“Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.” —Black Elk, Oglala Sioux (194.) 

I sit and write tonight, beneath a cold January near-full moon because of those who lived, toiled, loved, and died before me---people who celebrated mountains andmist, gleaming grasslands and steaming wetlands; inhabitants of canyons and mesas that witnessed blazing sunsets and shadowy mysteries. This land’s first people shared skies and storms, lakes, seashores, and the tide-pool cisterns of Earth’s cleansing downpours. Spanning centuries and geography--- from across the plains to our oceans--- America’s first people have lived a history both bitter and sweet. These thoughts and images make me tremble as I consider what “reconnecting the circle” means today. A circle can be large or as small, as profound or mundane as we can imagine, and the importance of reconnecting also, can be thought about on different levels.There is the idea of increasing magnitude, of repopulation and growth…..The good news is that there are more people identifying and embracing their Native American ancestry and culture than ever before.

According to the most recent census data, population figures for Native Americans parallel Colonial, pre-contact times. Though recent data from the census  shows a difference in the way Native American people were recognized in 1990 to 2000 (multiple versus single race categories are now used) the overwhelming trend is growth and recognition (American Indian Population Census.gov.) The circle grows with people who now take pride in their American Indian ancestry; as it is ever-expanding, and that is undeniably, an encouraging trend. However, the challenges confronting indigenous Americans are huge in number, and have to be carefully considered; these challenges must be met to make the “circle of reconnecting” a reality in the 21st century.One of the most important issues that all people must address, especially those of Native origin, is the need to preserve their cultural identity against blind bigotry and other forces that threaten their dignity, civil rights, economic and educational prospects, and self-esteem---as a group and as individuals. The ability to persevere despite obstacles and difficulties is fundamental to Native Americans’ strong resolve that has prevailed over the centuries, and in a way, could be symbolized by a circle itself. Harmony and balance, by some interpretations, is like the path of human development---best represented by the symbol of a circle instead of a linear pattern (Hoxie 238.) Native Americans can find endless strength and balance inside their own circle of identity, forming a resilient and shining bond.  Knowing who we are, where we came from, and where we are going would seem, I think, to illustrate the idea of a spiritually reconnected circle. Learning history is certainly important and can’t be overlooked, yet we always have to question who is the historian and what they are trying to accomplish---what’s their agenda, in other words. In “Custer Died for Your Sins” by Vine Deloria Jr., this very issue is addressed. If a young person reads about treaties signed, agreements made over the years, and text-book accounts of Indian battles and pioneer struggles, they are not really getting an authentic or unbiased view of the events that unfolded. It is a slanted view, and without Native voices expressing themselves, it is flawed. However, in the despair of betrayal, there is a sense of unity for all Indian people, according to Deloria (50.) All tribes have encountered disloyalty and lies, yesterday and today. In a sense, even the experience of being betrayed by legislators, laws, and twisted legal interpretations has brought present day Indian Country into its own cultural circle. I had an opportunity to hear first-hand the emotions and dilemmas, the history, treachery, and discovery that have characterized much of the Native experience of the past two hundred years on this soil. In 2006, I attended an event that had an immense effect upon me and my family. It was in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Bicentennial Celebration of Lewis and Clark--- the Signature Events at the Riverfront. I heard an eloquent Osage poet read what must have come as a surprise to many members of the audience. His name was Carter Revard and he spoke of an actual “circle of cultures” that reflected trust and betrayal, beauty and pain. It was a gorgeous weekend in Missouri; I learned so much! I discovered today’s issues should echo through the far-reaching powers of communication and media.   The event was a national celebration that spanned many states and transpired over numerous months.    

Though there were representatives from many Indian organizations like the Circle of Tribal Advisors (COTA) of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, Washington politicians and national media were scarce. I had an opportunity to talk to James Roan Grey, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, and Chairman of the Inter -Tribal Monitoring Association (ITMA). He also was involved in newspaper publishing with the Native American Times. The few moments I heard Chief Grey speak, I learned what he thought was important to Native Americans: sovereignty, community, and education were some topics he mentioned. As I watched and listened to Roberta Conner, Umatilla Tribal leader, author, and director of the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute in Oregon, I realized the importance of her tribal perspective, which so starkly contrasted with the U.S. military’s Lewis and Clark accounts. For me, the circle of understanding was greatly expanded as I let the words of native poets, authors, musicians, leaders, and journalists transport me back two hundred years ago to the canyons, rivers, and prairie experiences that shaped America as we know it today. Clearly, without the aid, kindness, and intervention of Indian Country people, there wouldn’t have been a successful Corps of Discovery---or life as we know it here, today! Everyone who calls this land ‘home’ is already joined to Native Americans—whether they know it or not. No ethnicity, no blood quantum, can change that.  Despite the broken promises of history, we need to recognize the path that leads aroundso, as Black Elk taught, we can find ourselves within….and that is why reconnecting the circle is important.

Bibliography

"American Indian Population." Census.Gov. 08 Jan. 2008 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/mso01aian.pdf>.

Deloria, Jr., Vine. Custer Died for Your Sins. London: Collier-McMillan, Ltd., 1969. 50.

Hoxie, Frederick E. North American Indians: Native American History, Culture, and Life From Paleo-Indians to the Present. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996. 238.

Neihardt, John G. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press 1988.194.