I'm certainly liking all this discussion and though there are many statements of substance I choose to join the fray and take issue with the following: "I stand with Wovoka." As there is an implication that in doing so the author has found a truth-when in point of fact neither Wovoka or his "prophecies" contained elements of that.
I am fully aware that for some that will be taken as heresy and blasphemy and so I offer the following post I had
previously made in another forum and invite any who disagree to do a little research.

To begin with I have to admit that I have always had a certain amount of ambivalence about
Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, and his prophecies.
There seems to be some confusion as to his actual birth date and it is alternately stated
as 1854 or 1856-I don't have an issue with either date and am willing to accept one or the
other.
Additionally some confusion seems to surround the identification of his father-some say
it was a self proclaimed Paiute prophet by the name of Tavibo while others say it was a
white rancher by the name of David Wilson who was a devout Presbyterian. Again, I have no
issue with either claim.
On the morning of January1,1889 Wovoka awoke from a feverish sleep induced by a bout with
scarlet fever and announced that he had been to Heaven ( Heaven, his word, and denotes a
Christian influence to me-the Jack Wilson connection?) and had talked with God.
In this conversation with God he stated that he was given the prophetic words he spoke
and the instructions for the Ghost Dance. From what accounts there are available this "prophecy"
appears to be little more than a refined version of Tavibo's that never gained any appreciable traction.
He proclaimed that if indigenous people would heed his words that the white invaders
would disappear and the great herds would return accompanied by all the deceased ancestors
and that the earth would belong once again to the people as some idyllic Utopian paradise.
Despite the fact that their were few IP's who may have converted to Christianity at that time
Wovoka further asserted that the white's had fallen into disfavor with their God for
rejecting his son Jesus. I find this a very odd statement as the basis for Christianity is
the acceptance of Jesus.
Wovoka not only vacillated back and forth claiming that Jesus had returned to earth and
that he hadn't, but at times even claimed he was Jesus.
The ritual of the Ghost Dance was a grueling one that required the dancer to do so for a
period of five days and four nights and then ritualistically bathe them self.
Little wonder that the promised benefits were so eagerly seized upon by a conquered and
oppressed people. It was during this period that a large part of the IP population had
first hand knowledge and experience of events that had led to their captivity and the
glaring daily reminders of it's effects.
Needless to say none of this was well received by the public or the military and
predictably the dance was outlawed and arrests and military intervention were the order of
the day.
On December 15,1890 a contingent of tribal police at Pine Ridge were dispatched with
orders to arrest Sitting Bull in an attempt to put an end to the dances. Even though,
while as a leader of his people he had given permission for the dances, he himself was not
a believer or an active participant.
A scuffle broke out among those seeking to thwart his arrest, gunfire was exchanged and
Sitting Bull was struck and killed by a bullet.
A mere two weeks later on the frozen landscape of Wounded Knee 290 men,women and children
were brutally slaughtered in what has become one of the most infamous genocidal acts in
the "Indian Wars". Days later their frozen bodies were dumped in mass graves while those
responsible were praised as heroes even received medals for their "valiant" efforts.
The emptiness of the prophecies and the claims made by Wovoka became apparent to the
people and the dancing ceased as they mourned their dead never to begin anew.
Wovoka drifted off into anonymity until his resurrection in the 1970's by a people
hungry again for a hero.
Some of the more telling points in this story for me has always been that even in the
midst of it's popularity Wovoka never once left the safety of the Wilson ranch to go among
the people and spread his word or give instructions on the dance, or to participate in
it-instead those wanting to hear and learn were required to make the trip to Nevada to see
him.
Years later in responding to a question concerning the wearing of the Ghost shirts that
he had proclaimed would protect the wearer from bullets and harm Wovoka stated that it was
a meant as a joke.
I have been to the Smithsonian and see actual Ghost shirts that are on display with the
bullet holes and blood that attest to what a cruel "joke" this was.
The measure of a prophet and his words are in the accuracy of them and their willingness
to lead, to accept martyrdom if necessary-like Ghandi for example.
And believing that I remain ambivalent about Wovoka and to a degree the Dalai Lama who I
saw speak in New York last year-thinking that if he would be a leader he needs to return
to Tibet and take it to the streets risking the same possible fate as his followers rather
than hold forth from some sanctuary.
Leadership is about just that leading-not oratory.
There are so many among us in our history who more deserving of adulation and
respect-leaders like Quanah Parker of the Comanche, Joseph of the Nez perce, Dull Knife of
the Cheyenne,Crazy Horse of the Lakota, the traditional Elders of the Hopi who I often
think of as the spiritual gatekeepers of the indigenous peoples and on and on.

So is Russell Means the only living being who is inerrant? I doubt that. Is he expected to be?
Unrealistic. Is he entitled to his opinions? Absolutely-and unlike others who only hold forth on the
net, or the Dalai Lama who vents from a sanctuary of safety, he has taken it to the streets
and has a few knots on his head to show for it. To me that translates to a certain currency if you
will and warrants some respect.
It would be nice if this discussion continued without any sense of competition in needing to out
"Indian" another or to be seen as the greater advocate for justice. Hopefully it will not segue into ego
related recountings of prophetic abilities etc. either or citing any mis-doctrines, if I may coin a phrase,
of New Age origin. This is not a New Age site-it is an indigenous one.
There is, or should be common ground enough for all. If the author of this post seeks only to defend
his people based on personal beliefs I applaud that as all should- that is the greater value-not crossing
every T and dotting every I. And I further believe none of us are above correction regardless of how
well intended we may be. Corrections should be based on indisputable fact with an attempt to fully
understand another's viewpoint and the road traveled by them.

