"My grandmother was one of a few female spiritual leaders. She used curatives and healed; this gentle woman had spiritual power and skills.
But she didn't teach the things she knew about ceremonies and medicines thoroughly enough so that someone could take her place. Perhaps, she thought we were too assimilated at that point, too far into mainstream society. Or maybe she thought that one day she would find her replacement.
She died, however, before she could pass on all of her knowledge about medicines.
Usually, men are the ones who are given the knowledge about and responsibility for Indian ceremonies and ordinarily have no difficulty finding mentors. When a young man shows interest in Indian culture, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, fathers, uncles and brothers come forward to help him.
What does he need Sacred Pipe, eagle feathers, eagle whistle, outfits and so on? They proudly will tend to him.
But generally, that's not true for women. They may be dressed to dance or for various ceremonies, but rarely are they prepared for spiritual leadership roles.
I say this about my own tribe and group. I've heard from many tribes that there are similar problems for women but don't know this to be true of all tribes."
Get the Story:Dorreen Yellow Bird: How do you save a culture? (The Grand Forks Herald 5/5)
pwpwd More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
Yellow Bird: Tighten gun control laws in North Dakota (5/3)
Yellow Bird: Easy ways at becoming more green (4/30)
Yellow Bird: School shootings just don't 'happen' (4/18)
Yellow Bird: The Red River Valley Flood of 1997 (4/9)
Yellow Bird: Women of color share their views (4/5)
Yellow Bird: UND powwow needs your support (4/2)
Yellow Bird: UTTC begs for funding year after year (3/26)
Yellow Bird: Even more about colon cancer screening (3/21)
Yellow Bird: Remembering my aunt/mother, Pearl (3/19)
Yellow Bird: Colon cancer screening essential (3/14)
Yellow Bird: Return land to North Dakota tribe (3/12)
Yellow Bird: Native Media Center at UND prospers (3/7)
Yellow Bird: Woody Keeble a true American hero (3/5)
Yellow Bird: Cell phone addiction affects driving (2/28)
Yellow Bird: UND has many reasons to be proud (2/26)
Yellow Bird: Signs of spring already in the air (2/21)
Yellow Bird: US automakers ignore innovation (2/19)
Yellow Bird: Tribes should snuff out smoking too (2/14)
Yellow Bird: On being Black or Indian 'enough' (2/9)
Yellow Bird: Braving the cold North Dakota winter (2/5)
Yellow Bird: Chokecherry for North Dakota state fruit (1/31)
Yellow Bird: Name-calling and bullying in schools (1/24)
Yellow Bird: Climate change impossible to ignore (1/17)
Yellow Bird: Tribes can help Indian doctors program (1/15)
Yellow Bird: Tribes have much to offer North Dakota (1/11)
Yellow Bird: Catching a ride on the Dakota wind (1/2)
Yellow Bird: Winter solstice one of Creator's many gifts (12/20)
Yellow Bird: Tribes concerned about DNA studies (12/15)
Yellow Bird: Cookbook helped Mom feed family of 15 (12/11)
Yellow Bird: Funeral for Nathan Joel Goodiron (12/6)
Yellow Bird: Time to drop 'Fighting Sioux' (11/29)
Yellow Bird: Culture clash over eagle shooting (11/27)
Yellow Bird: Hunting still has place in our society (11/15)
Yellow Bird: Indian women in leadership roles (11/13)
Yellow Bird: Why older Indian women chicks rule (11/9)
Yellow Bird: Forts and Indian Country history (11/6)
Yellow Bird: Metis building strong community (11/1)
Yellow Bird: Halloween not only for the young (10/30)
Yellow Bird: Respect other people's cultures (10/26)
Yellow Bird: Tribes need freedom of the press (10/18)
Yellow Bird: Native journalists have power to change (10/11)
Yellow Bird: No community immune from violence (10/4)
Yellow Bird: North Dakota fights Indian people (10/2)
Yellow Bird: Tribal leaders need to put people first (9/28)
Yellow Bird: Tribes need more checks and balances (9/25)
Yellow Bird: Global warming may be changing planet (9/20)
Yellow Bird: Some tribes corrupted by nepotism (9/18)
Yellow Bird: Canning brings back good memories (9/14)
Yellow Bird: Grant will help suicide prevention (9/11)
Yellow Bird: Scientists didn't check horoscopes (9/5)
Yellow Bird: Tribe in state of financial crisis (8/29)
Yellow Bird: Digging for dinosaurs in backyard (8/28)
Yellow Bird: Lewis and Clark event a success (8/22)
Yellow Bird: The Creator's gift for grandmothers (8/15)
Yellow Bird: Why are Jewish people so hated? (8/14)
Yellow Bird: Learning the value of native plants (8/7)
Yellow Bird: Buffalo still important on prairie (8/1)
Yellow Bird: It's harvest time for wild berries (7/31)
Yellow Bird: Giving thanks for the Sundance (7/25)
Yellow Bird: Tribes have taken their place in nation (07/04)
Yellow Bird: Indians the poster children of stereotyping (7/3)
Yellow Bird: Sacred Bundles brought to people again (6/26)
Yellow Bird: Meth the new threat in Indian Country (6/20)
Yellow Bird: Not much honor and respect at UND (6/19)
Yellow Bird: A rainbow of colors in political system (6/13)
Yellow Bird: Laughter the best Native medicine (6/12)
Yellow Bird: Oprah missed opportunity at Navajo (6/6)
Yellow Bird: More women needed in public office (6/5)
Yellow Bird: Memorial Day on the reservation (5/29)
Yellow Bird: Tribes mark return of Lewis and Clark (5/23)
Yellow Bird: Death is our greatest unknown (5/16)
Yellow Bird: Free press needed on the reservation (5/15)
Yellow Bird: All creatures deserve respect, dignity (5/9)
Yellow Bird: Gazing upward and looking for the birds (5/8)
Yellow Bird: School offers students a community (5/1)
Yellow Bird: Lakota horse a living link to Sitting Bull (4/26)
Yellow Bird: No going back to life without cell phones (4/24)
Yellow Bird: Drive Inn a community institution (4/19)
Yellow Bird: The rising price of ... ethanol? (4/17)
Yellow Bird: Admire, but don't, pet the wild geese (4/11)
Yellow Bird: Commitment to multiculturalism lacking (4/10)
Yellow Bird: An extraordinary day for bird-watchers (4/4)
Yellow Bird: Free press needed in Indian Country (3/28)
Yellow Bird: Weighing in on stomach stapling (3/27)
Yellow Bird: Farewell to Pearl, my aunt and mother (3/21)
Yellow Bird: Importance of eagles in culture (03/06)
Yellow Bird: It's time for tribes to go smoke-free (2/28)
Yellow Bird: Non-Indian gaming makes headlines (2/27)
Yellow Bird: Plant education began on reservation (2/21)
Yellow Bird: The Westminster Rez Dogs Show (2/20)
Yellow Bird: Names and nicknames important (2/14)
Yellow Bird: Film to explore tribe's young people (2/13)
Yellow Bird: My first time behind the wheel (2/6)
Yellow Bird: Elders still deserve to be respected (1/31)
Yellow Bird: The suicides at Standing Rock -- Why? (1/30)
Yellow Bird: Tribal gaming is not Vegas gaming (1/23)
Yellow Bird: Winter is the time for storytelling (1/17)
Yellow Bird: Forgot your PIN? It's not old age (1/16)
Yellow Bird: Close encounters with the wildlife kind (1/10)
Yellow Bird: Graduate's long path to success (1/9)
Yellow Bird: 2005 was a year of haunts, tragedy (1/4)
