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AMERICA
BEFORE COLUMBUS
1491
VOICES
INDIAN
PERSPECTIVES
James A.
Garfield Velarde
19th century
jicarilla apache
umbilical
cord -cutting mothers prayer
here
is a child who has been given to us. let us bring him to
manhood.......You
who are dawn youths and dawn maidens.
You who
are winter spirits. you who are summer spirits.
......TAKE
therefore......Give him good fortune, we ask of you.
A
tewa
is interested in our own story of origin
ARE FROM
THE RIO GRANDE IN NEW MEXICO
YONDER
IN THE NORTH THERE IS SINGING ON THE LAKE. CLOUD
MAIDENS
DANCE ON THE SHORE. THERE WE TAKE OUR BEING..
YONDER
IN THE NORTH CLOUDS BEING RISE. THEY ASCEND ONTO CLOUD BLOSSOMS. THERE
WE TAKE OUR BEING.
YONDER
IN THE NORTH RAIN STANDS OVER THE LAND....
YONDER
IN THE NORTH STANDS FORTH AT TWILIGHT THE ARC OF A RAINBOW.
THERE
WE HAVE OUR BEING.
mohawk
thanksgiving prayertharonhiawakon,
holder of the heavens,
hear the words of the people here assembled.
the smoke of tabacco rises.
give attention to our words
as they rise to you
in the smoke.
we thank you for the return of this season
of planting.
grant us a good season so that our harvest
will be great...
tewa death prayer
we have muddied the waters for you { the smoke } .
we have cast shadows between us { the charcoal } .
have made steep gullies between us { the lines } .
do not ,therefore , reach for even a hair on our heads.
rather, help us attain that which we are always seeking:
long life, that our children may grow , abundant game,
the raising of crops......now you must go , for you are now free .
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