“Freed or Enslaved” by Whites and Native Americans, we existed, we lived, on this soil, in America from the four corners. We came freed and enslaved.

At the opening of the Native American Museum in Washington, DC.

My family and I drifted, marched and marveled with ‘family’ from the four corners.

We never experienced rejection from any tribe. Iroquois, Cherokee, Shinnecock, Chickasaw, Lakota, Seminole (darker and more ‘African’ than I was) all smiled with acceptance. I didn’t know at the time what tribe my family was from but many “brothers and sisters” expressed that I should find out–to seek my origins. That was over four years ago, before I had found my father. Now more than ever I’m eager to find my family roots and bridge the gap of lost names and reference. I can feel they are waiting to be found, named, and honored. Until then, I’ll continue to honor all my relations and awaken the ‘native’ warrior spirit that is so very powerful within me in this life. Where ever my origins may be, I am forever connected to Mother -Father Earth and the Indigenous way of life for this is my Spirit.
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POEM:

This morning I slept softly waking up before the dawn.

I set out to please.

Prayers and forgiveness under crescent moon.
a warrior in search of her lost tribe

connections with no names only voices
unite the tie that binds me

to Mother Earth and Her Space Womb
seeking the ground beyond the soil

and winds that whisper truths
This morning I slept softly waking up before the dawn.

Ancestors honored

Sage and Cedar in my hair

seeking the Warriors Way

before the Circle of the Sun
Journal–12-23-08, Daria RIA Takharu

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And we still remain.” –RIA

Wind River | Andrew Vasquez  

Excerpt from Native American Warriors, John Trudell – A  Native American Warrior,
“Stickman” (ISBN 0-9625119-8-6)

“We are a spirit, we are a natural part of the earth, and all of our ancestors, all of our relations who have gone to the spirit world, they are here with us. That’s power. They will help us. They will help us to see if we are willing to look. We are not separated from them because there’s no place to go — we stay here. This is our place: the earth. This is our mother: we will not go away from our mother.

“And no matter what they ever do to us, no matter how they ever strike at us, we must never become reactionary. The one thing that has always bothered me about revolution, every time I have seen the revolutionary, is they have reacted out of hatred for the oppressor. We must do this for the love of our people.

No matter what they ever do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense.” – Trudell

Black Hills Survival gathering, 1980

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NATIVE NATIONS: THE CROW

The Crow had at least three known female chiefs, one of which (Woman Chief, or Bíawacheeitchish) was possibly transgender or two-spirit in today’s terms.

The Crow were matrilineal (descent through the maternal line) and matrilocal (husband moves to the wife’s mothers house upon marriage). Women held a very significant role within the tribe.

NATIVE TOTEMS: CROW MEDICINE

Crow Medicine

Crow is the left-handed guardian. Crow knows the unknowable mysteries of creation and is the keeper of all sacred law. There are several species of crow. Raven is one of these and magpies are another. Crow medicine people are masters of illusion. Do not try to figure crow out. It is the power of the unknown at work, and something special is about to happen.

Crow is also the guardian of ceremonial magic and healing. In any healing circle, Crow is present. Crow guides the magic of healing and the change in consciousness that will bring about a new reality and dispel “dis-ease” or illness. You can rest assure when ever crows are around, magic is near by and you are about to experience a change in consciousness. Crow can give you the courage to enter the darkness of the void, which is the home of all that is not yet in form.

They are territorial and won’t give up an area without a fight. They are loners, seeming to like to spend time to themselves.

Jack died on September 12, 1979, a casualty of Hurricane Frederick

If you have a crow as a totem, you need to be willing to walk your talk and speak your truth. You must put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and “caw” the shots as you see them. Crow is an omen of change. If he keeps appearing to you he may be telling you that you have a powerful voice when addressing issues that you do not quite understand or feel that they are out of balance.

Crows are the bringer of messages from the spirit world, and is thought to dwell beyond the realm of time and space.

When you meet crow, he could be telling you that there will be changes in your life and that possibly you should step by the usual way you view reality and look into the inner realms …walk your talk…be prepared to let go of your old thinking and embrace a new way of viewing yourself and the world.

Crow is the sacred keeper of the law. Crow medicine signifies a firsthand knowledge of a higher order of right and wrong than that indicated by the laws created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.

When you learn to allow your personal integrity to be your guide, your sense of feeling alone will vanish. Your personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of true Crow people says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life’s mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.

Intelligence -
Crows are extremely intelligent, quite possibly the most intelligent of all birds. Their tight family unit is partial evidence of this.

It has been recently discovered that crows have been making use of tools in their daily activities. The following link will take you to an article about crows using tools. “Tool-Using Crows Give New Meaning to Term ‘Bird Brained’” Prior to this discovery, we “intelligent” humans thought only primates had this ability.

It has been said that crows have been know to be able to count. (Whether this has been scientifically determined is uncertain.) A story is usually told about three hunters going into a hunter’s blind. They wait, the crows know they are in there. The crows do not move into shooting range. Two hunters leave the blind, however the crows know that there is one more in there. When the third hunter leaves, the crows know that all are gone and resume their normal activity. Whether or not this is true, I do not know. I have read it often enough that I am sure that someone has witnessed this occurrence. Or, it could just be another urban legend.

Crows have extremely good memory. “A crow never forgets”, especially when it comes to something to be feared, or where they placed their cache of food for later consumption.

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Photos of African-Natives from:

“AFRICAN-NATIVE AMERICANS : WE ARE STILL HERE” is based on an exhibit, curated by Ms. Eve Winddancer and with photos by Mr. Louis B. Myers, at the William and Anita Newman Library, 3rd fl.

Eve Winddancer Young is an artist, advocate, and independent producer in NYC.

Louis B. Myers is a Freelance Photographer in NYC. In addition to the current exhibit, he has done two additional ones for the Newman Library, Latino Entrepreneurs in New York City and African American Entrepreneurs in New York City.