Jean - 365 Days Of Walking The Red Road: The Native American Path to Leading a Spiritual Life Every Day

365 Days of
Walking the Red Road

The Native American Path to
Leading a Spiritual Life Every Day

Terri Jean

Copyright 2003 by Terri Jean. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by Adams Media,
an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 13: 978-1-58062-849-5
ISBN 10: 1-58062-849-4
eISBN: 978-1-44051-924-6

Printed in Canada.
J I H G F E

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jean, Terri.

365 days of walking the Red Road / by Terri Jean.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-58062-849-4
1. Indian philosophy--North America. 2. Indians of North America--Religion. 3. Calendars. I. Title: Three hundred sixty-five days of walking the Red Road. II. Title.
E98.P5 .J43 2002
299'.7--dc21 2002011341

Interior photographs courtesy of Corel,
1999 PhotoDisc, Inc., and 1998 Digital Stock Corp.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For
information, call 1-800-289-0963.

This book is dedicated to my mother
for teaching me how to write, and to my
great-grandmother, Whitlatch, for all of
her inspiration and encouragement.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the effort, energy, and education of the many people who believed in my work, my writing, and my convictions. To those family, friends, and mentors who supported me unconditionally, I appreciate your kindness, patience, and time. And to those who unselfishly chose to educate me on their Native history, issues, culture, and experiences, thank you. Without you, this book would not be possible.

Introduction

O Great Spirit help me always to
speak the truth quietly, to listen with
an open mind when others speak,
and to remember the peace that may
be found in silence.

CHEROKEE PRAYER

W hen one is walking the Red Road, one is living as instructed by the Creator. The person who walks the Red Road lives a life of truth and charity values handed down generation to generation. Though the road is littered with obstacles, all can be overcome once internal balance is achieved and the soul is true to itself and to others.

This book is full of such values, and the inspirational speakers span hundreds of years of Native American history. Their philosophies are rich and full of feeling, articulating myriad emotions and cultural instruction. Each quote is a lesson; each speaker is a teacher. The 365 lessons ring with the same wisdom and strength now as they did the day they were spoken.

THE NORTHERN
JOURNEY OF WINTER

W hite covers much of the earth during winters harsh, cold months, representing the nourishing blanket that secures all of nature while it lies sleeping. Winter also represents elders and their final walks along the Red Road. Our grandparents are wise and the winter is silent. Therefore, the time of the North is a special time for storytelling. In olden times, children and adults would gather around a fire and hear the storyteller narrate legends and myths of their people. Storytellers orally teach the traditions of their people and keep alive the history of their tribe. The Chippewa call North Waboose, which is depicted as a strong, powerful buffalo withstanding the effects of winter.

Direction: North
Season: Winter
Color: White

From the beginning there were drums,
beating out world rhythmthe
booming, never-failing tide on the
beach; the four seasons, gliding
smoothly, one from the other; when
the birds come, when they go, the bear
hibernating for his winter sleep.
Unfathomable the way, yet all in perfect
time. Watch the heartbeat in your
wrista precise pulsing beat of lifes
Drumwith loss of timing you are ill.

JIMALEE BURTON (HO-CHEE-NEE),
CHEROKEE, 1974

JANUARY

JANUARY ALGONQUIN MOON:

SUN-HAS-NOT-STRENGTH-TO-THAW MOON

Red Road Ethic 1
Honor the Great Spirit

E very element of creation expresses the Creator. Within each mountain, each stone, and each heart lies the Great Spirit. All are of the Creator, and each particle of the universe is equally deserving of respect and admiration. When looking upon a sunset, the trees, or even your worst enemy, you are looking at the Creator. Know this and give praise and prayer.

A wee child toddling in a wonder
world, I prefer to their dogma my excursions
into the natural gardens where
the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in
the twittering of birds, the rippling of
mighty waters, and the sweet breathing
of flowers. If this is Paganism, then at
present, at least, I am a Pagan.

ZITKALA-SA (GERTRUDE SIMMONS BONNIN
OR RED BIRD), SIOUX AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST,
18761938

January 1

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly
in the night. It is the breath of a
buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little
shadow which runs across the grass
and loses itself in the sunset.

CROWFOOT,
BLACKFOOT WARRIOR AND ORATOR,
18261890

On This Date in
Native American History

January 1, 1802: Peter Jones, Mississauga (Ojibway), was born. He later became a Mississauga chief and Methodist missionary, traveling throughout Canada and the United States preaching the gospel and addressing Native issues.

January 2

I love a people who have always made
me welcome to the best they had...

who are honest without laws, who have
no jails and no poor-houses... who
never take the name of God in vain...

who worship God without a Bible, and
I believe God loves them also... who
are free from religious animosities...

who have never raised a hand against
me, or stolen my property, where there
is no law to punish either... who never
fought a battle with white men except
on their own ground... and Oh, how
I love a people who dont live for the love
of money!

GEORGE CATLIN
AN AMERICAN NON-NATIVE ARTIST
OF THE 1830S, SPEAKING ABOUT THE
NATIVE PEOPLE HE HAD ENCOUNTERED

January 3

We never did the white man any harm;
we dont intend to... we are willing to
be friends with the white man...

HOTOAKHIHOOIS (TALL BULL),
TO GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK,
MARCH 1867

Did You Know?

The term crossing over is common among Native people today to refer to those who died or who are dying.