From: beaver.cs.washington.edu!gnosys!anchor.esd.sgi.com!lyn (Lyn Dearborn)
Subject: Saving our land, our lives, our children
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 23:24:47 GMT

Original-Sender: anchor.esd.sgi.com!lyn (Lyn Dearborn)

Friday afternoon I 'escaped' Silicon Valley and headed to my nearest
shrine, Yosemite Valley, for a couple of days of renewal before the
Holiday season overwhelms me completely. This time of year brings on
the urge to walk into a closet and scream at the top of my voice ...
followed by exiting same closet, wiping my hands on my jeans, and in
true Carol Burnett style, smiling and saying, "there, that's much
better; I'll be fine now ... " I've never tried this, but I've
entertained the fantasy.

I don't believe it truly matters what "organized religion" you subscribe
to in order to be affected by this time of year ... the days becoming
increasingly shorter, the urge to express love to those closest to
you (even though your financial state may make it difficult to be
impulsive in this direction). Certainly, my style has been cramped
the past year or two, and I've had to resort to making stationary and
weaving baskets ... but these gifts may be more easily appreciated
than the ones we can pile up at the nearest Price Club, Costco,
KMart, or trading post. Years ago I used to make wise cracks about
how silly it was for Christians to celebrate the birth of a peasant
baby by spending a month stacking up the lastest and greatest
examples of commercial enterprise to be given to friends, loved ones,
and even those you dislike in hopes of finding favor in their eyes
"next year" (good luck!)  But come on, we all know that this frenzy
of worshipping our plastic credit cards has nothing to do with Jesus
of Nazareth, Harry the Hanukah elf, or even offerings to the Solstice
Goddess. It has to do with a feeling of belonging to someone or
something; connectedness; being grounded .... even though 99.9% of us
are going about it the hard way.  Its all quite ridiculous, and we
all know it.  It has nothing to do with being Christian, Jewish,
Buddist, or Pagan star worshippers... particularly since Jesus of
Nazareth wasn't even born in December ... couldn't have been ...
according to historical events.... had to have been spring.  Xmas
trees?  A great Pagan custom ... lights for the Solstice (the only
thing left worth celebrating these days).  Meanwhile, back to life on
the Native earth.

Yosemite was spectacular; amazing!
The greatest part of this weekend's gift was the fact that the place
was practically deserted -- only 20% of the usual winter crowd.  Why?
Because, apparently, the majority of the people who race up to the
mountains on the weekends are doing it to partake in the madness
known as competing for the chairlift, or the fashion review in the
apres ski meet after the slopes close.  Enter the threat of a major
winter storm, and the faint of heart stay home where its warm and
safe... why head for Yosemite if Badger Pass Ski Resort isn't open
for the season yet?  Why give up two days of shopping madness with
nothing in return.

Yosemite was gorgeous; breathtaking; a wondrous gift from our creator.
I took a long walk out into the meadow in the moonlight and was totally
unaware of how cold the snow was.  It was easy to transport myself back
to an earlier time and place to the ancient purity of our land, before
it was invaded not just by the Europeans, but before we were invaded
with fatal notions of one people being closer to the creator than
another group.  Our forefathers fought amongst each other in petty
inter-tribal disputes, and sometimes outright wars,  but they were more
honest in nature.  The battles were fast and furious, without hidden
meanings.  How sad that the world has turned to deceit and plotting at
every turn, and that the original occupants of this land have to fight
for the most basic pleasures ... warmth, security, beauty, the pleasure
of having their loved ones with them; healthy & happy children getting
the education they will need to survive in such a pro-anglo culture.

But even this solitude has its price ... how often I have longed for
the opportunity to come across a secret meadow, with no other ski
tracks breaking the stillness and beauty of the moment ... but what
unknown terror this beauty can hide.  In my younger years (before I
hit 30 ... then 40 ... no comment) I used to compete with friends for
the privilege of breaking trail .. but never through 3 feet of virgin
fluffy stuff!  It seemed like such a romantic notion ... there is no
mention in the Guide Books, of how totally exhausting it can be ...
or how difficult, if not impossible it can be just to find a place
you can sit down and rest in ... without sinking out of sight, not to
mention the other necessities of life.

As the sun was lowering in the sky Sat., and we were still a couple of
miles from the car, even I had to admit that we all need other people at
times to survive.  If it hadn't been for at least two other skiers
treking through the "deadly fluff" before us, packing down a narrow but
still existent, track, I would never have made it back to the trail head
before darkness descended (not a good idea if traveling without flares,
space blankets, water, and a means to build shelter).  Nature is so
amazing in its beauty and serenity; yet unforgiving of human error. I'm
becoming convinced that our creator operates on the same level.  Live
according to his laws and you'll survive; disrespect his creations
and life in general, and we will all perish.

More than ever, at this time of year we need to reach out to those less
fortunate.  It's not your "Christian" duty; nor your duty as a good Jew,
or Buddist.  It is your duty as a child of our Universe; as one of God's
creations. There comes a time in everyone's life when it is imperative
to reflect back to others the love and kindness that has been shown to
you at some point in your life.  This is that time.  The Institutions of
this once-great country are poisoning our land, and the futures of our
children; give your country a gift by writing to your Congressmen &
women.  There are women, children, and men on our reservations who
are living in poverty and sorrow; send things to them that show you
care; many say send money only, and they will buy what is needed.
But, my son has always said that sending on his toys to children who
have less REALLY shows you care, since sending money takes very
little effort, whereas sending goods takes more time and effort; AND
for the same amount of money you spend mailing hundreds of dollars
worth of clothing and toys, you could buy very little back on the
Rez.  The need is so great; the resources so few.

And while you are thinking about the real meaning of the Holidays,
take a day or two if your finances allow, and go out someplace like
Yosemite and thank your Creator for the beauty that is STILL with us
in spite of efforts by thankless immigrants to trash it, steal from
it, etc.  If you see people violating our heritage, do something
about it; volunteer some time to helping the wilderness through
various volunteer groups.  There has to be something left of the
wondrous land that our ancestors fought so hard to maintain, yet
lost it anyway.  Remember what some wise wasichu (there are a few)
said when they wrote:  We are not bound to save this land for future
generations; we are borrowing this land from our children, and our
children's children.... the exact wording has been lost by the many
people that have repeated it, but the meaning is clear.  As survivors
of colonization, we owe it to our ancestors and our children to TRY
to preserve what is left of our land, as well as the children that
have been put upon it to share their lives with us.

May next week's Winter Solstice find you safe and warm with those you
love near by.  Happy Hanukah, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, etc.



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"We did not weave the web of life.  We   | Lyn Dearborn
are merely a strand in it.  Whatever     | Naturalist/Person
we do to the web, we do to ourselves"    | dearborn@anchor.esd.sgi.com
		Chief Seattle 1854
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