Myself, & only speaking for myself, I've never connected Jesus to any Religion at all. Actually was able to contact a friend of mine last night I hadn't heard from for two months or so. He had fallen Moondoggy in love with a woman. Lasted a month. He was living & working at the Church she attends. He had attended that Church way earlier in his life but he join that Church.

Said part of the falling out was his politics & religion. I said to him, or you mean your complete lack of politics & religion. He said, Yeah. He's always concerned they are worshipping the Beast & the Image of the Beast in the Book of Revelation. I told him they might be doing that thing. Around their Easter time he stopped out as another friend was visiting from another State. He was telling the story of him talking to them about what it meant to worship the Beast & the Image of the Beast at some lunch or dinner they went to after their Church.

He said the next week the Sermon was on Trouble Makers in the Church. He thought the Sermon was directed at him. Told me last might his now former relationship had gotten in the way of him writing his book on the Book of Revelation, but he had discussed with some of the people at that Church he was writing a book on the Book of Revelation & they were interested in reading his writing & weren't being quite so quick to take the attitude towards him they had taken.

I had talked to him about the Muslim's prophecy of the Signs Dajal about the One Eye or the One of Eye of Evil that they according to their prophecies Jesus will overthrow. I don't know if in their prophecies they are talking about a Literal One Eye person or Symbol or even possibly both at some given time.

I had discussed with him the One Eye atop the Pyramid on the back of their dollar bill, that according to my readings of some people they stated it is a symbol of Devil (Spirit of Evil) worship? In the Muslim Prophecies they stated Jesus will throw a spear, again perhaps symbolic, that discredits the One Eye whether they mean the symbol of the One Eye or the Literal One Eye.


I don't know if what Wovoka meant that at a given time the world of that has been built upon this land will be done away at some given time by God through Jesus which is what the Book of Revelation states. In considering God/Creator when the word, "Soon" is used, how soon does Creator mean by soon?


He was talking about last night from their book God saying man had learned to make brick & man would destroy now destroy everything. I said, that is what I am talking about when I talk about the Beast of Civilization. That the only way for the increasein knowledge not to happen would have been to like like the Tribes used to live, or how the Kogi tried to their best to continue to live that was simply with the earth.

I've talked to him about stuff, they call, Issues, about his world, & he will say, that's what it says in the Bible, & he'll go looking through his book to show me where it talks about what I was talking about in discussion.

I told him several years ago the story of Jesus appearing to me in the sky when I was 10 with a book in his hand. Showed him a picture I drew even though I don't claim to be an artist. He said, Wow, when I told him the story & showed him the picture.


I don't go to their Churches. If they invite me to one of their style of Churches I say to them, 500 dollars for me to come to your Church. Baptism was merely a form of cleansing. Is it much different than doing a sweat in a sweat lodge?

Baptism was a form of spiritual awakening as in their book they talk about the Baptism of Water & the Baptism of Fire. Both earth symbols. He considers the Native Tribes of many lands were far more in tune with the Spirit than his own people. He considers his own world to be crazy.

He may not be far wrong on that?

There is a great need in people to feel as though they are anchored somehow and I think that has given rise to
many religions and spiritual beliefs. The criteria by which these are judged by the individual are in the degree
they provide this anchor.
I would say that they are greatly influenced by culture, geographic location and the timing in which they are
formulated.. Often in an attempt to define what we now know are commonplace mundane occurrences-like
an eclipse, or lightening. This is no way devalues them to the believer.
I believe that rooted in all religions there is something more, some event or events that renders an authenticity
if you will. I have always believe that Creator has and will reveal himself in a cultural manner that is understandable
to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. It is the humanizing, the anthropomorphic additions,
subtractions and distortions that cloud what validity the message has.
As to Patriarchal societies, one need look no further than Islam-it is the poster child for that. And if peace is
to be achieved in the Middle East it will require that the Palestinians man up and kick Hamas out.
Hamas is no great warrior class fighting for their people-they are cowards who hide behind women and children
and have their own personal agenda. No defender of the people commandeers the food and medical supplies for
themselves, trains children to be suicide bombers, or headquarters themselves in or near schools, hospitals or
civilian dense locations in an effort to protect themselves. No defender of the people ousts civilians from their own
homes to suit their purposes.
I have read the Koran and find while it has a degree of truth and beauty in it, it seems to be based on equal
parts, Christianity, Judaism and what was either a "revelation" or a carefully crafted addendum. It is a belief
system that is based on intolerance, absolute male dominance, and has a bloody history as well as present, much the
same as Christianity and others.
Any who believe that there is a some shared respect with the followers of Islam and us based on skin color
or, equal experience of abuse is sadly mistaken. Their agenda is an all Islamic world pure and simple-they want
that above all other and their entire history speaks to that. You're not a believer? Then you are an infidel, and
they are commanded by their book to convert or destroy infidels.That means us as well-they are no ally or
brother in arms.
Rightfully so we should deplore conditions in the Middle East, but in doing so it must be done with an unbiased eye
and a willingness to accord unity and outrage equally. We live in a world now populated by greed and personal
agenda that is always lacking and fails to feed an inner hunger which we evidently can't seem to understand.
It is just this sort of scenario that breeds an individual isolationism where one withdraws thinking that the problems
are too big-too insurmountable, and the best they can do is look out for themselves and their family. Into this
cauldron of fear and instability Televangelists, New Ager's and wannbe prophets (who seem to roam the earth now in
record number) seize the stage and milk it for all it is worth. And religion rears it's head and spews the mantras anew,
calling upon arcane ancient philosophies, predictions, and visions all roiled together with the tripe floating around now
in some obscure recipe to produce a new loaf of understanding-the real truth.
In the end we must all arrive at our own conclusions-and having done so look at the confusion that reigns.

