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Walk the Long Road of Misunderstanding
by Edna Seidner

I have walked a long, long time thru the doors of life. Walked the sky trail and passed thru the shadow land. The spirit of my people have kept me strong and the knowledge of survival passed down to me from my elders fills my heart and soul. There is nothing in this society that attracts me or pulls me from my path. I have no desire to become one of you. This does not mean you are less that I, only that what I am is what I will be until the long sleep claims me.

My walk on Mother Earth has not always been full of peace, joy, happiness or pain and depression; but are all connected in my life as experiences to learn by, study, understand and accept. The tears I've shed are within my heart, for the acts of genocide against my people have seared my soul and seared my spirit. But I have walked thru darker times and the circle of life has been my companion.

The four directions have guided my foot steps thru this time. And now in this year of nineteen ninety three, the Hitler syndrome rears its ugly head of violence and hate, again to threaten my people. This time a new name, but same violent pattern, the New Age rainbow people. These people are a gathering of lost and misinformed people searching for a fantasy world. This time it is the sacred tribal ceremonies of the tribal people. The question they ask is "Why can't you share with us?" This question to a people, who because they shared five hundred years ago, were killed, their land stolen, the Chiefs killed, their women raped and then imprisoned in prison camps called reservations. Can you justify this action? Can we as tribal people again, gracefully give over to these people all we have left, and become an empty people and exist in the shadows of this society? I say no and this no is ringing out across the Indian nations.

Without knowing me, or my tribal supporters, they have given me the title of Militant Indian Activist with a long background of anger, violence and an aggressive warlike attitude toward all non-Indians. This is misinformation on their part. I am acquainted with many non-Indians but I don't copy them or wish to be like them. Because I know who I am, I give no quarter and I ask none.

I am honor bound to lighten the burdens of my people, for I am a servant to the people. These teachings of my tribal medicine people and my parents I have handed down to my children and now to my grandchildren. This is the legacy and heritage I leave my children and their children, not money, land or other materialistic articles, but the tools of survival. For I do not own them. I am only their caretaker. We, who are the caretakers of the circle of life, are taught we cannot own another human being, just as we do not own the Creator or Mother Earth or the four legged creatures.

The sacred drum will beat in rhythm with my heart and I will dance with my people with a happy spirit, whether it be in the warriors' circle or the friendship dance.

This is only a part of my walk in the long road of misunderstanding.

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