To kick off Indigenous People's Celebration here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Buffy Sainte-Marie, blacklisted in this country by both Lyndon Johnson's and Richard Nixon's administration, performed at the Lensic Performing Arts Center Thursday, October 10, 2019. It was a fundraiser for Indigenous Solutions, Tewa Women United and the Friendship Club.
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| Painting by Bob Haozous Exhibit at the Wheelwright Museum, 2018-2019. |
Sometimes our history is melancholy.
We must accept that.
This life is terrible
and people do terrible things to each other.
If we are to live for the sake of good and strong,
then we should have as much of the background as possible."
Deng Ming-Dao
Perhaps the time is upon us to really understand the history of our country, the United States of America. For centuries we have celebrated Columbus "discovering the New World." Well, as we all know, there were indigenous peoples inhabiting the Americas from the Bering Strait separating Russia from Alaska to Cape Horn, the Southern most tip of South America long before Columbus' "discovery."
Indigenous Peoples' Day/Celebration gives us an opportunity to rethink American history. Here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Indigenous Peoples' Day is actually more like four days of celebration with weekend and Monday events on the Plaza downtown. Each day is opened with a blessing followed by Pueblo dance groups. Pojoaque, New Mexico, at its Poeh Cultural Center, is honoring the return of historical Tewa Pueblo pottery from the Smithsonian Institutions's National Museum of American Indian with Tewa Pueblo dances, food, speakers and pottery demonstrations. On Monday in Albuquerque The Red Nation has created a march and rally in the downtown at 1st and Central. As well, at the the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center the day was filled with foods, dancing and celebration.
As the Native Peoples in our country regain their knowing held in their collective genes about caring for and honoring Mother Earth, may we too tap into their knowledge. Mother Earth is in peril because humans have abused our planet, and continue to do so, with our gluttonous consumption. Are we ready for another way to BE on Mother Earth?
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| Reclamation, 2017-2018 Rose B. Simpson |
"I was born part of this earth.
My Grandmother Earth.
I was born part of this earth.
My Mother all living beings.
I was born part of this earth.
My Grandfather, the sky.
I was born part of this earth.
The eight Grandfathers.
I was born part of this earth.
The four corners of the earth.
I was born part of this earth.
The great wind giant of the North.
I was born part of this earth.
The red road of the dead.
I was born part of this earth.
The blue and black road of destruction.
I was born part of this earth.
The old ones say
the old way's gone,
the old ones say.
Still,
I was born part of this earth.
Daniel Western
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| Baby, 2010-2014 Rose B. Simpson |
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| The Answer That Ended Creation B, 2011 Rose B. Simpson |
As we contemplate the richness of Earth based spirituality exemplified by all of the local Pueblo native peoples, may we reconnect with and deeply care for Mother Earth, and
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