Dennis Banks Honors Russell Means

Apparently the Red Cloud High School and the Oglala High School or Pine Ridge High School has changed since I went to school. Ok, Harvey Nelson most likely the greatest teacher at Pine Ridge and or Oglala Community High School.  He was a United States History Teacher and was in my own words magnificent.  I enjoyed his class and wanted to get through my high school years so I did not mess around.  Of course I remember other teachers but Harvey was pretty cool and on a scale of 1-10 he was a ten.  So I was in my basketball career at Pine Ridge and I just started playing when I was in 9th grade.  I suppose I did not ever get beat up so I have always had a chip on my shoulder.  But I was sure of my skill and I had great confidence in my team.  We were playing Holy Rosary or Red Cloud High School. 
I chose this picture to place in my blog because these are the two greatest Indian in the 20th Century.  Of course my friend Russell Means passed away last year and this is the second honoring and Dennis Banks is speaking.  I thought it was pretty cool that I made a bet with my teachers and gave them eleven points against us.  We were playing against Red Cloud school and way back then we had Chadron or Chadrad broadcasting out games.  We were just under the point spread and I was able to get the ball and score to make sure I covered the points and I won a few dollars. 
So Dennis Banks and Russell Means are amazing men.  I wish I could be like them but it was a different era and these men were willing to put their lives on the line.  I spent some time with Russ and he helped me to understand Freedom and he was a true friend.  We spent time visiting and he gave me advice and some people would like to make something up but in the end, I can only think he was my friend.  Oh and the area this picture was taken was the place I scored and bet the Crusaders!!!

Rez Ramblings/Blunt Horn Productions

Tamara Hadridge (Matthews) I may have written about Taku Sku Sku before but it has helped me to understand the Lakota way.  As a Lakota man I truly understand what the United States has perpetuated against Native America and it was an all out war.  They tried to destroy the Lakota man and today we can see the battles continue because the Lakota man is almost gone from the Tiwahe or family on the Rez.  I want to thank the men who have tried to keep their families intact.  God knows what has happened to the Lakota Man.  That being said I have tried to understand the Sacred Mover in the Taku Sku Sku and have sought to make it a part of my life.  I asked my good friend Chris Eagle Hawk what it meant and he told me it is the spark inside me.  Well I truly understand the spark means the Creator has left his inprint in my Nagi or Spirit and I need to embrace the mover in my life.

Now how does this relate to my company Blunt Horn Productions LLC, well it is simple use the model our ancestors have sought for centuries.  Take a spark and watch it grow, you see many people want to define what it means to be Lakota but the Lakota is already there we need to embrace the Mover in our lives. 

I am utilizing the Lakota Philisophy of the Sacred Mover because I believe I need to be fully Lakota and as a Follower of Jesus I hope to become a complete human being. 

Red Skins or First Nations

My good friend Chris lives in Maryland and their state hosts the Washington Redskins a NFL team that has many people around the country who love them.  Personally I am a Denver Bronco fan and usually end the football season when they lose.  That being said I have an opinion about using American Indians for mascots and it is thought out for sure.  Years ago I went on the radio as a caller with Native American Calling a radio show that is heard throughout the world.  Now I have been a guest sharing about my expertise which is Native American Christianity but this day I called in to the show and they were talking about using American Indians as mascots.  Vern Bellecourt was the key guest and I was wrestling with the idea of people using pop causes to further themselves rather than serving the cause.  Now I truly understand the idea of using caricature of American Indians as wrong because they depict us with big noses.  Of course Clinger from MASH the series had a huge nose but not all Americans Indians have big noses and sound like John Wayne Indians. 

Back to the Native American Calling show, I called in and wanted  to weigh in on the conversation and this is my opinion and continues to guide me.  I was put through to the radio host and Vernon Bellecourt who was an activist for American Indians during the Civil Rights Movement.  Vernon was speaking about the use of American Indian Mascots and the detriment they were to our American Indian Life.  Within that year I had the oppurtunity to hear Vernon Speak about a Rapper, actually he we American Indian Rapper, he was full of White hate speach in his lyrics.  I was disturbed when I heard the rapper and now I had the oppurtunity to speak at Vernon.  I am Lakota and was ready to deal with the Ojibwe Bellecourts.  White Hate and now Vernon was battling against the use of Red Skins, Indians, Chiefs and so on.  I actually love the the idea of the Fighting Sioux because that is what Lakota do and they did it very well.  They destroyed the United States of America here in North America and that is why they are upset and will not return the Medal of Honors Medals. 