...sorry,im a simple person.It seems to me life is very simple,religion only seems to complicate the matter,leaving itself open to individual reasoning....if you spend enough time outside on the land with the birds ,trees,ect.nature will show you the truth.You can see it,taste it,smell it,hear it.....by instinct,its already inside you..no need for any 'god'.You only need to learn the language to understand.You are only an animal like all the rest on this planet.....and the self proclaimed prophets?....i dont think any human has any ''divine powers"....it doesnt seem to me to be all that hard to see wear the future is taking us....its just an educated guess...prophets get it wrong alot too...so if i guess right,does that make me a prophet too?....

Indeed life is simple-it is the bag of stones we collect and drag around with us that complicates it.

I am inspired by what is written on this blog because of the participants search for the truth. I live to be inspired and think Russell Means is trying to do that, he will make mistakes, maybe take wrong turns, and there may be many people who will be waiting for him to do that. People with his courage give me hope that one day people will come together and realise what a huge waste of energy, time and resources fighting about land/oil/borders/religion etc is. What worries me about religion at the moment is that a few of them have a judgement day written in, and I think there are a few groups out there who would quite like to hasten that day on if they could. I from my own personal experience believe in a purpose to life. That experience only makes sense to me, no one else. I think a lot of people have their own experience outside of religion to draw strength from. Maybe it is easy to overthink about religious matters. I agree in simplicity. I also agree that prophecy is a dodgy area. First is the prophet true and how do you determine this, are they just attention seekers? What does the prophecy mean, how many different ways can it be interpreted, what timescale is attached. If some aspect of it comes true is it in the way people anticipate. Anyway my head hurts just thinking about it. I have read "Black Elk Speaks" as have many people around the world. I am sad that his great vision did not happen as he thought it would in his lifetime. He seemed to pass from this world feeling he was a failure somehow. Maybe the healing he prophecied was for this or some future lifetime. I hope so, maybe I am an optimistic fool but I prefer these visions to the end of the world ones.

I also have detached from religion many views that proof creation and a purpose to life. I also feel that any prophecy to be fully interpreted needs to account for the freedom of choice of people. The "IF" factor in the hopi prophecies accounts for this and it is what most people use to debunk it. They don't truely understand the way things work in this universe, I myself am far from claiming that. One thing I do know is not any one group or person will see all. That is the design of the creator to bring us together to understand and learn from each other. Some say that if we are to do that we loose our individuality. We can never truely loose our individuality because we are each a seperate spirit. It doesn't truely matter what group of people we belong to because we are all related. Do you seperate yourself from the animals because you are different from them? They are still our relatives, different but not seperate. I know that view point will bring reaction from some on here, that is fine because discussion about subjects helps us learn as I have learned much since I came here.

I say we should rid ourselves of both church and goverment, and live in brotherly love. Your heart knows what is truthful and right, but not everyone walks by the light of their hearts, but rather the ignorance of their minds, and fleshly desires. History has proved, (Austins History Of Christianity) is a good example of a book I just finished, which basically proved my point, that if it is not government trying to control the people, then its the church trying to do so. Matters not whose right or wrong, thats been the cause of bloodshed for centuries over centuries, long before the non-christians were persecuting the christians, its started out with one christian doctrine persecuting that of another christian doctrine, such as the Catholics and the protestants... The list is endless, meaning... Christians have been persecuted more so by other christians, than any non-believers! Love thy neighbor as thyself, and all over excuses matter not! Look at the mighty Sioux, they raised themselves to be one of the mightiest and most feared nations, having no doctors, no schools, no handouts, etc... We should live as they, a return to Mother Earth. Rid ourselves of all that is modern and "easy", for the white mans way of life serves only to weaken us,and make us worthless unto ourselves, always dependent on handouts of kindness, and charity. Curse this skin of mine, and the country I was born in, but all is not lost for me, at least I have my heart, which is far from white, but just as yours, seeking the same truth, that truth does not include the religious lies I've grown up believing, my father was a preacher, but if you ask me who God is, I know not, for his face have I never seen, only Do I know that he is not a loving god, but a judgmental god, much more could I say, but I will rest my pain, and seek peace within my own soul!

My friend I do believe you misunderstood me just a bit. I don't believe we should live AS Lakotah, with the earth yes. We should look into our spirits and find what it needs. Shakespere wrote "Look into thy heart and ask what it doth know". The truth speaks to all our spirits, we use our heads to understand it and there in lies alot of problems. "seek it with your heart don't think about it".

Jesus or my knowledge of Jesus is my freedom from man made religion. Jesus is my freedeom from man made politics, but while I live in this world in my temporary state of mortal flesh I will have to live under one form of man made political govt or the other. Just the things are upon the earth.

Jesus is my freedom from the thing called, history, as I am merely in a temporary state of mortal flesh. Jesus is my freedom from any thought that I have to solve the problems of this world or do away with anyone's man made religion, reform their religion, do away with anyone's man made Govt, or reform their man made Govts.

