‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Through Different Eyes
By Peter Molenaar In this part of the world, we are fortunate to have The Circle, a paper which elevates Native Americans while stifling racism and chauvinism in general. It was not so long ago that I communicated with Ricey Wild to commend her column “It Ain”'t Easy Being Indian.” Her words, so often packed with meaning, are a reflection of personal experience. Do see the June issue for the context of the following quotation. “I understand now how we the oppressed were with evil intent told to oppress other non-whites so we kept fighting against each other rather than organizing to make null and void our common adversary ”“ White people. I sincerely apologize to people whom I have never met whose culture I degraded. I truly did not know but when I did learn I stopped that behavior and became interested and respectful of others”' human experiences and history”¦ When I say or write White people I mean the culture of greed and hate they [...]
Beyond The Great Bdote
By Peter Molenaar For the Dakota, a ”˜bdote”' was most frequently the convergence of two rivers (a place where two waters come together). In today”'s world, “great bdote” refers to the ongoing meltdown of the polar ice caps. Unfortunately, close to 100 million people in Bangladesh stand to be inundated. How many millions of our own people might be reduced to refugee status? Moreover, in what spirit will those with power and guns respond? Is catastrophe inevitable? Actually, some sectors of the ruling class are behaving accordingly. Yet there is a glimmer which suggests that solar energy will ascend to displace coal via market forces. However, these “forces” tend to be finicky. Meanwhile, we dare not sleep before the dawn “beyond coal.” To put it mildly, carbon dioxide emissions must be suppressed immediately. It”'s like putting a man on the moon”¦only infinitely more important. So”¦ (more…)
The Great Bdote
By Peter Molenaar To the near southeast of this part of the world lies the vista of the Minnesota and Mississippi river valleys. The span of this bdote (a place where two waters come together) is central to our indigenous spirituality. Presently, the Mendota (bdote) Bridge is a convenient way to cross over. It is also known that Franklin Avenue rests upon an ancient path from the Mississippi to lakes west of here. One may follow this path beyond its ending (and back through time some 35,000 years) to the foothills of the Altai Mountains of Central Asia. You will find there a place where the Sapien people encountered the Neanderthal. The Sapiens, late arrivals that they were, wisely chose to offer gifts. As it happened, a young woman named Tanya was brought forward. Indeed, she did embrace her destiny. The dwelling of initial procreation was entered through an archway of Mammoth tusks. The domed framework of skeletal remains glowed magically in the light of flickering fire. [...]
