Our children are dying

Lakota Spiritual Leader and Head Man, David Swallow, Speaks Out on Reservation Crisis

Our children are dying. Our children are killing themselves in record numbers on our Lakota Reservations. They are filled with despair, confusion, and hopelessness and they see suicide as the only answer.

Many studies point to the hopelessness as being a result of generations of genocide committed by the historical policies of the Federal Government against the American Indians. But the policies of today are just as damaging. These policies create a system of “assimilate or die,” just another form of genocide.

I am not racist. This is not about hatred or racism. There are many good non-Lakota. But the damage from the Government and the mainstream culture and its almighty dollar is killing the children of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations. To look for solutions from the mainstream culture will only bring about more confusion, more genocide, and more destruction of our culture and our people.

Yes, our children need help. Then, they also need jobs. They need work. They need to have hope that they can survive. They need to be treated like real citizens, free to be who they are.

The current programs are not working. Our Reservations are dry but 60-70% of our people are still affected by alcoholism and drug addictions. There are a few non-profit organizations that do good work on our reservations. They really do try to help. But there are also many, many groups who only make money in our name. We’re a commodity to them, a way to get more and more money for themselves, while our children are suffering. It’s the same with some of the Tribal Council and Government programs. The money never reaches the people, it never really helps anyone.

Our children are living in a world of confusion and chaos. We need all the help we can get from our own people within our own culture. Gangs and cults and programs that are ignorant of the Lakota culture are not the answer. The Lakota child knows they are Lakota but these other things only work to destroy that identity. They brainwash our children into trying to assimilate rather than respecting and understanding themselves. They contaminate our children with false mainstream ideas and values which then only creates more desperation.

We could cure our own. We need to cure our own.

In my grandfather’s time, suicide was unknown. But today, it is everywhere. Our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews are crying for our help. They are dying without our help.

Traditional spirituality could make the difference. But the civilized world and Christianity have tied our hands. Our medicine men, our medicine women, and our spiritual leaders have no standing. We are not even consulted.

Yet, Traditional spirituality could make the real difference.

Traditional sweatlodge ceremonies could help purify the mind of these children who have been so wounded by society. It can wake up the spirit that is inside the person. It can bring healing of the mind, body, and spirit and it could help heal the entire family. But it needs to be the real thing, led by a legitimate traditional spiritual leader, and not just some sauna with a few nice words.

Learning to prepare foods in the traditional way could help them, too. It is important they understand that food prepared in a good way nourishes the family in a good way. They need to know that food prepared with anger and hatred only brings sickness with it.

There are many of the Traditional Ways which would work to bring about healing and hope for these children. It can restore their identity and become a way of life. It can teach them how to live a good life, in a good way. It can give them direction and understanding.

But we need to stop fighting among ourselves. We need to stop looking to the mainstream society for solutions. We need to stop looking to outsiders for cures. We need to look to the Ways of our ancestors to guide us. We, the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota People need to help our own grandchildren.

I am not asking for money. I am not asking for anything from the Government or the BIA except that we be set free. Set us free. Don’t try to force us to live in the mainstream ways. Don’t try to force us to assimilate. Let us live in our own Ways and heal ourselves and our children and grandchildren.

Ho he’cetu yelo. I have spoken these words.

David Swallow, Wowitan Yuha Mani

Porcupine, South Dakota – The Pine Ridge Reservation

by David Swallow,
Lakota Spiritual Leader and a Headman of the Lakota Nation
Edited and Published by Stephanie M. Schwartz,
Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)
Text and Photo © July 09, 2008 Porcupine, South Dakota

Today I have been reminded of all I have learned as I follow the Path of the Lakota. All living things are Sacred, and we are responsible for passing along this Wisdom to our Children, so they may in turn teach their Children. As I give these teachings to my daughter and my grandchildren, I feel in my heart such Joy in knowing I am giving them a Sacred gift.

 So much has been lost, and this leaves many people lost as well. There are certain guidelines in which the Earth Nations should follow to live as good human beings in Balance with each other and Nature. There is no need to complicate matters with gazillions of Laws, when the Creator instilled a perfect set of Laws long, long ago. The people on Canku Luta (The Red Road) were also gifted the Sacred Canunpa (pipe) through White Buffalo Calf Woman, to help the people in a great time of need. Those who carry this Sacred pipe have a responsibility to the people and their families, and give of themselves to help through prayers and Ceremony. In this way, we have been given the guidelines and tools to live Life on this Sacred Mother Earth in a good way. 

So without further ado, I would like to outline the Virtues as taught to me by my Elders.

7 Laws or Virtues on Canku Luta

* Carry the welfare of the people in your heart… Share, Give and be Generous.

* Have Pity and Compassion for all living and moving things.

* Have Respect and show this respect by Honoring the moving and living.

* Have a good mind and use it to learn Patience, Tolerence and Self-discipline.

* Seek Humility and be humble at all times.

* Be Brave, Courageous and have Fortitude. Have Spiritual Principals and live them at all times.

* To Grow in Wisdom and so understand and live these laws at all times and places.

