Stories and Poems for Northeastern Native Tribal Families: From A Circle Tied to Mother Earth

Who We Are
MARIJUANA CAN BE HARMFUL
TO YOUTH
To be a “reviver” is to give new health, strength,
and spirit — to bring new life. The vivid love of
the environment shown here is respectful of the
entire natural world.
This respect can extend to plants that have
special properties like marijuana. While part of
nature, this plant can hurt youth when used for
non-medical reasons. When it is used at a young
age it can get in the way of being “all that one
can be” in the community.
WHO WE ARE
1:
We are the Wampum Belt —
Open at both Ends —
Still
Weaving Our Story.
We are the Sacred Drum.
That — Resilient Beat —
Pulsating
Within Mother Earth.
We are the 7th Fire —
Ignited by our past — Carrying the
Light
For our Future.
We are the Cedar Basket,
Sewn from the Roots of the Universe —
Forever
Expanding Our Spirit.
2:
We are the Survivors
& Revivers.
The Relations of the Forest —
& Educated by the Sun.
We Rise — like the sturdy Green Cornfields —
That Kiss the Cranberry Dawn.
We are the Deep Red Ocean —
Flowing within the Arteries —
Of Turtle Island.
3:
And — Yes.
We Swam through the Blood Soaked Tears —
Traversed the Wave over 500 Years.
The Unmarked Graves have Scarred our Dreams —
Long Walks & Trails — across the Icy Streams.
...
The tribe of Human Beings — is Who We Are —
Because all of us, Revolve around the Same Star.
A Ceremony of Condolence — Is how We All
Must Begin —
This is life’s Round Dance — a Circle with no End.
Larry Spotted Crow Mann © March 2014 to be featured
in the upcoming Drumming & Dreaming: Book of Nipmuc
Legends (Nipmuc)
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