Speech
on Youth Leadership 1971
Halito! Today I've been asked to talk about Leadership. First, I
want
to thank
the Creator for bringing all of us here safely, and that all our
needs
have been met. Second I want to say that I am not a spokesman for,
or official
representative of, any Tribe or Nation. I speak for myself and
my Warrior
Society only.
Lets look at a general history of Traditional leadership. I'm going to
make
some sweeping generalizations. I don't mean to imply that all
traditional
leaders were perfect or morally superior to anyone else. Also
I know
that different Nation's did have different Ways of choosing leaders.
But
still there were examples of superior leadership in every Nation.
In days past we looked first to our survival. We had to have hunters and
warriors
and decision-makers and clowns. All the elements of a society and
culture.
In each of those honorable pursuits there were those who
excelled,
those who were the best. Hunters, fights, scouts, planners,
speakers.
They were recognized by the People for their abilities, and
were
often followed by others because of those abilities. They were
natural
leaders. Given their Power by their natural abilities, they were
easily
recognized and honored. If they lost those abilities or dishonored
their
positions people simply refused to follow them any further. Also
there
was room for more than one. Often we governed ourselves by consensus
or agreement
in councils of men deciding as a group rather than as
individuals.
When pressed for time we knew who to look to, but no one was
bound
to follow, everyone had a choice. All important positions of
leadership
dealt with issues related to the physical or social survival of
the
People as a group. Individual problems always took a backseat to
those
faced by the Nation. Everyone understood that and agreed that that
was
the way it should be. And we survived.
European leadership, at least in democratic America, has different roots
and
values at its core. The Americans were not Tribal. They never believed
that
the People came before the individual. The individual was king. So
those
that put themselves up to be 'chosen' as leaders were often not the
most
qualified or the most honorable, or even the most trustworthy. Since
the
Americans had no Tribal system they could not evaluate an individuals'
worth
by his deeds, they had to settle for his words. Words cannot hold
honor,
or demand loyalty, or serve on their own the needs of the People.
Without
common goals, the american standards for leadership came to be
judged
by how well a person served the enrichment of his neighbors and
their
individual fortunes.
The Native Leader might be respected and Honored, but much was expected
from,
and of, him personally. In a number of Nations he was expected to
embrace
poverty or to hold himself apart from others by observing a higher
standard
or morality and ethics. His was a position of sacrifice, which he
fulfilled
due to his commitment to the Nation. (Of course this wasn't
always
true!)
The American leader, is often paid for his service, able to accept gifts
and
even expected to increase his personal wealth and stature, providing
it be
done discreetly. Though it is publicly proclaimed that the leaders
should
have high moral and ethical standards, the opposite is the rule
rather
than the exception. Despite the great words and promises made - the
deeds
of american politicians, with a few notable exceptions, have been a
tribute
to greed, lust and individual self gratification. (It is also
true
that many Indian leaders were wealthy as well, but this was a product of
a majority
of the People valuing their service, not special interests.)
Today we have come to a middle ground. The old physical ways of survival
have
passed. But the challenge to survive as a People is still with us.
There
will always be Apaches, and Pomos, and Mohawks, always People who
can
say they are racially Indian. But there may not always be an Apache
Language,
A Pomo Culture, or a Mohawk Tribe. These can be lost!
Some of our People in the last two generations became convinced that the
Indian
Way was dead and that to survive they had to become Americans. For
these
People the belief that "the People come first" died. Today they live
and
think only of themselves and of their immediate families. That way
of
thinking
is the true threat to the survival of the Native American Nations.
If
the Tribal Way of thinking dies, the Tribes will die.
Fortunately there are enough who did not give up, who did not give in -
true
survivors! Today they point the Way - not backward - but forward!!
They look to make connections between the old ways and today. They know
that
the Ceremonies and Dances are not just things done for Tourists
during
Indian Days but are the 'life' of the People. These ways must be
'brought
to life' in a way that young people can feel the connection to
the
world they live in! The Dance of the hunt becomes the Dance to hunt
for
a job or start a new business. The War Dance becomes a Dance to
prepare
to challenge the BIA or the Government with the Educational
weapons
they have forced into our hands! The Honor Dance seeks to sustain
our
pride by honoring those who get a job, or graduate school, or enter
rehab,
or quit drinking. Social dances, powwows, sings and contests
reaffirm
our social bonds to each other and foster pride in our cultural
differences.
Of course our Spiritual Ceremonies continue to have meaning only if the
People
truly believe in the Creator.
So the challenge to our leadership today is not to sit back but to step
forward
in service, to organize Councils that really do represent all of
the
People's voices, to put Tribal needs in front, with less thought for
personal
gain or recognition, and finally- to transform words into deeds
so that
all of the People can see who you are by what you do! These are
the
goals we should look to. Do they seem unreasonable or unattainable?
We'll
see!
If every decision we make is regarded as an important one affecting the
People's
survival- the right decisions will be made. If those who lead,
continue
to lead for themselves, everyone's survival is threatened. As
Ceremony
is the soul of the People, and Relationships are the Heart of the
People,
so Leadership is the Mind of the People. Without it, the Tribal
Way
cannot survive, and Indians--generations from now--will be just like
the
Americans. Irish, Italian, English, French, Polish, German, Japanese,
Chinese-
without their language and culture-lost, Spiritless, and alone!
Step forward - it is a risk, it is a hard Way. It can be painful to the
mind
and to the Soul. But suffer up for your People. Show what you can do
and
do it!
Thank you for listening. Chuckma j
bluewolf