If you began your journey to this page through our site, The Lazy Dream Ranch, and have visited the "About Us" or "Our Goals" pages, then you will know a little bit more about us and what we are trying to impart within these pages. As I wrote under the section describing myself, I stated that I was of Japanese and Native American decent. I grew up surrounded with prejudice around me for my heritage simply because of the features of my face. Mostly, because of the shape of my eyes, I was teased and called, "Jap", "Chink" or "Gook". Other times, just as often (especially as my skin tanned), I was called a "Dirty Indian", "Redskin" or "Wetback". It began when I was young, and has carried on throughout my life thus far. I am older now and age has taught me many lessons in life ~ but the most important lesson that life is teaching me now is to learn myself ~ that in knowing myself, I can teach others through me ~ and through that teaching racial names disappear and understanding begins to dawn.
My mother was born in Fukuoka, Japan and became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America. As I grew up she taught me of my Japanese heritage and traditions. My father was born in Albion, Illinois and I always assumed that since I was born and raised in the United States, I was just a plain old "American". I never knew what heritage my father was until one day the name calling prompted me to ask my father what his heritage was. He teased me and said I was a "Heintz 57"! Then he told me seriously, "Your an American Indian on your grandmother's side, that would be my mother, and your half Indian on your grandfather's side, that would be my dad, and I believe part Irish. Your greatgrandfather was a traveling preacher and I don't quite remember just what all he was, but he married an Iroquois woman. So that makes me more than three quarters Indian and you almost half."
Why is it that my birth certificate says I'm "Mongolian"? It's a term the military used at the time of my birth my father told me.
Why does it not say that I am "Indian" I asked him. "Because in those years, it wasn't popular to be Indian and in the military, back then, you didn't advertise it."
Why have you not tried to reclaim your heritage when there is no shame to advertise it now? "For what reason? I know who I am, all I need to know about where I come from and I don't need Indian Charity from anyone least of all the US government that I served."
Because My Loving Father, to be "Indian" does not mean you must expect "Indian Charity" from the government and to raise an "Indian" child without the benefit of teaching them of their Indian heritage is a loss to future generations of just who you are and where part of you comes from. In this endevor, my father is supportive in providing what he can for my journey to my own understanding. For this, I dedicate the Native American portion of our site to him for having brought me to the ways of All Our Relations, for without my father, I would not be "Indian".
Does it matter what tribe I am from or that I am a "Registered Tribal Member" or not? Yes, it matters to know what tribe you are from because it is important to know the ways of your people. No, it is not important however for you to be a "Registered Tribal Member". If you believed the "White Man" to be prejudice against the "Indians", you should try the other shoe and see the "Indian" prejudice for the "White Man". The best description for both views has a perfect label. It's called IGNORANCE.
So where does one begin to reclaim their heritage amist all the ignorance of the world?
I began one day in 1991 in a little shop that I do not even remember the name of, located some where in the town of Mesquite, Nevada, when I came across a book that came with a set of cards. The title of the book is called "Sacred Path Cards(TM):The Discovery of Self Through Native Teachings" and is written by Jamie Sams, copy-right 1990 and published by HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, NY. and comes with 44 cards that guide you through her teachings. It is through this book and accompanying cards that I learn about myself through Native Teachings. The words may be arranged differently than the Bible, but the teachings are the same if you are open minded enough only to see.
It is because of the importance of this book that I am "slightly" violating the copy-right rule. The book states that "No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews." Quotes taken from the "Sacred Path Cards" are included in my articles of teaching because of what I believe to be of critical importance in expressing the knowledge that I have learned in words that are comprehensible for all. I am endevoring to secure permission from the author and publisher for all my content taken directly from the "Sacred Path Cards" and just because I believe that my purpose is the same as Jamie Sams purpose for writing the book does not mean the publisher is in agreement. Therefore I implore you NOT TO COPY OR REPUBLISH/REPRODUCE IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER ANY PORTION OF WHAT I HAVE OR WILL QUOTE from the "Sacred Path Cards". |
