Many phrases of the tongue are used to describe our way
of biting back our words. The tongue is an important factor
as humans. We have the ability to communicate in over one
thousand different ways. Our vocabulary is unlimited and
many sounds can be uttered by these all too human voices.
The least perfected is our ability to speak and to be understood.
Culture is part of our vocal misunderstanding, our social
and economic means are also a large part of this miss communication.
Many cultures such as my Dutch friends point out to me,
are point blank and to the point. Words are not minced here
or held back. The Dutch are very clear in making their self
understood. Sometimes this can seem harsh to us who are
more subtle in our speaking.
Words can be hard and like barbs to the soul.
In my sharing with children this is all so apparent when
compared to the short time they have walked the earth.
We absorb words and store them for life. Where are these
words stored? They are stored in our vibral or sacred center
of where we live. This physically located place is just
around the heart or solar plexus area of our bodies. You
never hurt in your head when someone attacks you with hurtful
words. It hits you where you feel that being the area called
by our people, the sacred space. Here all things are felt
and held for future reference.
When working in the schools you can see the children who
at the tender age of five have already started to lose their
self esteem. This actually starts as infants and continues
until we understand what has been done to us. Then it takes
years of therapy and soul searching to undo the harm that
family and society has done.
I ask you to go back in time to the first and hurtful remark
that you remember was said to you. Take this and subtract
the years before that then see how many years you have been
holding that in your sacred space.
Words do affect us from the time we can understand them
to the time we die. Cradle to grave is the path that words
effect.
I remember a time when I was only five and was in the „Christian‰
schools on the reservation we went to a gas station on the
Pine Ridge Reservation. The children were let out of the
bus to go to the bathroom. I stood in the line waiting my
turn while the gas station attendant filled the bus with
gas. I will never forget that day as long as I live. The
woman who helped run the gas station said to some other
customers that she wished they would just take us all out
back and let us go pee on the ground. She went on to tell
the other customers in a loud voice that she considered
us all dirty and disease ridden Indians.
Every fiber of my body wanted to scream out to her and
say I am not dirty, my mother is not a disease ridden person
she is a clean and good person. Instead as taught by the
missionary people I looked down at the floor. I counting
the dirt incrusted tiles and bite my tongue until the pain
of the words she had spoken, were blocked out by the pain
in my tongue.
From that day on I vowed that I would do better. I would
not let my children be spoken to like this or looked down
on as if they had no soul, or spirit. The anger and pain
still remain in my heart, that is not like physical pain
and that I live with daily. I keep it there as a reminder
to always weigh my words carefully when I write or speak
so that they do not offend or hurt.
From the stories that I write when they flow from the spirit
I feel this peace and love. I trust in some small way this
will help you who read this. Maybe you can then understand
the reason you feel sad or hurt by some who has spoken to
you years ago in ignorance.
We can change the future the children are
our future they are the lights in the window of our lodges
no matter what culture we are from, for the elders to come
home too.
Today I wrap the few presents we have received for the children
at the Seneca day care. I know these few that we have received
will not be enough. I have put out the need here on the
forum for many to help but few actually remember the children.
I say look out the windows of you house on these cold nights.
Imagine yourself as that little girl standing in the cold
and waiting for the kind words to flow. If you can truly
see, you will see the faces of the children looking back
at you. They are the elders waiting to be invited inside.
If our doors are closed to the need then so is our heart.
May your hearts be always open, may the circle be unbroken.
Love Waynonaha
Copyright © 2003 Grandmother Waynonaha, All Rights Reserved