Comments on: All opposed to Indigenous Rights, say “Sorry” http://intercontinentalcry.org/all-opposed-to-indigenous-rights-say-sorry/ Intercontinental Cry provides news, commentary, videos, and media alerts concerning the world's Indigenous population. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:44:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Benita Silas http://intercontinentalcry.org/all-opposed-to-indigenous-rights-say-sorry/#comment-2291 Benita Silas Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:00:45 +0000 http://intercontinentalcry.org/all-opposed-to-indigenous-rights-say-sorry/#comment-2291 Every First Nations Reserve I have been to has on its premises a christian church.  Many of the people I talk with, say they have combined christianity with their Traditional teachings.  When we take into consideration that the exclusive christian teachings are completely opposite in nature and vision to that of the inclusive Traditional Indigenous Teachings, it is very apparent why there is so much heartbreaking pain within the lives of the Indigenous people. Traditional teachings taught of the beauty and sacredness of all Life.  It taught of our interconnedness with all Beings: Animal Beings, Plant Beings, Flying Beings, Swimming Beings ..... all Beings are interconnected and related.  All Beings are born in beauty and sacredness.  In contrast, the christian teachings preach that the Human Being is born, not in beauty and sacredness and interconnectedness, but is born in original sin and is master of and above, all other Beings.  In order to be 'saved' from this original sin, we must believe in their god, their saviour.  Their teachings state that the original sin that we must be saved from is the human desire for knowledge (this is symbolized in the Old Testatement by Adam and Eve eating the apple from the Tree of Knowledge).   Knowledge of Life is a requirement for travelling the Red Road. The foundation of the Traditional Indigenous Life is inclusive, caring, loving and respectful of all aspects of Life.   To follow the Red Path, we must be aware of the gifts inherent in all our Brothers and Sisters.  Unlike christianity, there is no preaching in our Traditional Teachings, no commands on what or how we must think.  Each Being is allowed to follow their Vision in their way.  The relationship between human and other Beings is not one of master and servent, but one of interconnectedness and honor.  The Planet/Solar Beings, The Plant Beings, the Animal Beings - they do not depend on us for their existence - we are dependent on them!  Without them, we humans cease to exist.  We are not sinful masters of Mother Earth, we are her caregivers for the generations of children to come.  The differences between Indigenous spirituality and religious teachings is the difference between love and hate, connected and disconnected, wholeness and separations, knoweldge and ignorance. Apology for past horrors?  They are not past - they continue.  Some people are not ready to accept what they think, say and do, and therefore need a religion..let them have it.  However, do not let them dictate your spirituality, that is your private connection with Life.  Until we return to living the teachings of our Elders, the natural interconnectedness of Life, our children will continue to feel disconnected from their heritage, their communities, their family, themselves.  If we want to stop suicides on the Reserves, we must replace those churches with teaching circles and healing circles.   We must not rely on governments but achieve our Visions from within.    Your heart knows more than all governments could ever dream of knowing.  This isn't just a fight for indigenous preservation, protection, intellectual rights and freedoms, it is a fight for the human race to continue its existence.  If the Indigenous Peoples lose, everybody loses.  We are not separate from the air we breathe - we breathe everyone in. An apology indeed...   Every First Nations Reserve I have been to has on its premises a christian church.  Many of the people I talk with, say they have combined christianity with their Traditional teachings.  When we take into consideration that the exclusive christian teachings are completely opposite in nature and vision to that of the inclusive Traditional Indigenous Teachings, it is very apparent why there is so much heartbreaking pain within the lives of the Indigenous people.

Traditional teachings taught of the beauty and sacredness of all Life.  It taught of our interconnedness with all Beings: Animal Beings, Plant Beings, Flying Beings, Swimming Beings ….. all Beings are interconnected and related.  All Beings are born in beauty and sacredness. 

In contrast, the christian teachings preach that the Human Being is born, not in beauty and sacredness and interconnectedness, but is born in original sin and is master of and above, all other Beings.  In order to be ’saved’ from this original sin, we must believe in their god, their saviour.  Their teachings state that the original sin that we must be saved from is the human desire for knowledge (this is symbolized in the Old Testatement by Adam and Eve eating the apple from the Tree of Knowledge).   Knowledge of Life is a requirement for travelling the Red Road.

The foundation of the Traditional Indigenous Life is inclusive, caring, loving and respectful of all aspects of Life.   To follow the Red Path, we must be aware of the gifts inherent in all our Brothers and Sisters.  Unlike christianity, there is no preaching in our Traditional Teachings, no commands on what or how we must think.  Each Being is allowed to follow their Vision in their way.  The relationship between human and other Beings is not one of master and servent, but one of interconnectedness and honor.  The Planet/Solar Beings, The Plant Beings, the Animal Beings - they do not depend on us for their existence - we are dependent on them!  Without them, we humans cease to exist.  We are not sinful masters of Mother Earth, we are her caregivers for the generations of children to come. 

The differences between Indigenous spirituality and religious teachings is the difference between love and hate, connected and disconnected, wholeness and separations, knoweldge and ignorance.

Apology for past horrors?  They are not past - they continue.  Some people are not ready to accept what they think, say and do, and therefore need a religion..let them have it.  However, do not let them dictate your spirituality, that is your private connection with Life.  Until we return to living the teachings of our Elders, the natural interconnectedness of Life, our children will continue to feel disconnected from their heritage, their communities, their family, themselves.  If we want to stop suicides on the Reserves, we must replace those churches with teaching circles and healing circles.   We must not rely on governments but achieve our Visions from within.    Your heart knows more than all governments could ever dream of knowing.  This isn’t just a fight for indigenous preservation, protection, intellectual rights and freedoms, it is a fight for the human race to continue its existence.  If the Indigenous Peoples lose, everybody loses.  We are not separate from the air we breathe - we breathe everyone in.

An apology indeed…  

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