THE DEFINING
They who try to define me
Want to confine me
But I know
Where I come from
Who I am
I was born
A Moreno
Recorded on paper
A hyphenated American
Racially profiled from the gate
My future mapped out
By colonized design
To exist under their control
For all of my life
My mind
My spirit
My soul
The European systems
Values
Religious
Distorted History
Their indoctrinations
Precepts
Laws
Entertainment
Oaths
Their Everything
Everything belonging to them
Leaves me naked
To society and the world
My identity determined by
Their definition
Of who I am
How I'm to be regarded as
Nothing more than a shell
Of my ancestral heritage
Of no consequence
No value
Dehumanized
To play the role they
Have created for me
To be
To be accepted
Total assimilation
An imposter to myself
A ball of confusion
A mongrel at best
Rage
My response to all
They have destroyed
And continue to destroy
Is to keep learning
Itom Yoem noki, our ancient language
Our history and culture
To keep our traditions alive
To honor our ancestors
Itepo emouttiak bwe'ituk te Yoeme/Yaqui
I am proud to be Yaqui
I owe no explanations
I have no need to justify
I don't have to ask for permission
I am just responding to what has
Been forced upon me
For centuries
And like my ancestors before me
I live with their inheritance
The fire of resistance
A ceremony
A song
A prayer
Truth
Cannot be extinguished
Cannot be denied
Paas into waata / Peace and love.
~~~~
Lioj em chaniavu, ketchem allea.
It's a pretty sunny morning. Got to get going to take care of business.
Later on stopping for a while at the water and drop some tobacco.
How are you all doing on this new day?
Some people have good medicine.
Some people have bad medicine.
Some people have no medicine.
Some people just like to talk like they know something.
Today is a good day to give thanks for this breath of life for ourselves, and for others.
And for this sick world, to heal.
May this day be a grateful one. A happy one.
Nin jiaksi jiba euwate.
~~~~
A smile a Day
This elderly woman
Lived on the corner of
South Jupiter and Comet Street
in a nice big mobile home
She kept sparkling clean outside
No weeds or litter on the grounds
Frail and pale
She was
Hair white as snow
Gently
Slowly
Step by Step
Hunched over
She kept on
Going
I remember when
I first waved at her
in passing how
She never waved back
As she was glancing
I tool it personal for a long tme
But I kept on
Waving anyway
Whenever I passed by.
One day
She finally smiled
At me and waved
It made my day brighter
And from then on
She always did
Just Wondering
How would life be
All around for everyone
If time were devoted
To examining ourselves
To see where our humanity
Is stacked up against
Decency
Respect
Patience
Love
Forgiveness
Charity
I fall short
On things I never noticed about me
But I try to change
The unhealthy
Unspiritual things
Within me
Day by day
Growth is like a blade
Of sweet grass I planted
Years ago
And continue to water
Change is a slog
Doesn't happen overnight
Hurts and scares
Fears the unknown
I challenged myself
It was worth the sacrifice
I have more
Respect for myself
For life
More careful
How I walk
Daily in the World
A common man
~~~~
Donations. ( Art and books) - The Elder- A Tribute / 12.00 / 4.00 shipping
@monolin
thank you.
Folks, I agree with one of the men who spoke that our Native tribes are the least of who should be considered an immigrant! Yet, Trump who is indeed an immigrant by his heritage, as are all of us, cares only that they are NOT White! This type of discrimination has got to stop...or else all the rich white supremacist men will be the only ones living in the United States! May God Be with ALL His Children...
Gabby
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