One Nation, One land, One people
August 30, 2006
We stand as one people for our sacred lands, side by side as
one nation. Indigenous people unite in fighting for our
rights and for what was once, our land. As we stand as one,
it doesn’t matter where we are on Turtle Island. We belong
to hundreds of different nations, Cherokee, Lakota, Dakota,
Nakota, Ponca, Dine, Hopi, Apache, Pueblo, Mohawk, Seminole,
Shoshone, Pawnee, Nez Perce or Crow, we are all one nation,
one land, one people. Is this dream that came to me,
“Indigenous people, One Nation” from a time so far in the
past, or a reality yet to come? Can we in fact be One Nation
and stand side by side, fighting for what’s right?
Our ancestors fought for these lands, thousands lost their
lives defending it. Now they are once again subjected to the
hands of the white man, only now it’s digging them up to
study them. This disrespect of grave robbing and putting our
ancestors on display does not occur to any other people, but
ours. The white man’s courts fight us, when we cry regarding
the continual desecration of our sacred sites and disrespect
to our people. They stole our lands, broke our treaties and
continue to take what is not theirs. They disrespect our
sacred sites by flooding, building disgraceful bars, ski
resorts, climbing on, or bulldozing for new buildings. Many
of these people claim they are honoring us, if this is
honor, I don’t accept. Honor is standing up for the rights
of your people, giving your life fighting to protect them,
fighting for what you believe in and fighting for beliefs
and spirituality. Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud,
Geronimo, Chief Joseph and the thousands of warriors that
gave their lives for the people, they had honor.
Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to
our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage
and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all
away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so
forgotten? Our sacred sites represent who we are as a
people, connect us to our ancestors and to the Creator. If
these places vanish where we go to pray, to fast, to speak
with our ancestors, to dance, where our ancestors are laid
to rest, we as a people will be no more. For 514 years the
white man has tried to exterminate us, assimilate us and now
attempting to wipe out all we have left; our sacred sites
and spirituality.
Will you stand by and let them take all that remains of our
being? Will you let them continue to desecrate our sacred
lands? Or, will you take a stand and say no more?!
Every Tribal Nation is being subjected to this dishonor,
disrespect and potential annihilation of our sacred sites
and heritage. We must stand in unity side-by-side, as one
nation, one people, one land, all across Turtle Island. It
has come time for the division among our people to end and
for everyone to come together. It doesn’t matter what nation
you are from, how much blood quantum you have, or if you
live on the rez or not. We have a chance to make a
difference for our people in strength and unity as
“Indigenous people, One Nation.”
Please help this dream become a reality, take a stand,
protect our sacred lands and sites, before everything as we
know it, becomes just another lie in the chapters of
history.
Written by;
Tamra Brennan
Mixed blood Cherokee
Founder & Director of
www.protectsacredsites.org &
www.NDNnews.com
Email:
Tamra@protetsacredsites.org
This article may be re-published if kept in its entirety,
not modified or altered.