Invasion, displacement, and genocide have been with humanity forever. The Trail of Tears was the forced relocation of Native Americans. Yet displaced Syrian or African refugees in Europe, or Mexican immigrants at the US border are not too different. The cultural attitudes, the wounds, as well as the opportunity for healing are with us to this day. Native Americans have a unique perspective historically and a wisdom that can help inform our current situation. All of history, including the glory and trauma, is alive within us today. Healing these wounds requires looking within ourselves and taking a moment to hear the untold stories of our shared history.
“I wouldn’t be here without this history. So to rage against this history is to rage against myself…” -David Carson, Co-Author of Medicine Cards and Choctaw Pipe-Carrier
Today people are willing to examine colonial attitudes. These archaic belief structures are still playing out in the world today. Along with this has come a global discussion about our relationship to the land. Current political/economic systems are being scrutinized. Indeed, we stand at the crossroads of a great opportunity for healing. In many tribes this time of healing has been spoken of in stories for generations.
A Prophecy of Healing
Alison “Tootie” Montana, was a prominent Black Indian Chief from New Orleans. In 1994 he had a vision of bringing together many diverse tribes to celebrate their shared history. David Carson, Choctaw author of “Medicine Cards” and Kam Nightchase, a Lakota Ghost Dance Pipe-Carrier, also shared a similar vision. Reverend David “Goat” Carson of New Orleans led the organizational effort to make this vision a reality.
The gathering was called “Sacred Medicine Circle at High Noon” on Aug. 20, 1994 in Congo Square (Louis Armstrong Park). The ojecitve was a show of unity between Blacks and Indians in the city. The historic solidarity between slaves and natives had almost been forgotten. In the ceremony, Goat Carson asked for a sign from the Buffalo Nation during the pipe ceremony. Later that week A White Buffalo was born. This fulfilled a Lakota Prophecy that had been passed down for 19 generations. This is said to be a good omen of unity and healing between all tribes and nations.
Unity looks like an impossible dream today though with racial division, immigration, and refugee crises continuing to make top headlines. The lines dividing nations are always changing yet there are no borders in our blood or our common humanity.
What is Citizenship?
Sometimes people hold citizenship and their own culture as more important than recognizing the common humanity in other human beings. Natives were forcefully marched off their ancestral lands and onto reservations during the Trail of Tears. After that they were required to register themselves on the Dawes Roll. This was an “official” government list of “card carrying” natives.
Some bands of Indians refused to be listed on the Dawes Rolls. They considered it an insult to have the government that abused them be the ones to make their heritage/citizenship “official”. These people had children and grandchildren who are still with us today. Some assimilated and some continued to keep their culture outside of the official “books”. Blood quantum is still a hotly contested discussion in many of these tribes today. Some tribes require just 10% native blood and others require 50% in order to be called “Indian”. So the “qualifications” are somewhat arbitrary and many refuse to honor them.
Does blood quantum determine who we are? Many of us are mixed with many lines of ancestry. Do government laws determine who we are? Does where we were born determine who we are?
“Outside Indian Country most don’t realize that over the past 10 years, several thousand people have had their tribal citizenship status terminated. Most were not dismembered for wrongdoing or adopted by other Native nations. They were simply identified by their elected officials as allegedly no longer meeting revised citizenship criteria.” –Dismembering Natives: The Violence Done by Citizenship Fights
Citizenship is based on a set of man-made, ever-changing rules usually devised to serve a political or economic agenda. The end result can be devastating when these ideologies become internalized and a sense of belonging is lost. Externally this becomes wars, internally it can become self-hatred. We heal when we extend the welcome-mat, and allow ourselves and others to belong. We are connected by the good, bad, and ugly parts of this history. Connected is what’s most important.
Same Stories Playing Out Around the World
The topic of immigration is still a central issue in political discussions today. When people in the UK voted for BREXIT, one of the core issues was immigration. Though they were labeled as racist for opposing open borders, that is a gross oversimplification. The millions of immigrants pouring into Europe are a direct result of western-led wars in the Middle East. The flood of immigrants strained social services, shifted the housing market, and saturated the job market. There are also significant cultural differences between the immigrants and the original residents.
In America there is a similar heated discussion about immigration at the Southern Border. Families have been migrating across that land since long before America existed. Yet there is now a lot of political polarity over the issue. In these discussions there is rarely any mention of the policies that created this situation in the first place. NAFTA changed the economics of Mexico causing people to flee north for a better life. The US also led policies in Latin America to destabilize socialist governments which also sent people north.
Though these are different times and different places on the planet. The cost for humans who are caught in the cross-fire of geo-political and economic disparity is real. What will it take for governments to have a human-centered discussion about the causes and costs of these policies? While governments struggle to make relevant reforms people are forced to find their own ways to survive. These stories of survival, and the creative ways people learn to help each other are important. They are stories of solidarity and resilience.
The Healing Path Forward
David Carson speaks about healing the trauma from within by “taking the bitter with the sweet”. His wisdom is applicable to all of us no matter what culture we come from. Carson speaks of, “Coming into a new world that we don’t know how to describe.” It has to do with light, it has to do with self-understanding, it has to do with inner-dimensions.”
In the video below he shares about the “snake of energy” that went from the northern to southern tip of the Americas. He recounts untold histories and the heritage of Mound Builders. Mr. Carson shares intimate stories of his own journey of healing. How he had to confront the history he inherited and the ways he overcame obstacles. The stories are profound and filled with wisdom. Please take a few minutes to listen and learn from him.
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” -Joseph Campbell
When we look to knowledgeable elders and explore our own historical struggles, we begin to see similar patterns emerge for every culture. The oppressors and the oppressed have changed roles on many occasions. Meanwhile the triumphs and suffering continue to be with us today. Together we can resolve these wounds while deepening our sense of respect for other cultures as well as our selves.
This is how new stories are created. We can fulfill a dream of peace and unity but it will take doing some work within. Deepening compassion for yourself will help you be compassionate for the struggles of others. Cast away your fear, ask questions, explore… only you can heal your history. No other person or government can do that for you. When we come together from a healed place of power grace will guide our path forward. There is a better world for us all if we work together to create it.
