Incredible TED Talk-Aaron Huey’s effort to photograph poverty in the USA led him to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the heart breaking struggle of the Lakota people compelled him to refocus his life. Five years of work later, his haunting photos intertwine with a shocking history lesson in this bold, courageous talk! September 2010 in Denver, CO.
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I have studied and researched so much over the years and the pain is so real in my life, that it is difficult to listen to this kind of message. I know it is true, but I don't know how much heartache one can stand. I continue to address the residuals of historical trauma and the boarding school being a survivor and continue to use resources such as this as additional advocacy. I know I am posting this long after this was posted on 4W's. I hope you can understand.
The True History Through Our Eyes
Dear Relatives,
A good brother sent me a heartfelt message. With his permission, I am sharing his words and insights with you. He is an Elder and Veteran
that has given his love and dedicated service to the People for many
generations. Extend your hand of friendship when you have a moment.
With Warm and Loving Greetings,
Brother Phil
From Warren Petoskey to You.
My great grandmother was so busy trying to be a local socialite that she would never recognize her Lakotah blood. The
story I have heard is that a few people were saved by the Lakotah from a
wagon train that had been attacked by another people. My great
grandmother's relative married a Lakotah man and my great grandmother is
one of her descendants. Because it was not talked about I do not know
who my Lakotah relatives are. I will never forget the Lakotah Elder I
first told this story to and he put his hand on my shoulder and welcomed
me home.
We, as a people, continue to deal with a federal government and religious agencies who still support Manifest Destiny. Most are not
aware that the federal government intended to create two reservations in
the U.S. prior to the Civil War and instill conditions on those
reservations none of us would survive from. I have always thought the
Civil War occurred because the Creator was not going to allow us to be
exterminated. Black Elk and Frank Fools Crow continue to teach us what
we need to do.
It is useless to appeal to the federal courts or the decency we think the agents of the agency should represent. They are dishonest and
dishonourable. There is a Creator who manifested Himself to our people
in
the western Nevadan desert and instructed us as to what to do. He is
coming again and He is going to restore what has been taken. He cares of
us. All we have to do is turn to Him for our protection and the
provisions we need.
I will be 66 soon. I am also a citizen of the Waganakising Odawak Nation. I have done what the Elders told us to do. I have lived in the
western world and learned all that I can and bring what I have learned
back to our people. I will continue to do this until I walk on.
Warren Petosky
Chief Lane inspired me with this video, to write the following I have sent out to others who might not be aware of the historical facts. The words below are what I sent out. If you are so inclined, you may copy it and use it in the spirit Chief Lane offered it.
Hello Everyone,
Many of you have seen videos at a remarkable web site called www.ted.com which is at the forefront of bringing important issues to public awareness.
I have been given a link to this video of Aaron Huey’s photographic journal and lecture. It is very powerful and not for the feint of heart. Yet even those among us who are feint of heart may find that place within that holds ever strong in the face of all adversity. It is about 15 minutes long. And if ever anyone needed a Reader’s Digest version of this history, this is it.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/aaron_huey.html
Like the man who sent this to me, you, too can take action in your own way to help rectify this great wrong.
For those among us in the U.S. we can write to our elected representatives at the federal level by finding their on-line web forms at the following:
President Obama: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
U.S. Senators:/body>
Just now I was relaxing and watching BOOK TV on C-Span. Thomas Powers, the author who wrote "The Killing of Crazy Horse" is on, and I decided to multi-task and open my computer to check out emails......And I find this haunting and courageous TED talk on Chief Phil Lane, Jr.'s site.......
This message about the Lakota people must help us understand the terrible way the USA Government had treated our Native American brothers and sisters. Phil, thank you for bringing this important program by Aaron Huey to all. We must do something to begin the healing that must come about before we can correct the constant and repeated betrayals of our brothers and sisters!
Aaron Huey's presentation on the Lakota people and their repeated betrayal by the USA follows from their earlier fleeing from the Great Lake States and as a people who earlier welcomed First Nation refugees from across Turtle Island south, north and east in the previous 300 years from 1500 to 1800 AD.
The bankrupt colonial system both spiritually and economically has not the funds for even symbolic restitution. However all of us reconnecting to our universal indigenous heritage from every place around the world can understand not only what we have lost but what we are losing everyday from living at odds with each other and with nature. Indigene Community www.indigenecommunity.info 'Indigenous' from the Latin means 'generating from within' or 'self-generating' as opposed to 'exogenous' meaning 'other-generating'.
From one heart - a humble prayer.
From one voice - a noise in the crowd.
But hearts and voices joined together?
I think we can move mountains.
It is heartbreaking to know that in this age of dramatic technology, our elders and their relatives still sacrifice to stay on their lands and I have been there, it is all true, and disgraceful. This country should take care of its own before tellling other countries what to do,
Thank you for sharing this, I hope it will do some good.
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