Peace, Love, Harmony

I traveled to Arizona last week. While there I met a local Native American artist who was presenting the culture, arts and music of the Hopi nation at the hotel we were staying. I had a long conversation with him about what he was doing. As a artist, father and member of his reservation. I quickly became apparent that he was a very talented man working very hard to preserve and promote his culture and way of life. He is very active in education of the children in his reservation, he is creating works of art, writing music and carrying forth the traditions and role of dancing in his culture and for his people.

Over the past few years there has been a resurgence of a need and drive to preserve the roots and skills of the various Native American nations and tribes. They are regaining a pride in being who they are, proud of their history and accomplishments. Working hard to educate their own children in the ways of old and also educate the people around them about the value that can be gained from listening to Native American thinking and ideas on how to live and act.

It occurred to us that of all the cultural and ethnic groups in America today, the Native Americans have the smallest voice and no meaningful representation in the National government that is looking after their needs and looking to give back some of what was taken away from them over the past two hundred years through deceit and lying.

I was happy to hear that there are leaders in the local reservations that are working hard to preserve the good and wise of their past, but also that they are working hard to dig their way out of the third world conditions they live in now to also benefit form the progress and wealth that all other Americans enjoy.

Quoting Moonsee from his music: “Peace, Love, Harmony”