Tonight as I watch the peaceful, dreaming wonder of a sleeping child. And listen to the music of the native flute. I go back to another time, another world, one of goodness and of innocence, one of peaceful heart, a time where honesty and manners were the order of the day and love for the CREATOR, FAMILY UNITY, and INTER-TRIBAL UNITY were accepted facts of life.

Of this I wish to share my heart with you. So it is with all things. We must be prepared to take part in the things given to us by the Creator. We must remember, as we endure times of pain, that all things in life are circles and circles within circles. No matter how deplorable or how wonderful life maybe now, we will move on to the next path on our journey. We must be prepared for what is coming and leave our lessons learned for those that follow.

Earlier this year I was honored to support Arvol Looking Horse in his request for a Peace and Unity Prayer day amongst all people. This dream did become somewhat of a reality. Unfortunately, I was to hold my personal ceremonies at a rehabilitation hospital having suffered a major stroke two weeks prior to the appointed day of prayer. Unfortunate, maybe not because it seems that there were other human beings there that needed each others presence in their life at that time. As we all know we have always done our human best, given the moment we are in, to say or due the right thing.

Many have asked that since the day of occupation has there ever been peace. The logical answer is no. But, the truth is that in 1621 during what has become known as thanksgiving week friendship was guarded and not always sincere, and although the peace was to be very soon broken we find that for three days in the history of the people PEACE and FRIENDSHIP were there.

Giving thanks to the CREATOR for the harvest of the land has always been a time of the people coming together, therefore thanks has been offered for the gift of fellowship between all people.

We must not give up, contemplating, attempting to bring unity amongst our people. Very often we find that in order for us to be a strong people we must put yesterday to sleep and wake up today. What has happened to tribal, inter-tribal and family unity ?

Some of us remember that many French Canadian Metis, and First Nations people of many tribal groups, in order to survive, bought their new beginnings to a new land. Their love of family and Spiritual awareness. The love of the native language. ( Although they were forced to acknowledge American English as their first language. )

When we are asked:

" What customs do you remember from your youth which are still part of your family pride?"

Many of us reply that our first memories are of when we visited our "memere" and "pepere" ( Grandparents ) were the nightly offerings ( prayers ) to the powers above before retiring for the night.

Our meals were often simple but in all cases an elder most often "Memere" would invoke the blessings of the CREATOR for what ever was placed before us. Family meals with our parents in attendance were informal, sometimes witty, with the elders speaking first amongst themselves, then my grandparents would ask all the children to relate what had happened since the last time they had seen us. Politeness and manners towards the elders was important and no one left without asking permission. All the children were taught and felt that there was a place in the family circle for them. Family gatherings were special not because of the giving or receiving of gifts but because of the love, camaraderie, and real affection for Everyone present family member or extended family members. Sometimes we would attend church en masse, not as a duty, but because it gave us a chance to mingle with friends and relatives.

Old fashioned you may say, but there was less crime, You could walk the streets day or night without fear of mayhem. When we went to sleep at night and the elders would concur that most homes were unlocked. To steal from a relative or a neighbor was unthinkable. The fear of getting the hell beat out of you for going downtown was non-existent. To be responsible for our Brothers, our Sisters, our Mother Earth, and to forget our own selfish needs, that is what it is all about. Realize that LOVE AND RESPECT is not a privilege GIVEN to us by someone, it is a RIGHT, a responsibility, that we carry in our hearts to share with others. " The love in your heart wasn't put there to stay. Love isn't love until its given away."

From all wind directions comes the one common theme that unites us all " The Dream ". The Dream that there will be one world, one peace, one People. THAT, is the Dream. We are all different. but, all the same, for the ceremony is to hold sacred our belief in a Creator. One that unites us. It does not matter if the words are spoken in Lakota, Algonquin, Wampanoag, Narragansett. NipMuc, Abenaki, Spanish, French, English all speak their sovereign language to one purpose to unite call together all in peace and healing.

But above All, You should understand that there can never be peace between nations until you understand the true peace, that inter-tribal peace which, as I have often felt is within the souls of man.

It is not that we own the land; we can't own the land, it's not ours to own. Regardless of how many taxes you pay on a house, it is not yours. You can't stop an ant from walking across the border or an eagle from going across the ocean and you cannot do that to a human being.

First ! Please understand that while I consider myself a traditional Native American, My definition and explanation is not going to be exactly the same as every other persons.

Tribal differences, and differences of practice do exist among us. The Sacred Hoop is a SYMBOL, A way to visualize a very complex yet simple concept. This concept underlies a form of thinking that is foreign to most modern Americans (even a lot of us Indians). It is sometimes necessary to work hard at setting aside modern cultural adaptations to encompass it.

The Sacred Hoop represents the "Circle of Life" Some like to call it "interconnectedness". Remember, a hoop or circle has no beginning and no end, when you reach the end you are at the beginning, Just as the seasons evolve from Spring to summer to fall to winter to spring, so do our lives evolve with the seasons. From conception, to youth, to middle age, to old age, We do not know from where we come at conception, nor do we know exactly where we go at death..but it is most likely the same place, thus completing the circle.

For some Native Americans it also represents the "Hoop of the Nation" the interconnectedness of each member of the tribe to every other member of the tribe.

For our ancestors this was a natural way of thinking, circular rather than the customary Linear style of thinking that was predominant in most of the early white settlers who arrived here. The responsibilities conveyed by the concept of the Sacred Hoop are enormous. If the cycle is disturbed, all LIFE is disturbed in some way. This concept underlies all of Native American religion and culture.

These ideals will only return when there is family unity and intr-tribal unity amongst the Native people, a time when families and human beings can sit around the council fire together and accept each other regardless of tribal affiliation.

We must bring back INTER-TRIBAL and FAMILY UNITY.

Those of you that know me know that I have never asked anything to teach, to share, to pass on the words of those before us. But, now I do ask for something. I ask that all of you join us in the re-affirmation of inter-tribal and family unity. I ask you please stop the arguments, please stop tearing our nations apart by the pettiness of quarreling amongst yourselves.

For some of us, our flaming star will soon be extinguished. Would it not be a beautiful thing to see all our brothers and sisters, once again talking and sharing their heritage together before that happens ?

Now that I have deliberately provoked my enemies with new information and different opinions, and also regarding my feelings towards truth and myths. I feel that it is necessary to try and reach beyond the myths for some degree of historic truth.

I am called Looking Glass Speaker for the So. New England Abenaki Council, and as the " Holiday Season " approaches I send you my sincere regards during this the season of popping trees. Although I may not practice Christianity I do believe in the Creator and share with you many of the Creators Gifts of Honesty, Love, Respect, Sharing, Wisdom, and Humility. Although I personally refrain from celebrating Christmas, this time of year almost always fills me with a certain amount of happiness. I enjoy seeing the growing excitement of the children and a feeling of a sense of warmth among some adults as they suddenly realize that this is a time of sharing, and demonstrating compassion and good will.

A needed disclaimer. I can not, and do not infer that I speak for all Indians. I speak only for my family and the elders and people of the So. New England Abenaki Council.

KASSIWI WAJ8NEMAG ALOKAMUK WIG8DAMIWI
( willingly we must work together)

ADIO, WLI NANAWALMEZI
( goodby take care of yourself )

I am Pipinawjak8gan aka Looking Glass and I have spoken Aho

E-Mail: "Looking Glass (Raymond Lussier)"