July's Poem (Indian attribution)

I give you this one thought to keep

- I am with you still -

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone

- I am with you still -

in each new dawn.

-Told by the elders, in Blackfoot Indian tribes.


Reflection: This poem is a way of showing how the Blackfoot Indians did not morn over deaths but rejoice for their loved ones now could be with other spirits. They also believe that people did not literally "die" for they could be found in anything around them; such as, if you loved working in the garden during your physical years, in your spiritual years you could be found their in the plants of the garden and etc. In this poem the author uses a lot of metaphor in order to connect the person to nature, such as ' I am the autumn rain", and in this way it allows the 'human' life to become one with nature, so one's spirit surrounds the people. The author also speaks to the reader and directs him to remember one thing as he writes, "I give you this t to keep", thereby emphasizing the importance of the message. As well the poet uses repetition of "I am" to almost create the deceased as alive and still in being with the living - makes the deceased still an active participant in the world. This is kind of nice because when a person loses a loved one, he or she can still share thoughts and feelings with the loved one in another way - through nature. .

Dear Diary,
The white man has come onto our homeland, and I observe how hostile the white man is - he is rough and takes the land and the beasts as his own - he does not share those things which he has been given by the great one in the sky - In turn he takes our men - his language is different and he is not at peace with himself. I watch him from the trees and I know he his not safe. I do not trust him as I have seen my people die at his hand. My only consolation is from the Great Spirit. I myself have lost a loved one. Oh the sorrow I have felt. This poem written by one with wisdom helps heal my soul, my broken heart. It tells me to not morn but to look to everything as a symbol of my lost one. Don't cry for they are gone, laugh for the fun times which were shared. My loved one may be dead, their heart may have stopped but their soul will forever live on.

Signed,
Little Big Hands







ESSENTIAL QUESTION: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream?
The Native America Indian was not given the opportunity to chose the destiny of his people- the white man was. He was moved to a reservation and oppressed as a people. This is embarrassing as a white person to realize how our ancestors so discriminated others in light of pursuing their "dream". What are the opportunities available to the Native American? I do not have a chance to create my land, to further refurbish it with vegetables- it is now the white mans. My opportunity is now in the hands of someone else, it is no longer an opportunity, and it is a manifest destiny. Our community has now fallen apart, and we no longer sing and dance around the fire. Our crops have died for no one is able to care for them- we are not Indian anymore, we are just people, helping to make a population. Oh great father in the sky, show me the way.

Political cartoon:

(cartoon says; the reason for the indian outbreak)

In this cartoon the artist is trying to portray that the Indian outbreak was soley because of White men introducing money to the American Indians thus embedding greed and want into the Indians for money.