The Gift of the Sacred Pipe

Before the appearance of the Buffalo Calf Woman, the Indian honored the Great Spirit. But for the Sioux, the coming of Buffalo Calf Woman brought a most important instrument, the pipe, which is now used in all ceremonies.

The sacred pipe came into being many, many years ago. Two men of the Sioux tribe were hunting when they saw something approaching in the distance. As the figure grew close, they observed a maiden, attired in white buckskin, carrying a bundle wrapped in buffalo hide.As she walked slowly toward them she sang out and repeated; Behold me.
Behold me,
For in a sacred manner
I am walking.One of the men had evil thoughts about this maiden and moved towards her. The other Sioux tried forcibly to restrain him, but the evil warrior pushed the good warrior away. A cloud descended and engulfed the evil one, and when it lifted, his body was a skeleton being devoured by worms. This symbolized that one who lives in ignorance and has evil in their hearts may be destroyed by their own actions.The good warrior knelt in fear, trembling as the buckskin-clad maiden approached. She spoke to him, telling him to fear not and to return to his people and prepare them for her coming. The warrior did so, and the maiden appeared, walking among them in a sunwise, (clockwise) direction.She held forth her bundle and said:This is a sacred gift
And must always be treated in a holy way.
In this bundle is a sacred pipe
Which no impure man or woman should ever see.With this sacred pipe
You will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.
The Great Spirit, Creator of all.
Your Father and Grandfather.With this sacred pipe
You will walk upon the Earth
Which is your Grandmother and Mother.
All your steps should be holy.The bowl of the pipe is red stone
Which represents the earth.
A buffalo calf is carved in the stone facing the center
And symbolizes the four-legged creatures
Who live as brothers among you.
The stem is wood and represents all growing things.
Twelve feathers hang from where the stem fits the bowl
And are from the Spotted Eagle.
These represent all the winged brothers
Who live among you.

All these things are joined to you
Who will smoke the pipe and send voices to Wakan Tanka.
When you use this pipe to pray,
You will pray for and with every thing.
The sacred pipe binds you to all your relatives;
Your Grandfather and Father,
Your Grandmother and Mother.

The red stone represents the Mother Earth
On which you will live.
The Earth is red
And the two-leggeds who live upon it are also red.
Wakan Tanka has given you a red road-
A good and straight road to travel,
And you must remember that all people
Who stand on this earth are sacred.

From this day,
The sacred pipe will stand on the red earth,
And you will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.

There are seven circles on the stone
Which represent the seven rites
In which you will use the pipe.

The Buffalo Calf Woman then instructed the people to send messengers to the different bands of the Sioux nation, to bring in the leaders, the medicine people, and the holy ones.

When the people gathered, she instructed them in the sacred ceremonies. She told them of the first rite, the Keeping of the Soul. She told them that the remaining six rites would be revealed to them through visions. As she prepared to leave she said:

Remember how sacred the pipe is
And treat it in a sacred manner,
For it will be with you always.
Remember also that in me are four ages.
I shall leave you now,
But shall look upon you in every age
And will return in the end.

The Sioux begged the woman to stay among them. They promised to build a fine lodge and let her select a warrior to provide for her, but she declined their offer.

No, the Creator above,
The Great Spirit,
Is happy with you
You the grandchildren.
You have listened well to my teachings.
Now I must return to the spirit world.

She walked some distance away from them and sat down. When she arose, she had become a white buffalo calf. She walked farther, bowed to the four quarters of the universe, then disappeared into the distance. Her sacred bundle was left with the people.

To this day, A Sioux family, the “Keepers of the Sacred Bundle,” still guards the bundle and its contents on one of the Sioux reservations.

Today, other ceremonies have supplanted some of the original seven ceremonies taught by the Buffalo Calf Woman. The Sun Dance, Sweat Lodge and Vision Quest are still major ceremonies that are widely practiced. The Pipe Ceremony itself is now used to open gatherings, meetings, and sweat lodges. The Pipe Ceremony is used in naming ceremonies, in which one is given an Earth or Indian name. It is also used in Indian marriage ceremonies.

When we pray in this way, with the sacred pipe, our prayers are carried through the smoke into the heavens to the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka. In this way, we ask for Health, Help and Happiness for the People and the Earth. Asking for guidance is the first step, as we set our intentions, then paying attention to our surroundings and acting upon the answers we are given is up to each of us.

The Seven Sacred Rites

Seven traditional rituals use the sacred pipe in accordance with the Buffalo Calf Woman s teachings.

The Seven Sacred Rites
• The Keeping of the Soul
• Inipi: The Sweat Lodge Ceremony or Rite of Purification
• Hanblecheyapi: Vision Quest
• Wiwanyag Wachipi: The Sun Dance Ceremony
• Hunkapi: Making Relatives
• Ishnata Awicalowan: Preparing a Girl for Womanhood
• Tapa Wanka Yap: Throwing the Ball

*Special Note – To read the full version of the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman, in beautiful detail, as told by John Fire Lame Deer in 1967, please visit White Buffalo Calf Woman brings the first Pipe

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