Our ancestors have left for us a great heritage. Unlike Europeans, our ancestors had great individual freedom and liberty. Today, we have that same individual freedom and liberty. Many of us wish to carry on the traditions of our ancestors. Having experienced the rigid and rule-oriented mind of European religion and politics we tend to look for the same rigid rules in our Native ancestors’ traditions. The more we search, the more we realize there are no rigid rules, no strict universal procedures, only general guide lines. The big question is "How do I know I’m following my ancestor’s traditions?" There is no rule book, no bible, no constitution, no code book. We can only look to the example of our ancestors and those still carrying on these traditions today. The most noticeable traditions are flexibility, tolerance, and individual variances. Each stomp ground has its own traditions. Each medicine person has their own medicine. Each individual has their own personal beliefs. As long as we follow the guidelines set by our ancestors we are keeping our traditions. I have listed seven guidelines I have noticed that are essential to our cultural heritage.

1. Belief in a Creator. Open to individual interpretation, yet essential to our way of life. It is the Great Mystery.

2. The centrality of Fire. Fire is a manifestation of the Mystery. Fire is the greatest purifier.

3. Going to water as a means of ceremonial purification. Regenerative power resides in running water.

4. Tobacco is a gift from the Great Mystery. It is used to offer prayers, to create peace among the people, and for purification. It is "fire in the mouth", meaning communion with the Great Mystery through smoking the tobacco.

5. Cedar is the main. herb used for smudging.

6. Counter-clockwise is the direction of all good, positive activity.

7. The concept of balance. All things must be done in balance. The purpose of all activity should be to maintain balance.

These are guides to keep us on the path of our ancestors. Much more can be said about these seven guidelines, and it is not in-tended that these are the only guidelines.

Each of us will find many teachers as we walk the path we are on. Listen and learn. I have found the greatest teacher of all to be the Great Mystery. Light a fire and you will see.

Most of us grew up in a world of do’s and dont's. The dominant society in America for the first half of the 20th century was the Church. Sex was nasty and anything fun had to be a sin. Life hasn’t always been that way and obviously it won’t always be that way. Today people are enjoying much more freedom than they did say 30-40 years ago. Minority groups have gained strides in equality. Women have also made tremendous strides in equality. Educators and parents have realized that teenagers always have, and always will, indulge in premarital sex. Avenues have been opened to allow for birth control, disease prevention, and termination of unwanted pregnancy. At the same time society has realized that alcohol and driving do not mix. Efforts are being made to reduce the social abuse of both alcohol and tobacco. You may ask what this has to do with traditions? A lot!

Consider for a moment the world to which Europeans first made contact in North America. This world was not nearly as racist, sexist, and class dominated as Europe was. Our ancestors practiced very little authoritarian control. The prevailing form of government was direct democracy, most all decisions being made by majority consensus. People were free to be human beings. Free to be who and what they were without fear of punishment or ostracization. Women held positions in council, owned the homes, gardens and children. Couples were free to marry whomever they chose and divorce without any fear or concern of public opinion. Women owned their own bodies and unmarried women were able to share them with whomever they wanted without being labeled with bad names. Again, abortion was a woman’s right and birth control was practiced. These things, too, were accepted and tolerated. When confronted with abnormality our ancestors generally accepted it as something special and were not prone to make biased judgements.

Whenever the Europeans first came they were accepted by our people. Intermarriage was accepted. Not until we realized how racist and greedy the Europeans were did people begin to frown on intermarriage. This was a result of character and not skin color.

Our ancestors did not drink alcohol or liquor, even though we had both the corn and potatoes to make whiskey and vodka. We did not see a need in it. Also, tobacco was respected. It was smoked regu1arly and ritually, both ceremonially and socially. But it was not abused or used in a thoughtless and habitual way.

So what am I saying? Society is learning its lessons (very slowly!). European dominated American society is realizing it had some serious hang-ups. The new society in America is not new, it is simply a revival, a resurrection of our old society. Yes, maybe America is learning to keep our traditions. Remember, we are descendants of a proud tradition, one of freedom, tolerance, and acceptance. Let us honor each others individuality and respect each others integrity. No one is above, no one is below.

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