I told Vernon Bellecourt he needed to clean up his own back yard and I have fought for 17 and half years to do just that, make Lakota better.  I like the Red Skins because they believe they are powerful, and the Chiefs because they hope to win.  Oh and the Indians because they are beautiful and magnificent and it is an honor to be a Cleveland Indian.  We are a great and powerful people and some muiltibillion dollar sports teams want to say they believe we are the best in the world. 

My opinion is we are a great people and I like the Fighting Sioux and the Indian and The RED SKINS as well as the Chiefs but they will continue to lose because the Broncos are going to win it all next year. 

Rez Life=Culture of Death

The year 2013 will mark the 34th year I have lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation, I will turn 48 this year.  You can do the math, and I will continue with my position paper that I thought should be shared.  I have been living on the Rez since 1979 and it was a very dark place, full of death and despair.  The Civil Rights Movements were coming to an end with the African Americans, Mexicans Americans, and the American Indians all fighting to for the same liberties of White Americans.  

As I share my book, (Rez Ramblings) with others I find myself coming to a point and sharing, This country I have come to love is not the country I was born into...  First of all the country was segregated and in the south you could not drink from the same fountain or even marry outside of your race in some states.  1968 the Supreme Court ruled you could marry outside of your race, after all are we not the human race of different hues. 

Pine Ridge was started in 1889 and was a concentration camp so they could systematically destroy our people.  America set out with the idea they would full conquer all of the lands.  Poor health care, education, economic structures have been the plan of the United States of America.  They killed many families and the people of this country have their heads in the sands.  It really is sad because I share the message to the people who will listen, they cannot believe what took place. America has been involved in Human Rights Issues for Centuries as well as fight American Indians.  My reason for writing this blog today is to right the wrong.  I want people to understand what is taking place in 2013 and we are battling the conditions of a system that started out with the idea to kill Indians.

The Rez Life is a Culture of Death that was dreamed up by men who had very little compassion and understanding the Indigenous people of this land are a great people and were environment friendly and could teach the world a few things about extended family.  Today we have in our midst a dependency that creates hopelessness.  People want things for free and are not walking in balance.  Our youth are giving up hope because they no longer dream dreams and seek visions for their lives.  People seem to be waiting for others to do something for them because that is what is expected from a people who were not allowed to live free.  The government set out to destroy the food source of the Great Plains and succeeded as they brought the American Bison to point of extinction. 

Our young people are fighting for their lives living in a place of hopelessness and when someone seeks to help them, they are criticized or ridiculed for their wanting to empower the youth.  I say support all that are seeking to bring hope across the Reservation.  We are a great people on the Pine Ridge, and we are the people of Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, and Black Elk who once led their people are were successful.  We need to understand the spiritual darkness of hopelessness and deal with these issues from a balanced viewpoint.  We are a people of great fortitude and strength.

I have completed a book about the Pine Ridge Reservation and it is a great introduction to our people and how we live our lives.  Jackie Siers Rowland a council woman on the Oglala Sioux Tribe just purchased a book and I hope you will also help me live my dream of developing my books and dreams.  https://www.createspace.com/3941671

New Year The Quest for Truth

Some believe I am following the Evil One, some believe I am out of my mind, but I realize I need to find myself.  Star Date 2013 is my year to find meaning and understanding.  I spent the last 17 years trying to explain to the Oglala Lakota People who God is and why it is a great place to be, in His hands.  You see, I have seen the pain of the Oglala and other American Indians.  I was told to finish my book, "Rez Ramblings: Living on the Pine Ridge as a 21st Century Injun".  My book is complete and published.  Now I am on a quest to sell the book and find healing.  I have lived on the Pine Ridge since 1979 and there were good times and bad times.  I had the honor of seeing my beautiful daughters come into the world and then I had a privalage of being my son's father.  We lost our eldest daughter and that tore my heart.  That in addition to many other things brought me to a place of unhealth.  My body took a pounding and then I started to drink wine.  Not a good choice.  Now, I am seeking to bring my health back under control.  I have been to the depths of the emotional ocean and it was dark.  I found myself going under. 
I am seeking to follow God with my heart, soul, and mind.  Seeking to follow his canku or road because mine was difficult.  I am looking to become the man God intended; so this is the beginning of my healing blogging.  If you have read this far, I hope you will also read my book.  I have taken the steps to begin my healing, and I hope to help others find their way. 

