Many of our people have forgotten the traditional way War Stories are used and respected in the sacred ceremonies of the people of the Sundance and Pipe, we who have always lived in the centre of our turtle island. Long ago our wise ancestors understood that a powerful moment in time existed when a warrior performed a great deed and tested himself to the ultimate. In English we call them war stories but in our own languages the story and the person chosen to tell it have names with far more meaning. War stories are actually Warrior Stories because they are told individually by the warrior who is bringing his actions into the circle. They are told in front of witnesses who can attest to their truth because the story must exemplify the great virtues of a warrior... honour, truth, courage, fortitude, strength and selflessness give the war story a power that can serve the needs of the ceremony. War stories were always brought out during the special dances and ceremonies of our Clans, our Societies and our Sundance where they have a special place and use. The leaders of the ceremony took particular care in selecting the warrior chosen to stand up in front of all the Nation and recite the actions he had taken on behalf of his people... a song is made, every step, every gesture, and every word must be given as a sacrament into the circle of the People. In a time without lies, a Nations heart could swell with pride and power as he gifted his words to them and a oneness could encircle them as he spoke. It could be the leader of the battle or it could be a first time coup by a young warrior on his initial experience but each war story was backed by the presence of his comrades-in-arms, verified and strengthened by their assent, their love and their respect. In modern times where war stories are told they are told by the veterans of service in Americas wars, where our warriors were sent to fight on foreign lands. We can still hear them with pride and in this way the tradition lives on. It has been this way because it has been generations since our warriors rose to fight an enemy while standing on the dust of our ancestors. That last happened at Wounded Knee, in 1890. We lost that day, our children were exposed to the ravening dogs, but even then warriors stood up, men and women became spirits standing back to back in defence of their generations... courage, fortitude, strength, honour blessed the lands, given life as the eternal blood sacrament was given freely to Mother Earth. And in the days that followed warriors fought from a Stronghold to avenge their relatives as a mass grave held the truth. New and glorious war stories were born among the carnage and strong heart songs mingled with the wails of the mourning. A Nation lived on with the virtues given her by a hundred generations of warriors and their stories, it took immense fortitude and courage to survive for eighty-three years until warriors rose again, but the ceremonies continued and the songs of those days were sung.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 11:14:33 +0000
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