In the Old Testament of the Bible, we find the story of a god who chose a particular people with whom he wanted to have a special relationship. Because he chose them, they are known as his “chosen people.” The deity promised a vast amount of land to his chosen people, but, unfortunately, it was
READ MOREPresident Donald J. Trump delivered a speech on July 3, 2020 at the mountain formation which the people of the Oceti Sakowin (or “the Great Sioux Nation”) call “the Sixth Grandfather” (Tunkasila Sakpe Nake Kihe in the Lakota language). While watching Trump give that speech, I got the impression that he was attempting to shore
READ MOREHere is the cover of a book that I found in a used bookstore in Rapid City, South Dakota in the Oceti Sakowin Territory. This book was published in 1954, the year my wife Paige was born and the year before I was born. The format of the book seems designed to teach children the
READ MOREA former professor of mine, C. A. Bowers (1935-2017), was a brilliant and prolific writer who wrote 27 books. He cautioned against people applying to themselves the arguments that a formidable opponent or enemy has skillfully created, and successfully used against them. If you use your opponents’ arguments against yourself, he warned, you will have
READ MORELet’s take a closer look at the Truth and Reconciliation process embraced by Canada. In one context, “to reconcile” means “to restore a friendship.” Let’s be clear. It is not possible to “restore” a friendship that neverexisted between the dominating society of Canada and the Original Nations and Peoples of the continent. Let’s consider another
READ MOREIn 1988, I realized that I had never actually read the original language from the papal bulls of the fifteenth century. I had only read a few sentences quoted in various sources such as Vine Deloria, Jr.’s God is Red and Wilcomb Washburn’s Red Man’s Land White Man’s Law. I remember wondering at a certain
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