Rez Ramblings Book  https://www.createspace.com/3941671

Bronco Burrito VS Patriot Brady Head to Head AFC Super Burrito Bowl

https://www.createspace.com/3941671
I have been working on selling the book Rez Ramblings and seeking to get the message out there and I thought I should Blog about the Book.  I have been in contact with some German friends and developing a network of people I believe can help me to get the Book out there in the world.  I have sold a couple of the books in Great Britain or England.  I have sought to start working on the Facebook and now here on the blog.

On Friday December 14, 2012 7am to 9am or until we sell out, we will have a throwdown at the Higher Ground Coffee House.  It is a breakfast burrito throw down with Arlo Iron Cloud.  Apparently, Arlo believes he has a better burrito than my Bronco Burrito which is a super burrito.  He has no idea about the challenge and how he will become famous or maybe he will beat me.  I traveled around the Midwest looking for a breakfast burrito because it important to start your day with breakfast.  I was in Rapid City and at the Local Christian Coffee House and I saw they had a breakfast burrito and I ordered the 5 dollar huge burrito.  It was very big, but it was also bland and I actually was upset I bought a five dollar burrito and had to throw it away.  There is nothing worse than an nasty old burrito to start your day.  Of course I am a guy who wants to have spice in my life.  I am sure people enjoy bland food but I have grown to love the herbs and spices God has given us.  The great spice race in the last part of the 15 Century brought changes to the world.  Europeans grew five Inches because they could now hold down their proteins.  The Chinese actually stayed the same height. 

Back to the Burrito throw down, I think it will be a great way to raise some awareness and some positive atmosphere on the Rez.  People can try to make a burrito but until they actually sell their burrito successfully and make some Money, I dont know if you can really enter into a contest.  But I am willing to put the Bronco Manning against the Patriot Brady and see how it goes over. 

Book update, the book is selling and has been purchased in Australia and England respectfully.  I have the book in four stores, Sioux Nation Shopping Center, Red Cloud School's Heretage Center, Oglala Lakota College Bookstore, and Prairie Edge Trading Post in Rapid City.  I am looking foward to seeing how the sales go as we move toward summer.  I am even impressed with the sales on Amazon and it is going to be great to see as people are reading the book as this blog is written. 

I had my new German friend ask me to write about the blog and tell people what it is.  I like to believe the Blog is the true stories of the 21st Century American Indian.  I take everyday stories and share from the heart, we have many people who romantisize the American Indian but it is important to know we are human and we struggle like the rest of the Humans.  One Race One Heart. 

Land of the Red Man Oklahoma

I am visiting my daughter who chose to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and I have to say it is a nice little city.  Yes there are people here who are hurting just as any other city in America.  But it is a nice little city with lots of people and traffic.  That is the difficult thing because you see so many people and you wonder how they are getting along.  Last night I had a oppurtunity to watch a 7th grade boys basketball game and it was fun to watch.  As I was entering the gym I thought I would pull out the elder card.  I just heard Russell Means say our population is hit with a 43.5 year life expectancy rate and that is severely low.  So me being 47 makes me an elder.  Suffice to say I did not get the elder discount.  So I told the lady taking money, what about an Indian Discount and showed her my card.  She quickly responded with, You need to hold on to that you can get your kids free college.  Well my children are older now and they will not have to use my Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood to get into College.  Besides they have their own CDIB card.  Oh to be in the Land of the Red Man, Oklahoma is where you do not know exacly who is Indian. 

I finished the conversation with, you should buy my book and she reminded me she was a teacher and would have to wait for it to come to the library.   I am always trying to sell my book because I believe it is a book of stories that must be told.  Rez Ramblings >>>https://www.createspace.com/3941671