A WARRIOR IN CHAINS

WHEN

A WARRIOR'S

SPIRIT IS WHOLE AND STRONG

HE IS NOT AFRAID TO DIE

IT'S OF NO AVAIL

TO THREATEN A WARRIOR WITH DEATH

FOR DEATH HAS LITTLE MEANING

TO LIVE

A WARRIOR NEEDS

FREEDOM

FOR IT IS THE INDIAN WAY

TO ENDURE

A WARRIOR NEEDS

THE RIGHT

TO FREEDOM OF THOUGHT

A WARRIOR TAKES

CONSOLE IN THE

SACRED PIPE

FOR IT IS HIS RELIGION

LIKE A DIEING POOL

OF WATER

A WARRIOR BECOMES STAGNANT

WITHOUT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

FOR IT IS

THE

INDIAN WAY

A WARRIOR PERISHES SILENTLY

ALONE

FOR HIS PEOPLE CANNOT

HEAR HIS WORDS

WITHOUT THE FREEDOM

OF COMMUNICATION

IN PRISON THERE ARE

FEW

HUMAN RIGHTS

MY BED HAS BEEN A CONCRETE

FLOOR

MY BLANKET HAS BEEN MY

OWN BLOOD

I SURVIVE

WHILE THOSE THAT

ABUSE ME ARE

HONORED

BUT I AM NOURISHED BY

THE GREAT SPIRIT

EVER TRUE AND UNWAVERING

I DO NOT FEEL LOST

I AM NOT ALONE AND WEAK

MY PRINCIPLES REMAIN

STEADFAST

MY BELIEFS REMAIN THE

INDIAN WAY

by Bobby Garcia

The Native American Code of Ethics

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.

3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.

6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.

7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.

8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
 

This originally appeared in the "Inter-Tribal Times," October, 1994

Native Commandments

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
Remain close to the Great Spirit.
Show great respect for your fellow beings.
Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
Do what you know to be right.
Look after the well being of mind and body.
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
Be truthful and honest at all times.
Take full responsibility for your actions.
Let us greet the dawn of a new day
when all can live as one with nature
and peace reigns everywhere.
Oh Great Spirit, bring to our brothers
the wisdom of Nature and the knowledge
that if her laws are obeyed
this land will again flourish
and grasses and trees will grow as before.
Guide those that through their councils
seek to spread the wisdom of their leaders to all people.
Heal the raw wounds of the earth
and restore to our soul the richness
which strengthens men's bodies
and makes them wise in their councils.
Bring to all the knowledge that great cities
live only through the bounty
of the good earth beyond their paved streets
and towers of stone and steel.


by  Jasper Saunkeah, Cherokee

The Gift

The Great Spirit said, “I am going to give you a tremendous gift.”

“I hope I am worthy of this gift,” I replied.

The Great Spirit said he would inflict me with a disease.
“Disease as a gift?” I asked. I could not fathom illness as a gift.



“What you do with this gift depends on you,” he said.

“You can treat it as a curse, or accept it for what it is.

You can lament or make the best of it. It is up to you.
What you do and how you act will prove if you are a Warrior.”



He struck me with Polio and paralyzed my legs.

Doctor’s said I will never walk again.

But I did. I learned to walk and run.

I thank the Great Spirit every day.
He taught me that those without legs are worthy.



He struck me with Graves’ disease.

Life was pure hell for a few years.

Loss of memory, pain, and tremors,
But I got better.



I learned that by helping others with Graves’

I could help to heal myself.

I learned that helping others is a worthy cause.

I learned I had the strength to keep going

Even when I had no strength left.

I learned that as bad off as I felt there was another
Who was worse off than I who I could help.



I learned that instead of reaching for a helping hand

I had become the hand that was reached for.

Instead of being in the abyss I was on the edge
Helping others out of the void.



The Great Spirit said, “I will take your vision.”

My eyes bulged and pained.

Vision started to dim and colors were lost.

My eyes went askew and looked in different directions,
But I got better



Sixteen eye surgeries,

Much pain and discomfort,

Orbital Radiation on my eyes left me with cataracts,
But I got better.



I learned that even with no sight I was worthy.

I saw with my mind what my eyes could no longer.

I learned that by helping other’s with eye problems.
I helped myself.



I am a Warrior. I no longer look at a person the same.

I see what is inside them not the shell of the body.

Instead of seeing a person in a wheelchair
I see a person who was given a gift.



I see the Great Spirit gave them a gift too.

I admire their strength.

I admire their courage.
I admire their will.



I pay homage to a fellow Warrior as we pass by.

I thank the Great Spirit for these gifts.
Fore they made me the man I have become.





The Mystical Indian