Yesterday, I did one of my Saturday morning photo drives. I have gotten pretty lax on those for several (lame) reasons. But I had marked on my calendar that this is the Cherokee Nation's National Holiday, which they celebrate with a huge homecoming. It takes place in Tahlequah, OK, the Nation's capital. It's a grand affair that includes huge intertribal pow-wows, artisan exhibits, games, speeches, music, and many more events over 3 days.
What I wanted to take pictures of was the parade. A friend of mine had gotten some gorgeous close-up shots a few years ago of dancers in full native celebratory regalia and that's the sole reason I drove for an hour on an end-of-August Saturday morning. I wanted that shot!
I found a fantastic parking spot quite by accident, two car-lengths away from the parade route. As I got out, I saw just the kind of dancer my friend had photographed going down the street, leading the procession. I thought the parade had just started and I was in luck! I decided to be cool and not rush through the crowd to catch up with him, but to park myself in this perfect open spot along the street to wait for another group of festive dancers.
This banner stung me. I've learned some about the Trail of Tears after living here for so many years, but seeing this statement in print reminded me that atrocities are never forgotten. Nor should they be. The story of the Removal is a shameful chapter in our government's history. Lies, broken treaties, greed, and maybe some naivete, all resulted in the deaths of thousands of human beings: men, women, elderly, babies. None of this was ever taught in my high school history classes. I found out that a minimal and skewed history is taught in local schools even to this day. Shame does indeed have a way of hiding truth.
I picked up a beautifully printed program at one of the museums. This year's theme is "Gadugi: Unity Through Generations." Gadugi means "everyone working together for the common good." This is what prompted me to write this blog. In the introduction of the program, Principal Chief Hoskin wrote: (emphasis mine)
"...we reflect on the strength of our ancestors who endured forced removal and built a new government in Indian Territory...[Gadugi] reminds us that our greatest strength lies in coming together to support one another across generations. ..It is how our ancestors survived. It is how our tribe and communities thrive today...Every Cherokee Nation citizen - from our elders who carry our histories to our youth who carry our hopes for the future - plays an important role in our Nation's continued success. Together, we weave a powerful legacy of cultural strength, service, and shared responsibility."
Lord in Heaven, if only the rest of the nation would embrace this perspective and take it to heart!
The float below is titled "Cherishing Generations."
As I've written before, (read here) my worst experience with generational prejudice has been within the church itself. But it's also in the workplace. We don't value each other. We could really use some of that wisdom of the native people before we lose the "united" in United States of America.
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