Meditation of the Day
"A good heart and a good mind - those are what you need to be a chief."
--Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA
The combination of heart and mind is very powerful. The Medicine Wheel teaches that two worlds exist - the seen and the unseen. The seen world is the physical and the unseen is the spiritual world. Both of the worlds are necessary to discover true reality. The seen world is easiest seen by the male side. The unseen is easiest seen by the female side. The heart is the unseen and the mind is the seen. Blessed is the leader or person who has developed the heart and the mind. Truly, the person is of tremendous value to the Creator and the people.

My Great Spirit, help me this day to develop both my female side and my male side. Let me know all the feelings of each, let me develop and grow my intuition and my mind. Let my development only serve You

National Native News ...
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Friday, July 27, 2007

The House Committee on Financial Services votes to restrict federal funds to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. On Thursday, lawmakers approved an amendment added to a Native American economic development and housing bill. The amendment restricts the tribe from accessing funds until it recognizes all Cherokee Freedmen and their descendants as citizens.

Senators are considering Dr. Charles Grim for a second term to manage the agency which provides health care to nearly two-million American Indians and Alaska Natives. On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on Dr. Grim's nomination to be Director of the Indian Health Service.

South Dakota is getting funds from the Justice Department to strengthen domestic abuse programs. Shelters on the state's reservations will benefit from the funding.

...Understanding our Present by Honoring Our Past

On this day in 1868, the United States and Mexico issued a joint resolution outlawing the enslavement of Navajo people. For more than 250 years, Navajos were captured and sold into slavery by Spanish and Mexican colonists.

Meditation of the Day
"We are nothing compared to His power, and we feel and know it."
--Black Hawk, SAUK
Inside of every man and woman is a place of knowing. In this place is the knowing that there is a Great One, the Great Mystery, the Holy One, the Great Spirit. We can deny this all we want but we know what we know. This place of knowing is at the very center of our being. It is gratifying to know that God cannot leave us. It is said we are spiritual beings trying to be human. With this power in our lives, we can accomplish much. We can do many good things for our people.

Meditation of the Day
"We are nothing compared to His power, and we feel and know it."
--Black Hawk, SAUK
Inside of every man and woman is a place of knowing. In this place is the knowing that there is a Great One, the Great Mystery, the Holy One, the Great Spirit. We can deny this all we want but we know what we know. This place of knowing is at the very center of our being. It is gratifying to know that God cannot leave us. It is said we are spiritual beings trying to be human. With this power in our lives, we can accomplish much. We can do many good things for our people.

Oh Great Spirit, I know of Your power. I love the days when I can feel Your presence. Let today be one of those days. Let me walk today in Your beauty.

Elder's Meditation of the Day
"When we want to talk to Him we burn tobacco and it takes our prayers all the way up to the Sky World."
--Louis Farmer, ONONDAGA
Our herbs and our medicines are all here for the purpose of serving. Offering tobacco as a gift to the Creator is proper use of our medicine. In this way, we are able to communicate from the physical world to the spiritual world. Sometimes we have a hard time coming up with the right words when we pray especially if we are really mixed up. The tobacco and the sage will take the intent to the spirit world. The meaning behind the words are more important the the words. The Creator always knows our intent. The tobacco helps us get to the Sky World.

Today, my Creator, I offer You this tobacco. I want to thank You for being in my life. I want to tell You how much I appreciate the honor of being here to serve You. Tell me this morning what I can do for You. You are the reason I live.