"Of all the created things or beings in the universe, it is the two-legged men alone, who if they purify and humiliate themselves, may become one with —or may know— Wakan-Tanka." -
Black Elk - Oglala Lakota
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Two Blind Old Women
Apache legend -
Two old women were once cooking a pot of mush which two mischievous boys were trying to steal. Both were blind, so one sat on each side of the fire.
They kept their sticks waving back and forth above the pot, to prevent any one from taking advantage of their blindness and taking the vessel or its contents.
The boys found an empty pot, which they substituted for the one on the fire. Finding that the pot now had an empty ring when struck by their sticks, the old women concluded that the water had boiled away, and the mush must be sufficiently cooked.
"Let us smoke while it cools," said one.
"Very well," said the other, and they began to smoke alternately the single pipe in their possession. As they smoked they kept the sticks waving to and fro above the empty vessel.
The boys took the pipe from the hand of one old woman as she was passing it to the other.
"You are smoking all the time," said the second woman.
"I gave you the pipe long ago," said the first.
"You did not," said the second.
Just then the boys struck the first woman in the mouth, and she, thinking it was the other woman, struck her companion, who, of course, retaliated, and they proceeded to belabor one another with their staves.
When they were tired of fighting they went to eat their mush; each thought the other had eaten it, which set them to fighting again.
Two old women were once cooking a pot of mush which two mischievous boys were trying to steal. Both were blind, so one sat on each side of the fire.
They kept their sticks waving back and forth above the pot, to prevent any one from taking advantage of their blindness and taking the vessel or its contents.
The boys found an empty pot, which they substituted for the one on the fire. Finding that the pot now had an empty ring when struck by their sticks, the old women concluded that the water had boiled away, and the mush must be sufficiently cooked.
"Let us smoke while it cools," said one.
"Very well," said the other, and they began to smoke alternately the single pipe in their possession. As they smoked they kept the sticks waving to and fro above the empty vessel.
The boys took the pipe from the hand of one old woman as she was passing it to the other.
"You are smoking all the time," said the second woman.
"I gave you the pipe long ago," said the first.
"You did not," said the second.
Just then the boys struck the first woman in the mouth, and she, thinking it was the other woman, struck her companion, who, of course, retaliated, and they proceeded to belabor one another with their staves.
When they were tired of fighting they went to eat their mush; each thought the other had eaten it, which set them to fighting again.
Do you know...
Robert Eugene Megginson -one of only about 12 Native Americans who hold a PhD in mathematics, Robert Megginson grew up in a family who was interested in math. His British father held a bachelor’s degree in physics and math and his maternal grandfather, an Oglala Lakota often gave the young Megginson math problems to solve.
Math was not Megginson’s first degree, however. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics and worked for a private firm for eight years as a computer systems software specialist. In 1977 he returned to college and received his master’s degree in statistics and his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Illinois. Dr. Megginson then joined the faculty of Eastern Illinois University and later the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. His field of study is the study of multi-dimensional (Banach) spaces.
For the past decade Dr. Megginson has spent his time working to solve the problem of the under-representation of minorities in the field of mathematics. In 1992 he developed a summer program for high school students at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The purpose of the program is to keep the students interested in mathematics and related fields and encourage them to pursue college degrees in these areas.
Dr. Megginson has mentored many minority students and in 1997 received the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society awarded Megginson its Ely S. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 2001 he was named to the Native American Science and Engineering Wall of Fame. He continues to live and teach in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He's also listed in 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
Math was not Megginson’s first degree, however. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics and worked for a private firm for eight years as a computer systems software specialist. In 1977 he returned to college and received his master’s degree in statistics and his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Illinois. Dr. Megginson then joined the faculty of Eastern Illinois University and later the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. His field of study is the study of multi-dimensional (Banach) spaces.
For the past decade Dr. Megginson has spent his time working to solve the problem of the under-representation of minorities in the field of mathematics. In 1992 he developed a summer program for high school students at the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The purpose of the program is to keep the students interested in mathematics and related fields and encourage them to pursue college degrees in these areas.
Dr. Megginson has mentored many minority students and in 1997 received the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society awarded Megginson its Ely S. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 2001 he was named to the Native American Science and Engineering Wall of Fame. He continues to live and teach in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He's also listed in 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History.
Circle of healing: 'Wellbriety' movement finds traction within tribes
By: Jodi Rave
MILES CITY - Many stories start by introducing a living person. This story starts with what some describe as a living object - a sacred hoop.
The hoop is a willow branch rounded into a circle. One hundred eagle feathers have been tied around the circumference. Those who come across the hoop say it wields power. It is believed that each feather carries people's prayers to the Spirit World, to the Creator.
The hoop and its keeper, Don Coyhis, traveled last month to every tribal community in Montana, four correctional facilities and the state Capitol. At each of the 13 stops, Coyhis explained how to live a life of wellness through culture, including songs, language and ceremonies. People came to the Hoop to offer prayers.
"Being around this hoop changed me, innermost me," said Vince, a young man at the Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility in Miles City.
Vince thanked Coyhis. He said recent events had taken a toll on him. He said he recently lost a friend. He felt alone, and he was losing hope. "I was left with no breath."Coyhis assured Vince he had just earned the respect of everyone in the room, he said. Coyhis reminded the young men at Pine Hills that they were loved and important."Our people want you back home," he said. "It's time to come back home."
Read this very interesting article here: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/05/news/state/18-medicine.txt
MILES CITY - Many stories start by introducing a living person. This story starts with what some describe as a living object - a sacred hoop.
The hoop is a willow branch rounded into a circle. One hundred eagle feathers have been tied around the circumference. Those who come across the hoop say it wields power. It is believed that each feather carries people's prayers to the Spirit World, to the Creator.
The hoop and its keeper, Don Coyhis, traveled last month to every tribal community in Montana, four correctional facilities and the state Capitol. At each of the 13 stops, Coyhis explained how to live a life of wellness through culture, including songs, language and ceremonies. People came to the Hoop to offer prayers.
"Being around this hoop changed me, innermost me," said Vince, a young man at the Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility in Miles City.
Vince thanked Coyhis. He said recent events had taken a toll on him. He said he recently lost a friend. He felt alone, and he was losing hope. "I was left with no breath."Coyhis assured Vince he had just earned the respect of everyone in the room, he said. Coyhis reminded the young men at Pine Hills that they were loved and important."Our people want you back home," he said. "It's time to come back home."
Read this very interesting article here: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/05/news/state/18-medicine.txt
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