I was invited to participate with a Navajo friend in a sweat lodge (native
american sauna). It has symbolism to American Indians. No peyote; it was a
makeshift type deal my friend put together, I was the only 'white man'. Not
a real hogan type like you see on television. It has been a long time ago,
but I remember, though primitive, and I felt silly at first; it was really
refreshing.
Just for point of interest; Navaho is our name for them, they call themselves
"Denai" which means "the people". Navojo do not have anything to do wih
snakes -dead or alive--it is verbotten. Navajo will not mess around with
dead bodies.
American Indians are very bright with strong intellectual curiosity. The
stereotype we see is based, I believe, primarily on their strange biological
reaction to alcohol. American Indians should not drink alcohol. It is very
different than non-american indians biological reaction to alcohol, very hard
to understand.
Well; I said my understanding of American Indians. I know that some people
have a problem with the casinos and if they live in places li8ke Gallup,
N.M., with streets and jails full of drunk Indians, at certain times of the
month.
Personally, I believe our greatest sin , as a nation, was not slavery, as is
commonly said. That was a great sin, but in the long run, the progeny of
slaves have multiplied in this country.. But, looking back at the history of
Indians, I don't see how, just in numbers and present living conditions, the
end result could be described as being anything other than acute and chronic
genocide.
I don't know where all of that came from. I almost decided to cancel this
email, but I'll send it. Maybe my time in that sweat lodge, and with my
firend, was for a purpose; ..............bobford