What I decided to not do is patronize any business that is having a columbus day sale.

I don't live anywhere near a mall, but I would do the same!

the borders of the United States. However, I am not related by blood to any indigenous person in the United States. I do share relationships of the heart with most of my fellow citizens, even the deluded and deplorable and I will be thinking of that today. note: I base this op on comments I read about during the debate years ago on the difference between the terms Native and Indigenous. These things are important to some people. Then there's the claim that at some point in history even the Indigenous peoples were immigrants, but then wasn't everybody?

I choose to ignore all the controversy and use my energy to treat most peoples with respect. I leave the colonizing invaders and slave masters out though. There's a limit to everything.

My great (x3) grandfather actually traveled the trail of Tears. As I got older, I was able to find out more about him and my grandmother's heritage. They had always been farmers, but my grandma married an Irishman, and I believe my family was anglicized a few generations before.

I joined some drumming and meditation circles in my 20s, and from there an earnest study in traditions (and my own family history) followed. i was able to study with those who now work with the 13 Grandmothers of tribes from all over the world. More locally, an Elder I work with and love also studied under a Paiute Medicine Man... I've done the sweatlodge, not the vision quest...and though I go to the PowWow, I still don't know enough or have enough connections locally to feel like I "belong". Which is on my list of things to do this next year.

I have lived the Medicine Wheel for more than 2 decades now.
Recently began teaching it myself through the local community college connection courses. It's been really fun and educating for me to explain how it works, or at least my understanding of it. I have recently reached out to the museum curator with the local tribe to see if they would like to give me any quotes or insight for my classes, more specifically the textbook I am writing.


Here's a short blog I found that explains some of the path I walk...

https://wearewildness.com/four-directions-medicine-wheel-affect-life/