Margaret McHale (left) watches as Riley Mohawk (right) leads a prayer overlooking the Hudson River

“…They didn’t know that we are seeds”

Recently I spent a week with a group of Native American youth ranging in age from 15 to 25 years old. In the face of our country’s brutal history of racist oppression and their own intergenerational trauma, these young people defy the stereotyped “Indian” featured in cowboy Westerns over the decades. They are open, bright and committed to their ancient culture, a culture of peace and harmony with Mother Earth, her species and her resources, and they have much to teach the rest of us. Given all that that divides and haunts our nation, the question is: are we willing to learn from them what it takes to live as one?

Like most adolescents and young adults, these youth seek to carve out a personal identity and to discover where they fit in the world. But rare for people of any age, these members of the Stockbridge-Munsee-Mohican Nation chose to make a pilgrimage in search of their heritage. They travelled halfway across the country, from Northwest Wisconsin to New York’s Hudson Valley, just to see with their own eyes the land their ancestors knew and loved for thousands of years.

The group visits the National Museum of the American Indian

As is the case with a pilgrimage to revered homelands, they did more than see where they came from. They entered into the history and challenges of their native country: the Hudson River, for decades choked with pollution, is showing signs of rebound; their Shinnecock kinswomen are cleaning up septic runoff by farming kelp along the Long Island coast; and at the National Museum of the American Indian, they learned about the grave injustices meted out across the continent to their people, as well as the unwavering beauty of indigenous culture alive in New York City.

Likewise, a pilgrimage carries its travelers into the realm of mystery, spirituality and humanity’s highest callings.  As was true for all of us adults in their company, these youngsters could only wonder at their ancestors’ massive boulder sculptures in Buttonhook Forest. And deep respect stirred within at the graves of Chief Ninham and his soldiers, long ago family of this up and coming 21st-century generation as well as Revolutionary War heroes who paid the ultimate price for American liberty — liberty far too long denied to their own people.

The group greets each other alongside the river

Why journey so far and open themselves further to living with so many contradictions? Quite simply, out of respect for their forefathers and foremothers who carried Wisdom in their ancient ways, and to weave that Wisdom into their own way of life for generations to come.  Already deep within their souls, these youth understand that we human beings are of the Earth, not over her, and it is so often short-sighted folly to use technology in an effort to change or “improve” her ways. What we have done to our Earth homeland we have done to ourselves and one another, but it is not too late to step back from the precipice of racism, violence, environmental degradation, war, ever-growing global disparities between the “have’s” and the “have not’s” –- to name just a few of the disasters of our own creation.

And here is a key component of how to turn these disasters around and live as one: these folks care for one another! From toddlers on up, their indigenous culture provides for a network of mentors, each one teaching, protecting, supporting younger community members, and each one, in turn, humbly looking to elders for that same sort of compassion and guidance. No one is left behind; all are included, even those of us who are not of their culture but seek to grow by learning their ways. They have not fallen into the traps of retribution and bitterness.  Instead, they choose a stance of mutual respect, sharing, acceptance, openness and joy. (And it was with celebratory joy that they shared with passers-by their traditional drumming and singing in Times Square!) Indeed, this is community for which our world truly longs.

The Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans receive a blessing from the Dominican Sisters of Hope

Though seemingly beaten down by white invaders’ military force and government decrees, Native Americans have not been beaten; they are resilient.  Deprived for centuries of their land and the basic necessities of life, they are resourceful within. Yes, they have been ruled over, but do not make the mistake of ruling them out. They are still with us; and if we are open, they can lead us to a place we long to know – Unity and Peace.

As first expressed by poet Dinos Christianopoulos and adapted over time, “They thought they had buried us, but they didn’t know that we are seeds.” Yes, seeds of Hope for the future of our struggling planet. May these youngsters continue to cultivate inner strength, community, and loving respect for Mother Earth and their ancestral heritage, and may their Hope flourish among us!

Margaret McHale

Associate, Dominican Sisters of Hope