, our hard-won freedoms, fast eroding, should never be taken for granted, and preserving these inalienable rights, a call to arms for all who cherish liberty. " There is much more that she said... Please read her full blog at: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com

So well said my friend.
I can only offer this bit of wisdom that has stood my test of faith…
“The greatest of the many freedoms… is FREEDOM itself.
I choose THAT Freedom… to choose what I know is best, not using my heart, but using my G-D given brain to make that right choice.
Like our founders, I choose Freedom over government. I choose Freedom over fear.
I choose, as the great Shawnee War Chief Tecumseh said, “I am the maker of my own destiny.” I choose like my ancestors, FREEDOM! Anything else is not Freedom, but slavery by degrees.
Our founders knew this, we have forgotten their lessons.
FREEDOM:
1. The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.
2. Exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. The power to determine action without restraint.
4. Political or national independence.
5. Personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom

The choice is always ours, remember how it all started, and keep on message... 
“The greatest of the many freedoms… is FREEDOM itself. 

Respectfully, another Shawnee patriot,
Jim Great Elk Waters

Jim Great Elk Waters 32°/SK                                                                           
    the Appalachian American Indian Dream Master-come Dream with me                         
        Cambridge Who’s Who among Professionals and Entrepreneurs
          Author101University Alumni
            ...and an Official 2012 Global eBook Awards Judge       

Lest We Forget How This Great Experiment Started.

My friend Beth Trissel wrote today,

" In these troubled times in America, it’s wise to remember where we came from  and what our founders envisioned for this great nation. Being an American is a sacred privilege, our hard-won freedoms, fast eroding, should never be taken for granted, and preserving these inalienable rights, a call to arms for all who cherish liberty. " (There is much more that she said... Please read her fill blog at: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/lest-we-forget-beth-trissel/#comment-10246 )

So well said my friend.
I can only offer this bit of wisdom that has stood my test of faith…
“The greatest of the many freedoms… is FREEDOM itself.
I choose THAT Freedom… to choose what I know is best, not using my heart, but using my G-D given brain to make that right choice.
Like our founders, I choose Freedom over government. I choose Freedom over fear.
I choose, as the great Shawnee War Chief Tecumseh said, “I am the maker of my own destiny.” I choose like my ancestors, FREEDOM! Anything else is not Freedom, but slavery by degrees.
Our founders knew this, we have forgotten their lessons.
FREEDOM:
1. The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.
2. Exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. The power to determine action without restraint.
4. Political or national independence.
5. Personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom

The choice is always ours, remember how it all started, and keep on message... 
“The greatest of the many freedoms… is FREEDOM itself. 

Respectfully, another Shawnee patriot,
Jim Great Elk Waters

Jim Great Elk Waters 32°/SK                                                                           
    the Appalachian American Indian Dream Master-come Dream with me                         
        Cambridge Who’s Who among Professionals and Entrepreneurs
          Author101University Alumni
            ...and an Official 2012 Global eBook Awards Judge