I had the privilege and honor to live for four years in the Aricara-Ponca-Lakota/Nakota (Sioux) territory, today’s South Dakota, U.S.A. I met amazing people, from both the settlers and the natives. I was profoundly and forever deeply affected, by the values behind the native culture. I can write pages about this and i probably will at some point. Today however, due to the Covid-19 world crisis, i wish to highlight the following.

One of the many things i found inspiring, is the connection and respect to the ancestors and elders. This is not a one way street, by the way. In Native American society, the elders command respect because they show respect, themselves. Every living creature, every morsel of earth and every particle in the sky and beyond, is greatly respected and praised, all of equal value under the Creator. During these trying times, the arrogance of some leaders is followed daily by thousands of deaths, that could possibly have been prevented. This arrogance stems from a long sustained mentality of colonization and greed. In other words, invading someone’s home, forcibly taking what is desired and consider this atrocity, as a right. The notion that this virus affects mostly our elders, seems to work as a relief for some members in our society. How ignorant. To be unable to identify the value and importance of wisdom. The one that can only come from many years of trials, errors and painstaking efforts in life. Protect your past. Protect your elders. Protect your future.

I was offered guidance by a Lakota Medicine Man, to not fall into the trap of greed and become a wašin icu/wasicu, a ‘taker’ in Native American Lakota language. Greed goes against the Great Spirit. The word ‘taker’ has since, acquired a profound meaning for me. Do not be a taker, it is toxic. At the end of the day, it is not fun being rich alone.

To summarize, i quote Mona Whitebloom, Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. “I pray for older men and older women”.

If you are interested in learning a little more about the Lakota people (Lakota means ‘friend’), their struggles and how the connection to the elders can save the young of today, observe an amazing young woman, Tokahe Nazin Win, in the following video at https://lakotayouth.org/lakota-culture/lakota-in-america/. Or follow the highly inspiring Irona Howe, artist and Community Leader https://www.instagram.com/ironalee/?hl=en. Who knows, perhaps learning from another culture, can help you to positively infuse your own. Then you may realize, just how interconnected we all are, on this planet we share. The Covid-19 crisis did undoubtedly highlight just that.