Give Us Hearts to Understand

Give us hearts to understand;

Never to take from creation's beauty more than we give; never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed; Never to deny to give our hands for the building of earth's beauty; never to take from her what we cannot use.

Give us hearts to understand;

That to destroy earth's music is to create confusion; that to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty; That to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench; that as we care for her she will care for us. We have forgotten who we are. We have sought only our own security. We have exploited simply for our own ends. We have distorted our knowledge. We have abused our power.

Great Spirit, whose dry lands thirst, Help us to find the way to refresh your lands. Great Spirit, whose waters are choked with debris and pollution, help us to find the way to cleanse your waters. Great Spirit, whose beautiful earth grows ugly with misuse, help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork. Great Spirit, whose creatures are being destroyed, help us to find a way to replenish them. Great Spirit, whose gifts to us are being lost in selfishness and corruption help us to find the way to restore our humanity.

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind, whose breath gives life to the world, hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

May I walk in Beauty.

Author unknown

Quotes

I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say.

- Geronimo, Apache

'Art from Indian Territory' brings contemporary art to rural communities

ANADARKO, Okla. - When modern or contemporary American Indian art goes on exhibit in Oklahoma, it usually occurs in places such as Oklahoma City, Norman or Tulsa, with people from rural Native communities having to drive long distances to attend art openings.

Although Oklahoma City's upcoming American Indian Cultural Center and Museum is still under construction, it hasn't stopped the museum from getting art to the people. ''Art from Indian Territory,'' the museum's inaugural touring exhibit, was designed to tour five different regions in Oklahoma with the express purpose of bringing contemporary Native art to the entire state.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414804

Click on the link to read the full article

Navajo Olympic hopefuls to try out for Beijing games

Two Navajo runners have their eyes and hearts set on China, and the newly formed nonprofit organization Nideiltihi Navajo Elite Runners will do everything it can to help them get there for the Summer Olympics in 2008.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414860

Click on the link to read the full story.