When people talk about the thing called, History, & want to blame or hate other people for the thing called, History, the question becomes who are the two people that brought you into this world, & didn't they have a clue about the thing called, History as well as a clue about their own personal history?

If your angry at this world blame your parents for bringing you into this world because they knew the thing called, History, before they brought you into this world as well as they knew their own personal, History, before they brought you into this world.

But if they hadn't brought you into this world you would have never gotten to see Creator's earth, Creator's mountain's, Creator's trees, ect.

If you had been born before 1492 then you would have lived at a time in this land before Caesar's taxes were coming this way, & Caesar's world was going to be built in this land, but you weren't, so now you have to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, too.

Dang, I wasn't born in this land before Caesar's world showed up. What will I ever do about these things outside of absolutely nothing.

Nothing but live my life, pay my bills, obey the law, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, taxes for his own vain glorious empire upon the earth, & render unto God what is God's, all praise & glory for his Creation.

There isn't anything in what Jesus taught that person has to worship Caesar or Casear's world, but one is to love both their friends, & their enemies. The Word is Love.

Jesus didn't say you weren't going to have enemies, but you were suppossed to love them, & not seek your own personal revenge on them in this world. If you love your enemies you forgive your enemies for any injustice they do to you. Once you forgive them you are free from the thing called, History.

There isn't a single thing in any of Jesus's teachings that you have to "Convert" to any man made religion. Jesus in instructing his disciples told them his Kingdom is not of the world of man, this world. But while they were in this world they would have to live under any Govt of the World of Man they were born into or conquered by as time progressed.

Jesus knew time was going to progress. Time continues to progress but time continues to progress in two ways as the time of this world continues to progress, but as the time of my own personal life grows closer to my own personal journey being completed through this world.

Jesus in teaching his disciples to pray instructed them to use these words, Forgive us "Our Tresspassess" as "We" forgive the tresspassess of others agaist us. He was instructing his disciples they were going to continue to tresspass against others that they needed to be forgiven for, & others were going to tresspass against them they would need to forgive.

It is a Spiritual Circle of Forgiveness. The Spiritual Circle of Forgiveness is of Love & Light. The Circle of Non-Forgiveness is the Spiritual Circle of Hatered & Darkness.

If your living in the Spiritual Circle of hatered & darkness I will know these things by the those things you speak with your mouth as what you speak with you mouth comes from your heart.

So things circle back around to did your parents know this thing called, History, had already occured but brought you into this world regardless? Did they know their own personal, History, but brought you into this world regardless?

Ok, here you are, now what?

Do you have the thing called, "Bills" to pay? So do I.

I told people at a Site that I enjoyed when Caesar Clinton was the leader of their Nation because he was such a good liar. Caesar Clinton was such a far better skilled liar than Caesar Bush or Caesar Bush either one.

I just forgave them all before they even opened their mouths & began lying because it is nothing more than the same old lies over & over again. I didn't even judge them for lying. I am happy & content to let Jesus judge them.

I am happy & content to let Jesus judge the human race.

Human beings keep thinking I have to join organized something or other & do something about all the problems when I don't have join organized anything of their world or do anything to solve the problems of their world.

I've found most people are fortunate to solve all their own personal problems.

What is reality in this world? The Golden Rule. Them with the gold make the rules.
Pretty much no matter where you go on this planet you will find them with the gold make the rules.

If I visit a Rez there are rules. There is already a leadership to the Rez of one sort or another. If someone invites me in their home on the Rez there are rules to their home. If you own a motorized vehilce there are rules to driving that vehicle. You may not like the rules, or agree with the rules, but there are rules.

So what is my freedom other than to keep a roof over my own head, & enjoy the rules of my home. What is my freedom other than not to involve myself in the nonsense fairy tale fantasies of other people.

The only person you can ever change is yourself. The only person you can ever make face reality is yourself even if the reality of this world is actually un-reality.

I have nothing against a Tribe or any tribe desiring their Independence but that is big big circle, & only if they let you. They have the gold so they make they rules.

Reality, what a concept.

These are my thoughts inspired from the words of others on this site. Where to find the leaders? People who should be leaders are generally not found in these positions. After all what would drive someone to want that sort of power. To speak for, direct or be responsible or speak in some cases millions of people. Just being responsible for oneself is hard enough. Many achieve leadership and power by ego, manipulation and money. How do you find leaders who do not strive to lead. Jesus did not strive to lead, his words caused people to follow in such a way he was overwhelmed by it. I take Jesus out of religion, organised religion after all was a big part of his downfall. To me he was a human being, a child of the source just as we all are. He was an evolved soul, and as a result, was in the world but not of it. His way is a way to true freedom. The freedom we have in developed countries is illusory. We are tied by materialism such as mortgages and jobs.There have been many other teachers throughout the world who have tried to guide us and give us the knowledge to achieve our own individual spiritual transformation. Physically we can evolve no more, the only forward is in a spiritual sense. Maybe we are waiting for a hundreth monkey effect where an upsurge in human consciousness will occur. A connection with the source of life which will allow each person who searches to know and understand the meaning behind our existance rather than just believe.

Predate?

Where do you get your dates from?

And I would like to know who threw the first rock?

A Palastinian or a Hebrew... and what was his or her name and what his or her mother's maiden name was... and what was his or her Mother's mother maiden or first name.

And while we are on this I would like to know... Who killed first... A conquistador or a native to South America.

