Native Thoughts

I watched the Diane Sawyer Special on 20/20 last night (10-14-2011) she talked about the issues Pine Ridge Reservation had on the drinking problems, housing problems, the lack of food amoung other important issues the Reservation faces. It breaks my heart to see the living conditions of my Native Brothers and Sisters, I cried when I realized most of the children are living in small homes with as many as 20 family members in one home, due to the fact the children's parents are in jails and prisons due to drugs and drinking.

 The floors of their homes caving in and the ceilings hanging due to water leaks. I can't imagine what it must be like in the dead of winter, living in a trailor with these issues. Then you see the children smiling, playing! You hear them talk with pride about their culture, the love they have for the animals and the land and their dancing. I felt so much love and compassion and pride for them, even though tears were streaming down my face, for i couldn't help but, feel their pain they hid behind those beautiful smiles.

 The Lakota/Sioux People are beautiful people, they have so much history carved in their awesome faces. I can only hope and pray that, one day I can make a difference...even if it is only one person, I promise to do what I can to help in any way I can. These children are the future and they have so much to offer and they are the keepers of the land, without them all races will parish, if they keep doing the destructive things they are doing to our Mother Earth and Grandfather Sky. Bless you ABC and Diane Sawyer for doing this story on the Lakota/Sioux People, it makes me proud to be Native American! AHO

I TOOK OUR LOVE AND I TUCKED IT AWAY. DEEP IN MY HEART, IT WILL ALWAYS STAY.

THIS SONG IS DEDICATED TO AN ANGEL, WHO CAME INTO MY LIFE IN THE MOST AMAZING WAY. I MET YOU ON YOUR BIRTHDAY (10-16-1975). THE MEMORIES OF "US" WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER. THANK YOU PATRICK, FOR BLESSING ME WITH YOUR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. YOU WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART.

YOU BLESSED ME WITH YOUR FRIENDSHIP FROM CALIFORNIA TO KANSAS. YOU SHOWED ME A LOVE, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD FEEL AGAIN. I SAY THIS TO YOU AND MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART:  IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, LET THEM GO. IF THEY COME BACK TO YOU, THEY ARE YOURS. IF THEY DON'T, THEY NEVER WERE. I KNOW YOU LOVE ME AND I LOVE YOU WAY TOO MUCH. MAYBE ONE DAY WE CAN BE FRIENDS AGAIN WITHOUT THE TEARS. FOREVER YOURS

MANY BLESSING HAVE COME MY WAY. ONE OF THEM WAS THE FRIENDSHIP OF QUANNA SIOUX.  I SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SPECIAL MOMENTS, THE DANCING AND AWESOME TIMES WE HAD UNDER THE TENTS AT POW WOW. I DANCE WITH YOU IN THOUGHT AND PRAYER MY SISTER. AHO

UP IN THE RUINS, THE EAGLE FLIES HIGH
HE LOOKS FOR HIS ANCESTORS
HE HEARS THEIR CRIES.

DAYS LONG AGO, A SIGHT TO BEHOLD,
THE LAND SO RICH, SO RICH IN GOLD.
THE KEEPERS OF THE LAND
TOOK GREAT CARE, THEY HUNTED THE BUFFALO
THEY BRAIDED THEIR HAIR.

THE LAND WAS HARVESTED, WITH BEANS AND CORN,
THEIR NECKLACES MADE OF BUFFALO HORNS.
PAINT ON THEIR FACES, SAGE IN THE AIR,
THEY PRAY TO GREAT SPIRIT,
GREAT SPIRIT IS THERE.

THE FIRE A BLAZE, A MIXTURE OF SMOKE AND SAGE,
BEADS AND MOCCASINS, DANCE IN THE HAZE.
GRANDFATHER SUN STARTS TO RISE, EVERYONE'S SPIRITS,
SPIRITS RUN HIGH.

THE SUNDANCE IS OVER
THE DANCING IS DONE, OUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN LIFTED,
LIFTED TO THE SUN.  R.SANTOS 4/95

                                         PHOTO TAKEN BY: ANTHONY SANTOS 2011

I have been Blessed to have met Carlos Reynosa. We spent many Special Moments at Pow Wow through the years. Your music touched my Heart and your Friendship goes beyond words my Friend. Your Music will always make me smile and will always remind me of the wonderful memories of Pow Wow. Bless You My Brother, My Friend.

JUST WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME MARCAS??????????????????

AS I STAND UPON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
I SEE A REDTAIL HAWK, IT SOARS ON BY.
HE SPEAKS TO ME, A WARNING YOU SEE,
TEN LARGE BUFFALO, COME RUNNING TOWARDS ME.


I STAND REAL STILL,
MY HEART BEATING FAST, COUNTING THE BUFFALO
AS THEY COME TO PASS.
THE DUST FLIES UP, CAN'T SEE A THING,
I HEAR THE REDTAIL HAWK, CALLING OUT TO ME.


THE DUST SETTLES AND WHAT DO I SEE?
A LITTLE FALLING FEATHER, FALLING FROM THE SKY, TO ME.
A GIFT FROM THE GREAT SPIRIT, I AM AS THANKFUL AS CAN BE,
THIS WAS A BLESSING, SENT TO ME.  R.SANTOS 7/01