Bee in the Bonnet - An Opinion Piece by Bernie Bates

This opinion piece by native writer Bernie Bates so incensed Jim Hawkins, President Elect of the Kelowna Ogopogo Rotary Club that he sent email to North of 50 advertisers and posted comments on advertiser's Facebook timelines, asking "... do you want your business to be associated with a magazine that publishes articles so demeaning to Christianty as that on page 12 of the July/August issue." We are not amused.

 

Bernie Bates

Bee in the Bonnet
WHAT WAS LOST AND FOUND

We Natives may no longer wear feathered bonnets as part of our daily attire - but, we've gained when it comes to the knowledge in our bonnet. We may have lost sight of the sacred circle, but we've created our own path in the 'new' circle of life.

Natives of today may no longer hunt for meat on the hoof, but that's not to say we don't scour the bargain bins for the best deals to feed our families.

In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost; what ever happened to the circle, the mighty sun and the human spirit? Natives of yesteryear believed in good ol' mother nature then along comes these religious zealots and poof there goes thousands of years of traditional history.

Natives believed in something we could experience; like the Great Sun Spirit. We traded something that we could actually feel and see for something 'up there'. Native people could witness the Great Sun Spirit grow the flowers of summer. The Sun Spirit was a real hands on kind of god.

The Circle fed the people for countless generations and we turned our backs on creation for some son of a god, who supposedly fed multitudes with a few fish and a loaf or two of bannock. Yeah, like that really happened!

And why in the name of the Great Spirit didn't this mega-Messiah ever pull off any of these so-called miracles here in North America?

Maybe he could've put a hoard of locusts down General Custer's pants or maybe part the sea of red tape. So far all he has ever done for Aboriginals across the globe is cultural devastation, child prisons and the naughty men in black.

If you get some comfort from your belief in a god then all the more power to you. If you draw strength from the word of the lord and if it has instructed you to do the right thing, then, Amen to you brother. All I'm trying to do here is shed light on the ancestral ways of the Native people. The rest of the World is finally taking a closer look at the ways of the circle. The way Natives showed their respect to the animal kingdom. We also acknowledged: plants, water, fire, family and even to the dirt under their feet.

In recent years monstrous forest fires have ravaged the forests. Only after tremendous monetary losses are the powers that be taking a closer look at the old ways.

Natives used to burn the dead grasses and under brush in the spring. The result was a carpet of lush green grass growing between trees so large that three adults couldn't reach their arms around them. Other benefits included: controllable fires, low insect infestations, larger more valuable trees and less erosion.

I've heard stories from some elders about salmon runs so massive it would take days for a single run to pass a given point on the river. Now an Indian needs a fishing licence, a big damn net and a boat full of luck just to catch sushi for two.

Native families and communities have also suffered over the loss of our traditions. Take a look around most reservations today; count how many single mothers there are. Count the number of homes that have been destroyed by firewater or the new scourge drugs. Times have changed. "Remember when?"

In my humble opinion, I think if everyone came together and took a serious look at the old ways of life. It's not too late to live in peace under the Great Sun Spirit - and live within the 'Circle'. If we use unity as a shield and education as an arrow we can all regain what was lost.

Today, Natives wear shoes, not moccasins. Ride in cars not on horses. We now learn about the old ways in modern classrooms.

Natives may no longer crap in the woods, but we should still give a sh*t about the environment.

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Bernie Bates is a writer and an artist
Please feel free to contact, B. H. Bates at: beeinthebonnet@shaw.ca