Last question, who was first killed in the current Iraq war?

What is her name and where did she come from?

Looks like patriarchy has broken even the Hopi.

When do we say enough is enough... I am done killing my fellow human beings on account of the greed and brainwashing of patriarchy!

The last question blows me away and we better wake up to the reality of who this patriarchal system belongs too and who "in the the end" it is sucking in... and it seems, with the last question that I posted, nobody is safe! It is time to say enough is enough... don't you think?

"If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us — and ... forefathers — the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly?"

--Red Jacket--

Because it wasn't intended for those under a system of matiarchy (herstory). And for that matter... It wasn't intended for anyone other then patriarchal (hisstory). I wish I could ask Red Jacket how many of his people have been enslaved because the knowlege of the books of patriarchy can never be agreed upon. There is constant confrontation even for the truth of what or who Mystery is.

It's insane.

Just my two cents.

The essential thing to understand about Lori Piestewa is that she grew up in a poor, isolated community where dreams often swirl just out of reach like the fine red dust dancing across her homeland.

Under different circumstances, this shy, 23-year-old Army private from Tuba City, the one whose "cute" laugh everyone remembered, might not have had to leave one ancient desert to die in another half a world away.

But hers wasn't a perfect world. She married young and divorced fast. She loved her two kids, cooking chicken enchiladas, playing softball and listening to the Cranberries. She was a church-going Catholic, but she honored her Hopi heritage by attending religious dances at nearby Moenkopi Village. Most of all, she had aspirations.

At a critical point three weeks ago, Piestewa found herself in Iraq with the 507th Maintenance Company because the poverty, the lack of opportunity, the sheer boredom of life in Tuba City left her few other options when it came to feeding her ambitions and her children.

In a sense, it was every young Native American from the hills above the Moenkopi Plateau who stood in Piestewa's boots when she met an ambush and an early death outside the Iraqi town of Nasiriyah. Each year, dozens of young men and women just like Piestewa leave the Hopi and Navajo reservations, which converge in Tuba City, all searching for something they can't find at home.

Some hope to further their education, knowing they might not be able to put it to use if they return to their reservations where job shortages and unemployment are endemic. Others chase the dollars into the cities, hunting the array of jobs that eludes them on tribal lands.

Eventually, many are drawn back home by the forbidding but beautiful landscapes of the high desert and by the intangible lure of a more traditional and tranquil lifestyle on the reservation. To them, America's big cities are too frenetic. The washout rate among college-bound kids is 80 percent, said Bobby Robbins, a Navajo employment counselor. The reason: trouble adjusting to the hectic and impersonal life they find there.

Against that backdrop, an inordinate number of young Native Americans make the military their destination, if only short-term, because it offers instant money, free on-the-job training, decent benefits, a structured and patriotic environment and a line on the resume that says "veteran." It gives them a leg up if they decide to compete for prized government jobs back home on "the rez."

This ebb and flow of people is a generations-old pattern.

"The others who are left behind want to get off the rez because they see the successful ones going off the rez," explained Lola Riggs of Tuba City, a college graduate and mother of three.

Piestewa was determined not to be left behind. In her zeal to get ahead, this ordinary young woman was transformed by war into an international hero.


Youngest in family


Born in December 1980 to a Hopi father, Terry Piestewa, and a Hispanic mother, Priscilla "Percy" Baca Piestewa, Lori Ann was the youngest of four children, two boys and two girls. She spent part of her childhood in Winslow but grew up mostly in Tuba City. Though taught from an early age about her Hopi background - the family name literally means "pool of still water" - she was raised on the Navajo side of U.S. 160 in the town, which marks the boundary between the Navajo and Hopi reservations.

Piestewa's parents have lived for years in a small white home on Tuba City Unified School District property. Terry is a district maintenance man. Percy is a momlike figure to hundreds who've come through Tuba City's schools. First a dorm aide at the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school and later an administrative assistant at the local middle school, Percy took everyone under her wing, from students to new residents.

Yet details of Piestewa's childhood are sketchy. Her family and closest friends have avoided talking about her past. Some say it's because Hopi custom discourages talk of the dead. Others say her family simply isn't prepared to tackle such a painful subject. Nonetheless, a picture of a happy and stable childhood emerges from others who knew her.

Some remembered her as a "daddy's girl," playing Little League baseball with her team, the Indians, when she was 7 or 8. By eighth grade, she was making an impression as a determined volleyball player despite being shorter than 5 feet.

She was good enough to stand out, recalled teammate Vachel Kewenvoyouma, 25, of Prescott. Everyone called her "Little Lori," and she never missed practice.

"She never gave up, always tried harder," Kewenvoyouma said. "No matter how down we were in scores, she tried harder."

At Tuba City High School, Piestewa was pitcher and second baseman on the softball team where her steely determination again was on display.

Truth is, there isn't much else for energetic kids to do in Tuba City but play sports. Outdoor basketball courts dot the landscape. The 5,000-seat Warrior Pavilion was built at Tuba City High to meet basketball's huge popularity.

Another popular diversion is running, and there's plenty of vast open spaces for it. Otherwise, kids mainly wander the dusty streets of Tuba City on skateboards or bikes, listening to hip-hop and punk music. Sometimes, they congregate at the nearby Castle Rock, a commanding formation of twisted red rock spires rising from the desert floor outside town.

