Dear readers and listeners,
I
could write a book. Actually, at least three of my books have been
influenced by a Lakota friend, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, and his perspectives
coming from the Lakota Nation, but i'll keep it short.
Virtually
every day when i'm out and about talking with people casually, or on
the phone, and some topic arises, i'll mention something Tiokasin has
said. For example, the Lakota language has no words for "domination" or
"exclusion" or "I/me". Those are three of the main culprits of all the
world's problems and the disrespect and abuse of Mother Earth and all
manner of species including fellow human beings
("species" a sciencey word for what Native Peoples refer to as
"relations", which, to my interpretation is how a "rock" can be like
your grandfather, a "tree" your uncle/aunt, and so forth).
About
15 years ago i met Tiokasin at an event showing Native films and with
live talks and musical performances. I asked him if he knew of any
Native poets because at the time i was hosting a poetry reading at
Locust Valley Library and i thought that would be cool. He raised his
hand in the air. Sometime after that i picked him up at the Locust
Valley train station and when he got in the car, he said to the effect
of, "Poetry, huh? I write prosetry." Typically i would have told
someone, well it's a poetry event, but having heard him speak once
before at the Native event, i didn't care b/c i simply wanted to hear
more about the Lakota perspective, because what little i had already
heard i hadn't heard before and it was truly mind-bending. He read from
his essay in the anthology Soul Companions:
"The
way we, the Lakota people, speak about Spirit is not a rational process
that can be measured. The Indigenous thinking process is relational and
egalitarian, where everything is alive and everything is energy. ...
When we hear a bird or animal speak, we try to mimic them because
they're speaking the language of the stars."
If that's not what in English is called "poetry". . . i don't know what is.
And
that's just one example of how Tiokasin, and many other Natives and
non-Natives, think outside the box of labels and categories and rules, and try
to live outside that box but it's darn near impossible nowadays, for
example, try not paying the every two years car registration -- for a
car you already paid for or are monthly paying for -- just so you can
have a new sticker to prove it's kosher, it's still you driving the same
car. But in this case Tiokasin is having to pay steep medical bills and
other living expenses.
As the gofundme page
explains: "Last spring of 2024, Tiokasin inhaled Roundup (Glyphosate)
during waking hours while the fans were running. He unknowingly inhaled
this toxic spray which led him to have an acute lung episode, leaving
him debilitated. This episode happened just one or two days after the
spraying and activated some underlying comorbid conditions which have
brought his life to a halt. Over the last months Tiokasin has been
unable to breathe with ease, he struggles to stand and to walk, even to
do basic things like button his shirt and put on socks. He is unable to
work– except for when he is invited to do online talks and has the
energy to do so. This barely pays for his rent. In addition to Tiokasin
being unable to work, he is in need of several medical treatments which
Medicare does not cover. At the moment he is receiving mediocre care
from a Medicare doctor and cannot afford to get the treatments or afford
the medicine, food, and housing that he needs to heal during this
time."
SO..... to read more about his situation and if you have the ability to kick-in some money, please look at the gofundme page:
"Communal Medical Fund for Tiokasin Ghosthorse"
https://www.gofundme.com/f/communal-medical-fund-for-tiokasin-ghosthorse
Also,
he's the host, founder and executive producer of: ”First Voices Radio,”
now in its 32nd year on the air, an internationally syndicated one-hour
radio program originating from and heard weekly on Radio Kingston WKNY
1490 AM and 107.9 FM in Kingston, New York. "First Voices Radio"
explores global topics and issues of critical importance to the
preservation and protection of Mother Earth presented in the voices and
from the perspective of the original peoples of the world."
And btw he's a world class, master flute player...
thanks for reading this and be well,
~ mankh
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| Water coming off my roof on 6-30-17 - big thunder booms too |
Recognizing, Honoring, and Respecting Water
I splash Water on my face and cool the fire in my eyes in the morning. I sprinkle drops over my head and body in recognition and gratitude for giving life to all in the past, present, and the potential possibilities; if only we as forgetful humans would remember to be givers-of-care rather than takers-of-care.
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