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WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 3 [article] [YouTube]

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WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”?

Let’s look at Eleazar Williams’ Medicine (for an example)!

 

One of the great Tuscarora medicine men was Eleazar Williams (1880-1968), a Sachem Chief of the Turtle Clan.  He studied medicine under the tutelage of Juh G’wa Dee (Cayuga) from the 6 Nations reserve in Canada.

Eleazar was the father of elder Mad Bear’s friend, Ted Williams (1930-2005).  Just like Peter Mitten, Mad Bear had a high degree of respect & admiration for Eleazar and the lighthearted, yet humble way in which he practiced Native American medicine.

The Williams family had a great sense of humor and they were fun to be around.  This probably had an influence on Mad Bear as well.  The Williams, like many Tuscarora families, were both Baptist and traditional.  They managed to preserve & maintain their traditional customs & beliefs, while practicing Christianity.

Read more WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 3 [article] [YouTube] ›

WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 2 [article] [YouTube]

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WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”?

Let’s look at Peter Mitten’s Medicine (an example) to inform us!

 

One of the greatest Cayuga medicine men was Peter “Mitten” John (1904-1974).  Elder Mad Bear had a high degree of respect & admiration for Peter, his mentor, and the humble way in which he practiced Native American medicine.  Mad Bear was his student and he learned much by observing Peter Mitten in the field and took part in many grand adventures with him, as his trusty sidekick.

 

A teaching moment with Peter Mitten

Mad Bear had a close-knit working relationship with Rolling Thunder (1916-1997) aka R.T. (Cherokee), who lived in Carlin, Nevada.  Author, Doug Boyd, written a book about R.T. and his medicine in 1974.  Outside of this connection, Mad Bear & R.T. were friends with another medicine man, Semu Huaute (Chumash), who lived in California.  He was the founder of the Red Wind Intertribal Medicine Camp, San Luis Obispo County.

Read more WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 2 [article] [YouTube] ›

WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 1 [article] [YouTube]

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WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”?

Let’s look at Mad Bear’s Medicine (as an example) to inform us!

 

“The power is not within the medicine men, the power is within the Creator.  We work through the Creator.  We’re only the tools of the Creator.  Without him, Indian medicine can’t work.” -Mad Bear (Tuscarora/Iroquois)

 

It was Mad Bear’s eventful circumstance of being denied a G.I. bill loan to build a house on the Tuscarora Reservation that triggered his calling to become an activist for his Indian people and a medicine man.  Mad Bear researched the prophecies of this people, the teachings of the great Peacemaker, the political history of his forefathers and sought out the great medicine men of the Haudenosaunee.

Read more WHAT IS INDIGENOUS “MEDICINE”? Part 1 [article] [YouTube] ›

BECOMING AN APPRENTICE TO AN ELDER [article]

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BECOMING AN APPRENTICE TO AN ELDER 

(Learning the traditional way)

 

Relationship built on Trust

With all the years that Michael Bastine (Algonquin) spent with elder Mad Bear (Tuscarora/Iroquois) as his apprentice, he never once heard him say what anyone should or shouldn’t do.  Mad Bear would give caution at times, but he respected free will.  Mad Bear never tried to portray himself as an authority figure.

Due to this mutually respectful relationship, Michael and Mad Bear’s other apprentices had the opportunity to learn traditional medicine ways in an environment that was sacred and built on trust.

 

“I have consistently found that it is very important to listen, observe quietly and refrain from questions.  Native people are very keen observers.  They do not barrage their teachers and elders with questions.  Instead, they watch and listen.  It is a cultural learning modality born of experience and one worth noting.” -Tim Ballingham (Mad Bear’s apprentice)

 

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TIME FOR INTER-TRIBAL UNITY [ Call-To-Action speech] [transcript]

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Transcript of Inter-Tribal Unity Speech by Mad Bear Anderson (Tuscarora/Iroquois)

 

Speaker/Mad Bear: Time is ever so short! You must, right now straighten this out, between yourself, the Creator and my people. We are gathering our nations together! You must gather yours together!  To return back to the spiritual way of life; to return back as the Creator has intended. Or this whole world will be destroyed.

We are here today under our grandfather the Sun who is our witness and we have come here to deliver a message to all of you people, to all of our brothers & sisters to tell you that there are many things that are happening in this world now, and that we who are close to the forces of nature, close to the land and the spirits, and close to the Creator, know how to interpret these things, according to our prophecies.

Our Unity Caravan to begin with, began on August 21, 1967, at the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, near Bethany, New York. We called an emergency council, an emergency convention. We sent notices to all of our brothers & sisters, to come and meet with us because we saw a great problem facing our people.

Read more TIME FOR INTER-TRIBAL UNITY [ Call-To-Action speech] [transcript] ›