For a while, there was a theater in town, but it closed a year ago, leaving a small video store as the key outlet for popular entertainment. There's a Bashas' on the highway but nothing resembling a mall. Kids often drive 75 miles to Flagstaff on weekends to stroll Flagstaff Mall or Wal-Mart. Parks and recreation centers are a distant dream.

Families that can afford it have computers, but 44 percent of Tuba City families with kids live in poverty, so it's a luxury most can't afford.

"Where do they go?" asked Javier Brown, a teacher and counselor for more than 20 years in Tuba City schools. "It's been brought up with the tribe: What do we have for these kids?"

The consequences of boredom are a high juvenile crime rate and notable alcohol and substance abuse problems. Partying among teens is a constant public health threat, but as 16-year-old Tuba City High freshman Kile Alix said, "There's nothing else to do."


Influence of ROTC


Piestewa immersed herself in sports and her school's Junior ROTC program while doing reasonably well in academics. Acquaintances say it was ROTC that got Piestewa thinking seriously about the military. Harry Riggs III, 17, of Tuba City, said ROTC means more than just strenuous physical exercise and disciplined drilling.

"It's really a leadership program," said the Tuba City High junior, himself an ROTC cadet. "Kids come in shy and passive. . . . When they come out, they're not shy; they're leaders."

More than 60 students are enrolled, roughly half of them women. Although Riggs concedes that "ROTC is not the cool thing to do," he says it protects teens who are struggling to fill their time productively.

Take Venishaah Isaac of Tuba City. At 17, Isaac has a 2-year-old son and is pregnant. She dropped out of school and is trying to get her general equivalency diploma. Her boyfriend, Merle Lee, 20, was kicked out of school two months short of graduation and has supported himself off and on by playing in a local rock band.

Isaac and Lee know they've made mistakes. They're hoping to correct them. They've started going to a local Christian church; they're marrying in June; and their baby is due in October. They're still looking for a place to live.

"A lot of kids leave here because they want a taste of a different life," Isaac said. "I've wanted my whole life to leave here."

Piestewa was not immune to similar pitfalls. In her senior year, she became pregnant.

Piestewa had met Bill H. Whiterock, a Navajo and three-sport athlete at Tuba City High her sophomore year. He was a Warrior wrestler and she the team's manager. He was a year older.

They were truly in love, said Whiterock's brother, Donnie, 22.

They hung out at the local McDonald's and a restaurant nearby called Kate's Cafe. Every morning, they'd go to the school weight room to work out together. After school, they cruised the main street in a rickety maroon and silver GMC pickup, or drove to Flagstaff for a movie. One prom night, they drove to Flagstaff for Chinese food.

Whiterock graduated in May 1997 and enlisted in the Army. Shortly before he was to reported for basic training in October 1997, Piestewa became pregnant. On Oct.24, the couple were married by a Flagstaff justice of the peace.

Rena Whiterock, Bill's mother, was surprised by the nuptials, finding out the night before when she joined the Piestewas for dinner. The Whiterocks bought a wedding ring the next day at Flagstaff Mall. Within days, Piestewa tearfully sent Whiterock off to basic training at Fort Sill, Okla.

Piestewa had moved in with the Whiterocks before her marriage and considered herself family, cooking Mexican food for all and making plans for her baby. She always dressed sharply, Rena said, often wearing her ROTC uniform. Taking advanced courses, she completed her 20 credit-hours in the fall of 1997, allowing her to graduate from high school in December of that year.


Off to North Carolina


In February 1998, Whiterock finished basic training. His family and Piestewa went to Oklahoma for the ceremony, after which Piestewa and Whiterock moved to Fort Bragg, N.C. where he was assigned to an artillery unit. They lived in a trailer. The couple's son, Brandon Terry, was born in May 1998.

Their time in North Carolina is something of a mystery. What is clear is that marital problems developed. Whiterock's parents say Piestewa told her husband she, too, wanted to join the service, but Whiterock objected. Instead, Piestewa had another child, Carla Lynn, in 1999. She brought both children home briefly to be baptized at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Tuba City. Whiterock's parents say they weren't aware of any problems at the time.

"She never said anything to me about the military," Rena Whiterock said. Piestewa did mention wanting to go to college.

By October 2000, Whiterock was sick of the service. He mustered out, and they moved home. Only now, Whiterock moved in with his parents and she with hers. Whiterock's parents aren't sure why the marriage began to disintegrate.

"She took care of my son when they were in North Carolina," Rena said. "I appreciate that."

Nonetheless, the subject of divorce came up. Whiterock's parents say their son still loved his wife, and he balked. They both started dating others. Whiterock got a job as a welder, and like a lot of Navajo men, followed his job out of state to California. It was then that Piestewa began to look seriously at her own military option. As the former commander of her high school ROTC corps, it had never been far from her mind.

Piestewa still took her little ones to see her in-laws regularly, and they stayed on good terms. During one visit, Piestewa told her estranged husband's younger brother that she was ready to join the Army. Father Godden Menard of St. Jude's Catholic Church said she also spoke of wanting to travel.

It meant she had to leave her children. Though leaving kids behind is not a terribly unusual event on the reservation, where children frequently are raised by grandparents or extended family, Piestewa's grandfather, Manuel Baca, said it was a tough decision for his granddaughter.

On March 30, 2001, Piestewa reported for basic training at Fort Sill, just as Whiterock had. She then went to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va., before accepting her first duty assignment with the 507th Maintenance Company, a unit assigned to the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The unit, whose motto is "Just Fix It," is packed with mechanics and technicians trained to repair trucks and heavy equipment, including the unit's missile systems. Piestewa's job: keeping track via computer of supplies used by the 150-person detail.


