Ivan F. Star Comes Out
Reliving a dream that will not leave my mind
By Ivan F. Star Comes Out I had a thought-provoking yet unsettling dream about 25 years ago. I took it as a warning of things to come with the realization that there are more important issues we as a people ought to be concerned with. It is a dream that will not leave my consciousness. This is the third time I am sharing it with your readership hoping to influence the Oyate (People/Nation). As we should all know, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that America wrongfully took the Black Hills and adjacent lands in 1877. Consequently, in 1981, Congress offered to pay $17.1 million (value of the land) to the “Indians” involved with the 1868 Fort Laramie Peace Treaty. The “governing body” of the Oglala Sioux Tribe took a stand against this and established the “Black Hills are not for sale” model. Accepting this money will permanently terminate “Sioux” ownership of the Black Hills. Since the “Sioux” refused the money, it has been placed in an escrow account and as of 2011 has compounded to over $1 billion. I am not interested in the politics or the money involved with these recent events. It ought to be all water under the bridge now. My article is about today and our future. I am looking to our youth and the potential they hold in their hands. As a “nation,” we are in deep trouble and our modern-day leadership must absolutely “see” this from a Lakota perspective and begin working for the people. As an older person now, I can only watch and lament, just as my elders did. During the time of the tribal protest called “Camp Crazy Horse” in the He Sapa, a number of internal problems arose that prevented the OST from permanently occupying federal lands. For one, we were told by our elders to use only the can unpapi (pipe) and our spirituality and not to use weapons of violence during the protest. As it turned out, this elderly advice was not heeded as weapons and drugs made their appearance in the camp. Against the wishes of the OST, the camp was moved to a location within state jurisdiction. It was during this time that I had my dream. I had not been sleeping well since the disruption of order at the camp occurred. One early morning, I literally fell asleep from physical and emotional exhaustion. In my dream, I had returned to the older housing site in Oglala. I entered at the south entrance and walked throughout the entire complex. The atmosphere was enshrouded in semi-darkness. I felt a deep sense of sadness and a great loss of hope, courage, and confidence. Walking up and down the streets, I saw that the houses were all brightly lit inside. I could hear laughter, cursing and arguing, sounds indicative of violence, of breaking glass and splintering wood, and of things being thrown about. I could see some of the adult occupants’ actually drinking alcohol through the open windows. Outside, in the semi-darkness, I saw our children huddled together trying to keep warm. Some of the children were crying and looked lost, as if they had no place to go. I saw some sleeping under the concrete stoops and in abandoned cars. Some were walking about half-clothed and bare footed. I saw this throughout the entire complex. I returned to the south entrance and began walking away toward the west. As soon as I left the area, the sky cleared and the sun was shining. I heard the uplifting sound of many birds, especially the meadowlark, and the air smelled fresh and invigorating. My feeling of despair and hopelessness was replaced with great optimism. Then I came upon a large number of cars all facing one direction. I walked through them until I came upon a clearing. At the center was a willow initipi (purification lodge). As soon as I arrived there, as if on cue, people came out and began covering the lodge. Great care was taken in covering it heavy and thick as if preparing for a long winter, even using dirt to cover all around the lower edges. As they completed their work, someone approached me and handed me a blanket and was instructed to cover the lodge with it. I needed help and motioned to my late cousin, Al Fast Horse, to help me. We went to the east side of the lodge and each took a corner of the blanket and let the cool breeze unfurl it. Then we slowly walked toward the front of the lodge and laid the blanket down on the lodge. Then a young lady in a white buckskin dress and long black hair walked into the circle and stood in front of the lodge and spoke. She was holding a bundle in her arms. Her voice was beautiful. However, she began to weep as she spoke. She said there are certain things the people need but are now unable to reach. I remember self-government, land, spirituality, and a couple of others that I have forgotten. One that sticks to my mind is the family. Today I see an overabundance of single parent families. Ancient Lakota teachings tell of the family unit wherein Lakota children once received cultural and spiritual guidance from a culturally sound mother and father. Eventually, I realized that what I see today and in my dream originates largely from the loss of the Lakota nuclear family unit. Then the lady turned and entered the lodge and every person there followed her. When all the people entered, I walked up to the door and peered into it and saw that all were sleeping in neat circular rows inside. Returning to my place on the north side of the circle, I saw that the blanket was a camouflaged poncho liner (used during the war in Vietnam). I saw that the lodge did not have a door cover. Then looking past the fire pit towards the west, I saw a square fenced area. The rusted wires were broken and laying on the ground and the posts were leaning this way and that. Upon awakening I decided to bring the tribal resolution and the camp back to the reservation. Since that time, alcoholism has continually claimed many of our relative’s lives. Our children are continually exposed to every kind of abuse there is. Young adults are continually having babies without a solid means of support for them and are thus effectively contributing to their despair. I am sharing this again in the hope that someone will understand our situation enough to keep us from going under in the near future. We have the capability to turn our situation around on our own and our youth are our hope. As for me, I only wish to live in peace for the rest of my time here on earth. (Ivan F. Star Comes Out, POB 147, Oglala, S.D., (605) 867-2448,,mato_nasula2@outlook.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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