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