All of us as human beings have duties, responsibilities and obligations ethically, morally and legally to act according to our Nations laws, cultures and ways of being. In other words, how to live in a good way with others and kisemanitow. Pastahowin and pastamowin are about how to live according to our laws with other human beings. Ive spoken about breaching or breaking laws like stealing, murder etc. There is another part to this and that is omission. Act of omission is the failure to perform an act expected to be done by a sane person, in other words; if you stand by and do nothing while someone steals something in front you - it becomes a pastahowin. You have failed to act to protect in some way even if its to make a phone call, some action is required rather than not doing anything. Now think of applying this same idea of omission on how our lands and waters are getting devastated, we are committing pastahowin or pastamowin by not defending or saying anything. When we speak of breaking or breaching laws against creation, ohcinewin and ohcinemowin apply. Its the same thing, we say we are keepers and stewards of the lands and waters; saying it is one thing, we must follow up with our actions. As keepers and land owners we cannot just stand by and do nothing while the future of our children is being devastated, for all children including the animals, plants etc. Our laws as Indigenous people are powerful and spiritual. We never ceded or surrendered our lands and waters.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 18:10:56 +0000
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