Ending Physical and Sexual Abuse in our Indigenous Communities
When our tribes and nations were still spiritually and socially strong, and fully understood the devastating impact of sexual and physical abuse, abusers of women and children were dealt with very severely, including castration, death, or banishment.
As an example, my great-great grandfather, Hinhan Wicasa, Owl Man, was told in a vision he received on Medicine Butte, that he would kill four men, justifiably, in his role as Head Chief and Leader of the Holy Man’s Society of the Magaska Ptesan Wicoti (White Swan People), Ihanktonwan Dakota.
Two of the men Hinhan Wicasa killed were husbands who abused their wives. One wife was Hinhan Wicasa’s sister and the other his daughter. Part of the fulfillment of this vision is described in Singing for a Spirit written by my uncle, Vine Deloria Jr.
Hinhan Wicasa was informed that his son-in-law had abused his daughter again, after his third warning not to this anymore. Without saying a word Hinhan Wicasa picked up his rifle, mounted his horse and rode to his son-in-laws teepee. Hinhan Wicasa walked inside and said to his son-in-law, “I warned you three times not to abuse my daughter and now I am going to kill you.” With that Hinhan Wicasa pulled the trigger of his rifle and dispatched his son-in-law to the spiritual world. A similar event occurred with a brother-in-law who repeatedly abused Hinhan Wicasa’s sister.
After both killings, as was his responsibility as a Hereditary Chief and Spiritual Leader, he went to a hill overlooking his camp circle. As was tribal protocol, Hinhan Wicasa waited there all night, unarmed, for any of the deceased relatives, who believed that he had killed their relatives unjustly, so they kill him in return if they chose.
On both occasions Hinhan Wicasa returned to the Tipi Circle at sunrise, with great sorrow, but thanksgiving to the Creator, for being able to protect his relatives, for a little longer, from the great spiritual sickness that was coming that was foretold in the sacred vision that was given to him as a young boy. He understood that he needed be strong, as the destined Spiritual Wintertime to come would almost overwhelm our Indigenous peoples, until the coming of the Fourth Generation.
One way or the other, for the sake of us, our beloved children and our future generations, sexual abuse in all its forms, needs to be faced, confronted, healed, forgiven, when possible, and completely eliminated from our Sacred Lands forever.
Brother Phil Lane Jr., Ihankatowan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations
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Comment
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Comment by Phil Lane Jr. on January 20, 2012 at 9:30am -
My heartfelt thanksgiving to everyone for sharing about this very challeging global issue! It has deeply impacted me in my life and I am sure the lives of many others! I will continue to pray, speak and ack on the issue when possible!
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Comment by Gillian Helena Cox-Woolven on January 20, 2012 at 4:06am -
Brother Phil, it took me some time to read this because I thought I knew every thing there was to know about abuse having suffered it as a child. Then during a marriage my two children where abused by my husband who was not there father.These sessions of abuse were sexual or violent depending on the child. Later I worked within a charity where I met a teenager who was dreading Christmas because her brother and brother-in-law both sexually abused her. Then later still, working in a women's I talked to a woman who was abused by her Grandfather. Living through these abuses takes the mind and heart into strange twisted places of low self esteem and fear that can take years to overcome. Some never do and become damaged forever.
it is often said here that sex abusers should be castrated or killed, but being a compassionate democracy,for so we would like to think of ourselves, we set about 'curing' the perpetrator. Sadly, this often lets abusers back into society to offend again and to evade capture some kill the only witness, the child.
I fully take into account that this subject is not a simple one and can not be covered in this short item. However you have identified one thing that is a world wide problem and that is the growth of a mindset that unleashes this damage on our women or creative energy and our children the future of all people. It is like disabling humanity to satisfy an obsessive sick hatred of the norm. It is now urgent that this horror be addressed for what it really is. Yet I am sensible to the fact that damaged people and stressed societies often bring forth such evil. However I see no easy cure or way of reducing this problem without zero-tolerance and the death penalty.
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Comment by Robert Bruce Toovey on January 18, 2012 at 10:31am
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What can I say, I to have first hand knowledge of this form of abuse. I watched my step father abuse my step mother horribly. Not just physically but mentally and spiritually. I think the later being so much more terible as you can't see the wounds, at least not then and now as she's an Old Woman, they are starting to show in the bitterness she feels towards all things. Pray for her healing as she is need of all our prayers.
Thanks to Creator as well for showing me one way to beat this disease, breaking the cycle of abuse. No I'm not anywhere near perfect but have relised what I was doing when it came to mind and changed it. Now I have the finest gift a man can wish for , a child who loves him and a grandson to teach. Meegwitch
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Comment by Firewoman on January 17, 2012 at 9:54pm -
Aho and wado beloved Dekshi...my sons and I chose banishment for our abuser...just recently....after our ex-abuser battered his girlfriend in June she came forward and helped us turn the light on so the monster cannot hide...she sent his warrant information and how dangerous he is to his Tribal Police, the health clinics and other relatives. ...I feel it is extremely important to be up front and open about abuse of any kind...we cannot heal if we do not tend our wounds...I learn about life from the beautiful physical world around me.....I have had to travel a very bumpy road to be able to talk about our past abuse simply because I didn't realize how much I didn't say when I was in that relationship until recent visions...please call me Dekshi...I have much more to talk with you about when you get a chance..i know how busy you are....:)
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Comment by White-Bear on January 17, 2012 at 1:44pm -
Aho Brother, good words, strong.
Thank you for this story.
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Comment by Gail Hickey on January 17, 2012 at 1:26pm -
Thank you so much for writing on this topic: it is very timely to issues occurring in Australia, in the Northern Territory where the Australian Government has imposed very harsh measures on the communities. Many questions have been raised as to the truth of the situation, & are discussed in the documentary available at the following site: http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/about-2/
I encourage you and your readers to explore & be aware of how other Indigenous communities are suffering under misguided, un-informed measures imposed upon them, rather than seeking solutions from the Elders and communities themselves.
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Comment by John Cox-Woolven (Mahtozi) on January 17, 2012 at 12:58pm -
While killing is no longer acceptable, neither is ANY form of sexual abuse. We have a number of solutions available to us now to resolve these problems. The best solution in the long term is for us (our generation and our children) to educate all future generations so that they do not abuse. Alongside this is educating in spiritual strength to foster forgiveness of the abusers, in order for the victim to go on without harbouring negative and harmful emotions toward their abuser and this perpetuating these crimes. In the short-term, we must help to remove the stigma of victims so that they are not afraid to speak out and bring these crimes into the light of scrutiny. A useful discussion you have started here Phil, thank you.
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