Thanks for your good words, Rusty. Please continue your input. Many of us, including myself, would also much prefer to talk of these things on a one to one basis. I think that is best. Each of us have matters that we feel are too sacred for a public discussion forum such as this. However, one of the problems that resulted from the scattering of our people is our inability to communicate due to distance and estrangement. We on this list (numbers now down considerably), have only this means fellowship as our ancestors once did in person. I would much prefer we were sitting in talk circle in a room somewhere, or around a campfire. Unfortunately, that's usually not possible in our world today. I personally feel it is IMPERATIVE that the "lost birds" among us reconnect with each other. Our cultural survival is at stake. While those whose families chose to remain in Mississippi may feel they are the keepers of the culture, the facts are that the stringent blood quantum criteria set by the tribe has doomed it to eventual extinction. Their numbers are up temporarily through enrollment, due to the fact that their very capable leadership has now made it possible to remain in the neighborhood and survive economically. My ancestors had to leave Mississippi or starve. And there are many who remained who came very close to starving. I have seen figures of slightly more than 100 heads of households counted among the Choctaws in Mississippi as recently as the 1920's. There are many whose own grandchildren are not eligible for enrollment. Thanks be to God, the Oklahoma Choctaw nation has wisely chosen to include all who can "prove up." But there are still those thousands whose families remain undocumented, through no fault of their own. This medium is second-best, to be sure, but it's all we have at present. Many of us have met face-to-face, and I hope those opportunities will continue to arise in the future. A good gathering place is at Choctaw-Fair coming up in Mississippi in July. I hope all who can, will attend. dusty ----- Original Message ----- From: <rusty-old-car@webtv.net> To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 1:31 AM Subject: [CHAHTA] Spirituality and religion > We are all born with this deep seeded spirituality in our hearts but in > a society such as ours it seems to take a lot introspect to bring it to > a realization. Contrary to the belief of some this knowledge was not > just given to the indian peoples though time may not have left us not as > far removed as others it is universal knowledge. Every woman, every man, > are our sisters and brothers although we may not always agree (and we > may not want to claim them) they are ours all the same. Every plant, > every animal, they are our relatives (consider them distant cousins if > one would prefer) but we are related. > Now, it seems that in Christianity "God created everything" Then would > it not also be true in christianity that we are all related? I am told > that in the bible it also says man is "master" of all that is created. > True that would put us right at the top but was that meant to say "man > should do as he pleases" the word seems to imply a great responsibility > to me. To be a true master of all would one not have to also be a > steward to all. To take without asking and without giving thanks for > what is received would seem to me to be thievery. > The question was asked does an animal running away from a hunter give up > its life to the hunter and require to be thanked? Let me answer the > question in this way the creator saw that we hunt the deer, we shoot the > deer, (We evite friends over for beer and barbeque, whatever) The > creator could have saw to it that bullets and arrows bounced of the > dears and they walked over and kicked our a__ and ate us when the family > gathered for dinner. However, this is not the case and the deer runs. > The creator did not make things so whoever needed a snack could come > take a bite out of the deer either. The deer enjoys its life but it as > well as any animal knows that where it is in creation and so the bargain > of the hunt was struck. The deer says "if you are cleaver enough my life > falls into your hands to do with as you please if you fail to be so > cleaver then my life is my on and perhaps you should dig for roots or > something a little more your speed my friend. > A person gives thanks to an animal when it gives its life because it > would be plain rude if one did not. And on such a great sacrifice the > animal makes the absolute least one could do is be respectful. > Personally, I think spirituality is best discussed person to person. Why > I am putting my thoughts in now I could only guess as a lack of > judgement. > > rusty > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > Need more CHOCTAW information?? Visit Judy White's pages at http://accessgenealogy.com/native for rolls, data, etc. >