The Flute Keeper

I have decided that after this year I will have no biography...

Instead, I will let those who know me decide who am I...

Dear friends: Recently I received an e-mail with a link to a page in the net that suggests that I have removed my biography because I have something to hide. This shows that there are still people in this world who sees nothing but suspicios in other peoples doings. The reason I had my biography removed from this site was Bigotry. Yes, bigotry and the hate I have seen during my travels. This letter is to all peoples of the world, Natives from the Americas and Non Natives from the rest of this piece of land we call world. During my travelings I have had the opportunity to visit many Pow Wows both in the USA and other countries. In Germany I have found more Pow Wows taking place than in any other country outside the USA and, it is there where I came to realize that we, the human race, is full of hate and envy and looking for control of others in one way on another. Who owns a race, a tradition, a culture and has the right to impose it to others? Over 200 years ago, a group of immigrants came to our shores and took upon themselves to colonize a land who was not theirs. That, we all know and we all have our views as to what was done and what took place. It is a sad fact and it is even sadder to look back in history and see what was done. Killings, restrictions, the implementation of new rules and so many other things that took place but, we all have to start looking at we can do in the future for our children and those who would follow. I am not saying that we have to surrender, NO, we have to fight back and show these people we are PEOPLE of this planet, with dreams, pain, laughter and lots... lots of love for what we have in our lives. But since when do we - Natives, own anything? One of the main roots of our believes is that we have NO Ownership of anything, we are just the Care Takers of what is around us and we are here to pass it on. Everyday I heard that from my elders, from the ones around me and from those who travel the world in gatherings and belong to Native Tribes. But, in the other hand, and at the same time... there is a constant attack to those who have taken upon themselves to follow the Native Ways. Yes, there are those who don´t seem to know better and those who have their own ideas as to what Natives are. Dancing with wolves sure didn't´t help much and many just like to dress up like Indians and have fun. HAVE FUN. You may say that Having Fun with others culture is not the right thing to do.. careful, do not spit against the wind. Most of our Native Brothers are doing quite the same by celebrating Thanksgiving, Xmas, 5 de Mayo, 4th of July, October Fest, St. Patrick's day and so many others I could spend a page listings them. It seems to me that by showing, and helping, those interested in our culture would create an awareness of who and what we are. All religions of the world have become respected and powerful by inviting others, to a part of it and then it is only then, that the group make a stand in the eyes of others. I have encountered many people, again Native and Non Native, FIGHTING over the control of these Native American events. How stupid can this be and, how stupid can these people be in doing so?. Lets analyze this and we can see that those Non Native argue they know better because they have read the book (a book they wrote in the first place), then we have the Natives who argue that their Culture is now been stolen. How can you steal something that is not yours to keep in the first place?. Instead, go out and show how we do things it would be then easier for then to follow the right way. Non Natives would then have the opportunity to see from those who know and be able to continue doing what is right. But, we have another group around us.. this group is the most dangerous of them all, those who by pretending to be REAL Indians (Natives and Non Natives, the so called ADOPTED or I was an Indian in another life) go around attacking those who don´t follow their ways of doing things. Those you can see in many Pow Wows in Europe. They go around (or sending mails) talking about others and saying this or such about any Pow Wow, or Indian fest gathering that does not fit their ways or con expectations (fund raisin for poor Lakotas, to solve some tribal problem and so many other scams). These so call Real Natives, you can in Pow Wows where THEY get paid to attend... Money is the issue here. Culture is not something we have the right to Own. Culture is something we share and shows who we are and what we are made of. It is important to share this culture and to pass it on to those who want it. This my friends, is the reason why I have chossen to be a member of a new tribe. A tribe so old that goes to the begining of time, before The Creator was even thinking about all of these mess we have created in our own. This Tribe is the Human Race.