Beloved Relatives,
Lest we forget all our relatives of the Human Family who have suffered grave injustice…Today, December 29,2010, has been a great day of prayer, reflection, remembrance and heartfelt tears. 120 years ago on December 29, 2010 an estimated 500 members of the US 7th Calvary surrounded an estimated 350 defenceless members of the Oyate (Band) of Chief Spotted Elk(Big Foot) at Chanke Opi Wakpala (Wounded Knee Creek) and indiscriminately begin firing their weapons,including four Hotchkiss Guns, at our Lakota relatives children, women, men and elders. Before they were finished, as recounted to me by my Unchi Martina Sherwood, the US 7th Calvary massacred 313 children, women men and elders of our Human Family. For this act of butchery more Congressional Medals Of Honour were awarded to members of the US 7th Calvary for this mass extermination than any prior or following battle in US Military History.
Ninety years following the Wounded Knee Massacre,December 29, 1980, the Chanupa Wakan (Sacred Pipe) of Tasunka Witko, ( Crazy Horse) was ceremonially returned to the People. The following words of Tasunka Witko speaking from the depths of heart breaking, human suffering, pain, and despair, are not meant to evoke feelings of guilt or victimization. Rather they are shared that we might remember, during these Sacred Ceremonial Days of many Cultures and Spiritual Traditions, every where on Mother Earth, that the `Hurt of One is the Hurt and the Honour of One is the Honour of All`and, especially, that the Promised Day is now arising, long foretold by the Ancient of Days, when this fruitless strife, these ruinous wars, unneeded blood shed and discord will cease and the Most Great Peace will come! A Day that will not be followed by night!
“What treaty have the Sioux made with the white man that we have broken? Not one. What treaty have the white man ever made with us that they have kept? Not one. When I was
a boy the Sioux owned the world; the sun rose and set on their land;
they sent ten thousand men to battle. Where are the warriors today? Who
slew them? Where are our lands? Who owns them?….What law have I
broken? Is it wrong for me to love my own? Is it wicked for me because
my skin is red? Because I am a Sioux; because I was born where my father
lived; because I would die for my people and my country?”
With Warm and Loving Greetings,
Brother Phil