Today Oglala Native rights activist, author and actor, Russell Means lost his battle with cancer in his home on Pine Ridge Reservation, one of the poorest reservations in the US.
He was active in Indigenous rights and fought for a better life for his impoverished and oppressed people. When He began, it was still illegal in the US for Native People to practice their tribal religions, forced sterilization was common, and removing native children to be raised in white schools and homes was considered a cure for "Savageness"
Because some of his activities several land mark Native rights laws were passed in the 1970's. He never stopped fighting for Native people, even when his cancer began to take its toll.
A loosely translated commonly said Prayer (I believe, anyway) from the Lakota Language, the language he spoke:
"Aho Mitakuye Oyasin....All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer....
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life."
He was active in Indigenous rights and fought for a better life for his impoverished and oppressed people. When He began, it was still illegal in the US for Native People to practice their tribal religions, forced sterilization was common, and removing native children to be raised in white schools and homes was considered a cure for "Savageness"
Because some of his activities several land mark Native rights laws were passed in the 1970's. He never stopped fighting for Native people, even when his cancer began to take its toll.
A loosely translated commonly said Prayer (I believe, anyway) from the Lakota Language, the language he spoke:
"Aho Mitakuye Oyasin....All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer....
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life."
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