Contemplating Tradition
A series to challenge us as we contemplate our place in history.
By Jim Great Elk Waters©2012
“A human being is not a waxen rubbing, a lifeless imprint taken from some great stony face. Rather he is a … a dog soldier at liberty to use the inclinations of the past as he sees fit. He is free to perceive the matrix, and, within his limits, change from it. By seeing both the futility in trying to relive the old life and the danger in trying to obliterate it, man can gain the capacity to make anew. His very form depends not on repetition but upon variation from old patterns.
In response to stress, biological survival requires genetic change; it necessitates a turning away from doomed replication. And what of history? Was it different?
I just finished reading this book, took a half year. Not my usual speed, but I savored it chapter at a time. It was not until I reached page 400 of 412 leaves did I realize why I had plowed through those nearly 200,00 words. It was to lead me to the quote above.
I have been trying to define how I felt about being Shawnee today. What are my traditions? Which from all history was I to follow? Which best fit the world we live in today? How did my great grandparents determine the good’way to live? How did they adapt the woven cloth, iron and wheel to the traditions of their grandparents? Am I to walk in their footsteps? Am I expected by them to move into each day in a new way? Is that day for me to replicate their way, or is it mine to live with my People now?
I realize now that our grandparents lived in the moment, and that they created their code of existence, their traditions from the fabrics and chards passed to them from their grandparents. Shawnee from first history changed and adapted life to the moment in which they lived. Their culture, tradition and lifestyle grew with each generation and were used as their tools to adapt to their day.
We too, as Shawnee in this time, need to use the traditions, the way of life and cultures that our grandparents gifted, us as tools to create anew the proper Indian’way for this generation. As Least Heat-Moon acknowledges, “By seeing both the futility in trying to relive the old life and the danger in trying to obliterate it, man can gain the capacity to make anew.” As he so wisely tomed, Our very form depends not on repetition but upon variation from old patterns. By this method we adapt the old to our needs… and yet do not disrespect the old’way. We must learn from the Elders that they personalized tradition for their time, and we are by their example, to adapt and grow in the light of our day. If we don’t we are doomed to be only a shadow of them, not the promise they expected… that we are their future.
The Romans held the phrase sacred, carpe diem… seize the day… grab hold of the clay of this day and temper it with that which the Ancestors gave us, to make the pots of this time the best Shawnee pots possible. Then we can stand as strong as did our grandparent’s grandparents. We must create anew for this time, the culture and traditions that made life good for us, as did those before us… and to make good temper materials for the children not yet born from the first clay. It is our job.
A series to challenge us as we contemplate our place in history.
By Jim Great Elk Waters©2012
“A human being is not a waxen rubbing, a lifeless imprint taken from some great stony face. Rather he is a … a dog soldier at liberty to use the inclinations of the past as he sees fit. He is free to perceive the matrix, and, within his limits, change from it. By seeing both the futility in trying to relive the old life and the danger in trying to obliterate it, man can gain the capacity to make anew. His very form depends not on repetition but upon variation from old patterns.
In response to stress, biological survival requires genetic change; it necessitates a turning away from doomed replication. And what of history? Was it different?
From Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon (Scot, Irish Osage)
I just finished reading this book, took a half year. Not my usual speed, but I savored it chapter at a time. It was not until I reached page 400 of 412 leaves did I realize why I had plowed through those nearly 200,00 words. It was to lead me to the quote above.
I have been trying to define how I felt about being Shawnee today. What are my traditions? Which from all history was I to follow? Which best fit the world we live in today? How did my great grandparents determine the good’way to live? How did they adapt the woven cloth, iron and wheel to the traditions of their grandparents? Am I to walk in their footsteps? Am I expected by them to move into each day in a new way? Is that day for me to replicate their way, or is it mine to live with my People now?
I realize now that our grandparents lived in the moment, and that they created their code of existence, their traditions from the fabrics and chards passed to them from their grandparents. Shawnee from first history changed and adapted life to the moment in which they lived. Their culture, tradition and lifestyle grew with each generation and were used as their tools to adapt to their day.
We too, as Shawnee in this time, need to use the traditions, the way of life and cultures that our grandparents gifted, us as tools to create anew the proper Indian’way for this generation. As Least Heat-Moon acknowledges, “By seeing both the futility in trying to relive the old life and the danger in trying to obliterate it, man can gain the capacity to make anew.” As he so wisely tomed, Our very form depends not on repetition but upon variation from old patterns. By this method we adapt the old to our needs… and yet do not disrespect the old’way. We must learn from the Elders that they personalized tradition for their time, and we are by their example, to adapt and grow in the light of our day. If we don’t we are doomed to be only a shadow of them, not the promise they expected… that we are their future.
The Romans held the phrase sacred, carpe diem… seize the day… grab hold of the clay of this day and temper it with that which the Ancestors gave us, to make the pots of this time the best Shawnee pots possible. Then we can stand as strong as did our grandparent’s grandparents. We must create anew for this time, the culture and traditions that made life good for us, as did those before us… and to make good temper materials for the children not yet born from the first clay. It is our job.
