Date: Wed, 10 May 1995 17:41:39 -0500 (EST)
Original Sender: nelson@urvax.urich.edu
You're right, I (and many others, I imagine) had never heard of Nathan
Jim, Jr. And now I (and we) have. My thanks, our thanks. I hold a very
small eagle feather that I got maybe 7 years ago; it comes from a
sundance held in northern Montana in a Gros Ventre/Assiniboine place, and
I think it is full of names I have never heard spoken or seen spelled
out, or at least full of prayers for those people whose names I do not know.
I hope you do not mind if it takes on, now, also, a small part of your
own prayer. Ayempah, go well.
Best from here, Bob
Date: Wed, 10 May 95 21:50:57 EST
Original Sender: jcdem@sage.cc.purdue.edu (James Derringer)
Boz'o Brookie,
Your story was very moving. I just wanted you to know that tonight I
will pray for Mr. Nathan Jim Jr. I will also say a prayer for your feelings,
and the Eagle you spoke so gently of. Perhaps someday we can make them
understand. Maybe someday WE will be the ones to be giving Eagle feathers
to our brothers and sisters as they need them, and maybe it will be from
the Nathan Jim Jr. center.
The Red Road is sometimes a hard one to follow.
Keep The Faith,
Jim Derringer
Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 01:56:16 -0700
Original Sender: sthoma0@tsaile.chinleud.k12.az.us (sue thomas )
Dear Mr. Craig,
My name is Mrs. White and I have lived on the Navajo reservation for a number
of years. I was moved by your eloquent letter and wanted to offer my
condolences both to you and to the family of Mr. Nathan Jim, Jr. for this
tragic loss.
I would also like to offer a poem that I wrote using my preferred pen name a
number of years ago. I feel that the message in it might in some small way
contribute to peace within our world and to our mutual release from the tethers
of cultural prejudice.
Coins of Clay
I left my hate to slowly die
On to walk love's warming ray.
I thought that joy would light my day!
The True One said to find His home
That I must search with all I own.
Love. Hate. Like night and day
Are head and tails both coins of clay.
He said to soar on eagle's wing
I must detach all earthly things.
I told Him that this burdened one
Could barely walk, much less run.
He said to trust His guiding hand
To keep my love from burning sand,
That I should cry 'bove everyone:
Baha'u'llah says mankind is one.
Perchance some one would question why
This strange, new chirp is in the sky.
And thereby start their noble flight
To join the followers of the Light.
by Vanilla Bright
Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 08:30:41 -0700 (PDT)
Original Sender: larabell@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu (Rio Lara-Bellon)
Dear List Members:
I was saddened this morning to learn of the situation described in the
post - re: Death of an Eagle. I recall when this discussion started on
this list many months ago. How many remember the difference between a
Tribal and a non-Indian point of view on this subject? I remember. And I
remember the names of the people who so rabidly went after the reputation
of the one who has now journeyed on.
Thank you to the person who sent the post and told of his experiences with
the Federal Repository people. Today we are preparing seven Eagle
Feathers as gifts to the young men on the Chehalis Tribal Fisheries
Committee, to thank them for renewing the Salmon Ceremony. The work
requires detached calm and right now I am wondering how I will keep the
tears from falling.
-Rio-
Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 17:02:35
Original Sender: clquader@mtu.edu (Christie Quaderer)
Last year in Wisconsin a Indian man had his Eagle feather taken away
after being stopped by a conservation warden. That incident caused a big
controversy because the warden who took the feather has in the past had
unpleasent dealings with other native people. The Wisconsin DNR said that
the man could come in at anytime and reclaim his feather if he brought in
the proper paperwork. The victim's uncle told him that not under any
circumstances was he to produce the proper papers for the DNR. His view was
that the Religous Freedom act was an interferance. I agree with the uncle
that in certain instances people in the dominant society can use "the
procedure" to stop you from doing what they don't want you to do. I thought
that this was a good approach because it beat the system by putting the DNR
in the bad light it deserved over this sensitive subject.