tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912321843321447366.post8144801813044728669..comments2023-11-21T13:12:09.387-05:00Comments on Rattling the Bones: Shamanism and Cultural Integrity.Lisa F. Tardiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11417343793276016602noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912321843321447366.post-10921461234773406202010-07-12T21:02:04.649-04:002010-07-12T21:02:04.649-04:00Ally,
Most people are proud of their ancestry. I...Ally,<br /><br />Most people are proud of their ancestry. I've met Americans who are a mix of Irish, Scottish and French; Jewish, Polish and French; Dutch, African and English etc... They all speak highly of the mix of cultures in their families because ignoring one of them would mean forgetting their grand-mothers and great-grand-fathers etc.... <br /><br />For the First Nation People it's different. Rather than respecting the fact that I'm First Nation -- it boils down to "am I half, a quarter, one sixteenth or... of this culture." It boils down to whether or not I have a number or paper -- counted by the Government. It boils down to whether or not I'm tied to a reservation etc...<br /><br />I can understand why some people want to fight to keep their culture alive. I've seen it with the French in Quebec but the fact of the matter is -- when it comes to SHAMANISM or SPIRITUALITY -- it's not about culture it's about HUMANITY.<br /><br />At least that's the way I see it. In the end, we are one WHEEL with 4 colors as anchor; but they intermingle to become the colors of the rainbow. <br /><br />LISALisa F. Tardiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11417343793276016602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912321843321447366.post-63009379903631775292010-07-12T13:01:38.258-04:002010-07-12T13:01:38.258-04:00Lisa, because we hold a medicine wheel circle, I a...Lisa, because we hold a medicine wheel circle, I also hear a lot of comments like, "is what you teach here TRUE Shamanism"? "Are you a Shaman?" "Are you Native American, and if so, what tribe? If not, how can you have this kind of circle?" etc. I have walked this path with you for about 10 years now, and I realize that it doesn't matter if a person is "Native"; it matters more the experiences a person has and how they learn, heal and grow from those experiences that makes a path "authentic".Allyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08736445583769053450noreply@blogger.com