A new friend


It was at Fort Bliss that she met Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who would become her fast friend and roommate in roughly February 2002, said Lynch's brother, Gregory Lynch of Palestine, W.V.

"Jessie talked about her all the time," Gregory said, adding that they would go to malls and movies together in their spare time.

In February, her divorce from Whiterock became final. Shortly before she was deployed to Iraq in March, she called Whiterock in Tuba City. He wasn't home, but Rena spoke to her.

"She said, 'Finally, we're going to leave.' I just told her to take care of herself," Rena said.

Piestewa gave a local TV interview before shipping out, saying prophetically, "It's very important knowing that my family is well taken care of."

On March 23, as the 507th was in a convoy headed north through the Iraqi desert, one of its vehicles broke down. Part of the unit stopped for quick repairs, then continued north. Although Pentagon officials are still investigating precisely what happened, this much is known: The convoy made a wrong turn and drove into the outskirts of Nasiriyah, where Iraqi troops lay in ambush. A brutal firefight took place.

At least 15 soldiers from the unit were known to be missing, including Piestewa and Lynch. All of Tuba City held vigil along with the Piestewa clan. Yellow ribbons hung from trees, cars, bushes and signposts. Piestewa's best friend, Trinity Honahni, put a yellow ribbon at each post in her family's fence, hoping for the best. Prayer services and Native American ceremonies abounded.

Nine days later, Lynch was rescued, buoying everyone's hopes for Piestewa.

But on April 4, the heavy news arrived that Piestewa's body was one of those found in a shallow grave near the hospital where Lynch had been found.

It is unclear whether she died in the firefight or was killed later. Rena Whiterock went to the Piestewa home. Percy, Lori's mother, held her hand tightly and said, "My daughter is safe now. Nobody is going to hurt her anymore."

Piestewa's ex-husband found out the hard way: from a news broadcast the next day in Page, where he works at the Salt River Project power plant.

"When I'm alone, when I'm driving down the road at the crack of dawn, when I see flags wave, when I see yellow ribbons, I think about Lori," said Bill's father, Henry Whiterock. "My son loved Lori."

Carla is too young to know what happened. But 4-year-old Brandon has figured out that his mother won't be back.

Before a recent memorial honoring Piestewa, Brandon told his father and grandmother, "My mom is an angel. I'll never see her again. She's an angel watching over you."

One must ask themselves who owns the patriarchal religions of the world and what have they done to the matriarchal Indian woman of even peaceful Hopi.

The story of Lori Piestewa to me is the both the continuing story of the Native Tribes & the continuing story of all 6 billion plus human beings upon the Planet. A story about choices & what are my options within whatever Nation I live in currently?

The traditional way of life for the Hopi is gone just as is the traditional life for any Tribe. Life becomes a series of options whether one is born on a Rez, not born on a Rez, born in a ghetto, not born in a ghetto, born in a big city, not born in a big city, ect.

If Flagstaff or much any other city, town, or burg different than where I live? Same Walmart's, same McDonalds, Pizza Hut, same type of Malls, ect in that most everything becames the same nowhere because of the sameness everywhere.

Walmart, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, ect will all follow the same pyramid structure based upon money. The story of the tribes in my reading that the Hopi are estimated to be a Tribe of some 35,000 years.

35,000 years.

Consider 35,000 years & yet how little time the world of manufactured reality has been in this land where all reality is not manufactured for people including, thought.
Manufactured thought of a commericialized world where even thought is manufactured for people.

Where no matter what one does they are tied into a world that is a globalist world that is often little more than a Vicious Circle. A World on such a scale where the question may be do Nations even exist or are there only Banks, & Corporations.

The U.S. & the U.K are technically Corporations. A fellow wrote an Article on the U.K. showing how the U.K. is technically a Corporation. Someone else pointed out that the U.S. technically became a Corporation sometime between the 1860's & 1930's. That the U.S. is actually not a Nation, but a Corporation.

Even with that knowledge does such knowledge change the options for anyone anywhere in regards to choices they personally have in life? Even with that knowledge does this change the patriarcal system. The patriarchal system that is not just the system of one Nation, but a globalist system. Perhaps a globalist system that desires to bring all Nations into that system one way or another with any manner of lies?

Divide & conquerer. We're the good guys & they are the bad guys. Our propaganda machine tells you over & over we are the good guys & they are the bad guys so they must be the bad guys because we have manufactured thought for you through the Corporations we control.

Or systematic brainswashing from birth. Until the world becomes a place of what are the options for anyone born on the Hopi Rez or any Rez? What are the options for anyone born in a ghetto. For anyone born anywhere?

Rap music in Tuba city. Rap music here. Children that skateboard in Tuba City. Children that skateboard here. Tv here. Tv there. Net here. Net there.
Sameness. Consuming in a consumer's world & being consumed. People from high to low in the pyramid system. People on the highest steps of the Pyramid & people on the lowest steps of the Pyramid.

What am I but a number & a file? What am I but like many other people just one step away from homelessness? If I am homeless then who really cares? What am I other than a Statistic? A mathematical statistic who's life span is predictable according to Insurance Company actuarial tables. At my age I know the predictablity of number of years I have left in this world.

I told the story that I lived off & on in my life in Nevada. They have Casino's there that offer table games based upon mathematical predictabilities. In mathematics a remote Tribe like the Kogi still live close what I call Complete Zero with the earth in the least destructive manner with the earth.

To me, personally when Jesus was talking about the Kingdom not being of the world of man, this world, & in the Book of Revelation he was saying this will become a world of destruction over the thing called, Time.

Yet if human beings lived like the Kogi at least tried to live this would be a world of the least destructive manner towards the earth & each other. Native prophecies also speak about what a destructive world this will become not only in this land, but globablly.

The prophecies of other peoples talk about the same things. So through the prophetic word there comes an understanding these things are going to happen not in in this land but in most other lands on a globalist scale.

I am not assigning any right or wrong to your life, nor casting any judgment upon anyone for their life. Fullblood, non fullblood, white, black, yellow, any other shades inbetween all of us are upon the same Planet. Everyone merely has options of the decisions they have to make about their own life no matter where they are born or at what time they are born.

People seek advice in life. Difficult to tell when one seeks advice in life whether it is good advice or bad advice because every decision that every human being makes will set up a chain reaction in Cause & Effect.

Even words will set up a chain reaction in Cause & Effect. Does the Patriarchal system own Jesus? Does anyone own Jesus? Does anyone own Creator?
Did Creator through his many Prophets of many people's in many lands merely say to them that here is gong to be a Chain Reaction in Cause & Effect until this world becomes a world of complete self destruction where human beings are not killing themselves off in many ways but destroying the earth, too.

A world where people think they are Free, but merely have options to make decisions about their lives within or under the rule of others over them upon the earth?

Join the military you know the risks. Not discounting the life of Lori or anyone at all who joins a military but are they dying for a noble cause or are they dying for the ambitions of the Banks & Corporations? What is the truth?

I've never noticed Russell to be Anti-Christian ... more like anti-monopoly and as he states, anti-patriarchy.

I am a Christian; I have been all my life and I've never found his comments to be hurtful in any way. Perhaps I listen carefully when he speaks.

Thank you, Russell, for stating the obvious. These are indeed changing times for us. And I truly hope for the Lakota as well.

.... the last shall become first and the first shall be last ...
I await the day.

In the paradox of the last become the first & the first will become the last is also the paradox of the high will be made low & the low will be made high. Or Spiritual Paradox's of the Kingdom Jesus taught that is not of the world or man, this world.

What is the world of man now except power over others through manipulative Govt, Religion, Business, & Education? Jesus was brought to the Third Temple to be judged & executed by most of the Religious Leaders of that day. Even though they were the Religious Leaders of that day with the books of the Torah they did not know him.

They did not know him nor did they receive him. He was rejected by this world. Jesus did not turn himself, nor Creator into a business, nor a religion. Only man of himself would turn Jesus & Creator back into a religion & business. They would set up their Business Temples/Churches & along with Politics they would rule over people, war with other people, not free them until they have done as things are now consumed the whole world & built their Beast of Civilization that is not yet growing at this time.

As their Beast of Civilization will just morph into one form of slavery or another no matter what worldly Govt they try to set up trying to proclaim they have the answers for the human dilema upon the earth.

Just as their Business Temples/Churches of Religion will proclaim they have the answers for the human delima when most things of reality now come down to do you have money to pay your bills? Until the whole system of buying & selling comes about as written bout in the Book of Revelation where everything is bought & sold upon the earth, but not written about in any good light at all.

For me it is only my own personal Spiritual Rejection of their world of their world not being it. Of their world just being one lie after another & one lie on top of another.

I agree with Russell about his anti christian bias.. for me.. the bible is a text that was part history and part literature ... translated by lizards such as Frances Bacon who was the illegitimate son of Eliz the first.. also a snake lizard .. not to mention Constantine who was most probably a lizard or snake practicing Satanism.. which is the major religion to keep the reptiles shapeshifting successfully.. ie. drinking the blood and flesh of human DNA.. however, in my many travels around this planet.. such as in Tahiti.. i learned that EA.. the songs of the Polynesians .. was the major motive.. of their old religious ceremonies.. many of these songs like the Lakota began with EA.. why do i mention this.. ? because i also learned while there that NASA had come to Tahiti and Moorea.. notice the EA.. and talked about the Annunaki who lived on this planet.. EA being the genesis scientist who was Sirian R..(from the star system SIRIUS) or WA KAN.. the KAN being for Kanus or Dog tribes..& ANU the king /keng of this solar system ORS..to pay homage and gold to the ORION snake queens.. hence the songs and ceremonies EA ( first son of ANU) and his lineage taught to the indigenous people all over the planet.. literally .. WA=sacred 7 Kanus kings.. my problem being i love the songs but realize WHO i am singing to..unfortunately there are problems with ALL religions on this planet.. which serve to basically control HU_manity.. ah ho Wiolawa

!

I happen to think this discussion should instead be about the clearly anti-Lakotah spirituality bias of many of these christian missionaries. Certainly neither Russell Means nor any Lakotah are going out of their way to convert christians to the lakol wicoh'an. The freedom to express one's chosen lifeways and means of relationship with the creator is to me fundimental, and it is long past time others respected and treated all indigenous peoples on Turtle Island as human beings.

dyfet-for the thousands of words on this post you have perhaps said the most using the least.
A classic example of this Christian bias against indigenous spirituality was penned by an
indigenous woman named Nanci Des Gerlaise, who is a Christian convert and made it her mission
to discredit everything the nations believe in. She has authored a book entitled Muddy Waters.