http://www.aetw.org/mandela.htm

It was read at the invitational circle after which I signed up for my NWTA in 2008 by one of the Warrior brothers whom I have most respected, John Beck (R.I.P.).

Dave Anderson
Panther w/ Watchdog Spirit
Camp Helen Brachman May ’08

I hear “child energy” and mature masculine energy. In the book “God’s In Every Man” there is discussion about the different archetypes that with within us all. Though each of us has a slight variation, or uniqueness, in our archetype expressions.

In our western society men no longer have a true rite of passage. We never get to “kill” or attachment to our youthful, child energy. This is not to make the child wrong–only to remove our attachment to it.

This attachment is what plays our when we stomp our feet and whine over getting laid off. Mature masculine energy looks forward and is ready for the next hunt.

Mature masculine also channels our “higher self” or as Napoleon Hill put it, ‘other self.’

Without a true rite of passage we are left to grow through breaking an attachment on our own. Many men never do which is why we see so many boys pretending to be men (Newt in my opinion is a great example of this).

Thanks for the thoughts–I enjoyed your posts!

I count this five-year experience as one of the most significnt in my my life.
Thank you, Papa Smurf.
Amir Latif of Juggling Book fame.

Introduction protocol

For those of you who don’t know me my name is Ipswa Mescacakanis I am Yellowhead from Mount Robson British Columbia Canada I live in Snuneymuxw territory on Vancouver Island. I am Cree and Gaelic and the oldest of the Green caste; I’m known by many names I prefer to be called Grandpa Coyote I am Great Grandfather of Coyotes and Father and Grandfather to all. I am grateful for the opportunity to live here with the West Coast peoples and for the ability to share our teachings and stories. It is my belief that our culture and stories are a vital part of our eldership and teachings for the younger generations it is through our connection of our history and our lived experiences on land shared through our oral culture and by our presence in our communities lives that we can develop competencies and skills worth passing on to future generations. I am blessed to live the life the cultural Elders and grandparents laid out for me as a medicine man who maintains the traditions teachings and practices of our peoples. Its is our practices from the door way in and back that things are done in a respectful and proper manner such that no one leaves with bad feelings and everyone is included and connected to the experiences. Whether you walk the White or Red road or that of other traditions it is my humble view of the work of elders to come that it is vital to the success and survivance of all peoples and the Great-Grandmother Earth that each become awakened and know Who they are and there connected to the great weave or web of life. This and many more teachings and perspectives was shared at the recent gathering of elders from many walks and sacred places; that its time that our teachings be shared and for all Knowledge and Wisdom keepers to step forward and ensure that the voices of our ancestors are heard. I choose to share these words today not that as one person or one man but the voice of many whom I have “Witnessed” and listen to over my journey in their words in their voices. I mean no disrespect to any member or community and understand that we all come from some place and we all have our customs and ways. I share our customs protocols and understandings in hopes that it brings you to your own center of wellness for my children’s children and that you support us in return by passing it on to others. I thank you for listening … Hope that one day you will extended your hand in welcoming me in to your lodge territory and home knowing and sharing the ways of elder beings the grandfathers and mothers of the earth supporting our communities cultures and future generations.

Why names and protocols are important

Our customs and protocols are based on interrelation in connection and inter-being as aboriginal peoples and those of culture far and wide, the importance of name and place play significant role just as academic scholars provide citations of other people’s works in this way we do not plagiarize plunder or steal other people’s cultures and we support them in their struggles to maintain cultural identity and integrity by naming whom has given the teaching and practices from the lodge to the great talking circle and the words of prayer we use and where they are from as well as acknowledging the sacred land we stand upon. By giving the names of our teachers and places that we’ve learned our aboriginal teachings from, we not only create connections that allow the younger generations to understand the lineage it develops oral history, connections accountability integrity and honor it encourages them to shares the relationship and responsibility with the peoples of the lands and cultures to which they are also connected to in this way we carry forward cultural and personal integrity and accountability and we all become related ALL MY RELATION. It is this reason and significantly important as future Elders to develop impeccable speech which creates connection; through us as we are speaking at the beginning and ending of gatherings it provides deep significance to all whom have gathered and in those words we share we set tone and scared space and connection for all of us. It is we older men who set the tone and make corrections of the younger when things get of track or when protocol is missed as scared care takers we are in connection Ubuntu “I am because you are” the reflection of manhood becomes clear and the steps of our ancestors which we follow become all the deeper and wider for those behind us as we walk together. Its is our eldership whom are always watching and listening and it’s in our role as great fathers to extended our hands to young elders and young elders in training and ensure there path is set; when it is time stand them up so other know who they are and there dedication to the great circle. It is we who stand and speak when words are need and we who sit watch and listen for the teachable moments we do not take our cue from any but the Great Spirit and our council of the wise moving as “one peoples for our peoples”. I thank the elders at my new Warriors training for doing this and allowing me to share our culture and connections that the Warriors might understand the world they live on in our interrelation of all things and for sharing some of these practices. And for allowing to to be as I have been taught.

elder, Elders and Eldership…

In our people’s way of understanding eldership is not a destination or an age it is a way of living and being which is taught from an early age that we are all older brothers and sisters to one another and that we each hold sacred gifts and teachings as we progressed in our lives we continue to develop and grow and or special gifts and our ability to help one another in the great spirit and walk sacredly on Grandmother Mother Earth. Therein eldership within our communities is recognition of a lifetime’s accomplishment of sharing and using our gifts for the betterment of our peoples. While few of us would ever call ourselves elders, it is only the power and privilege and prestige given to us in sacred trust by our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and children to come that allow use to be THAT WHICH WE ARE. In our practice many young men growing into grandfather but are not called elders Or Elder even though they may have gray hair and have spent many years in service there is a difference! To us the small “e” elder are those whom have matured and been see as elders doing as they have been gifted and directed by creator and that of “E” is the respect and dignity given to those who used their gifts for the betterment of the people and sacrificed their time presents an energy for the well being of all nations as a “life times progress rather then awaking to being old”, it is often reserved for the most eldest and revered of our membership. Many aboriginal people would take exception to individuals referring to themselves as elders it is often the customs and practices of distinction of older men to be called uncles aunties grandfather’s and grandmothers it is only outside relations (those not directly related to us in kinship other chiefs communities) and those of there opposite clans and high speakers would refer to individuals as Elders. Only on rare occasions when individual family members or persons identified themselves as an elder often as example of showing the most senior age in the family lineage or when empowered to do so by the Clan family. Eldership means not only living and breathing the teachings of our nations and cultures it means a daily path of dedication to the highest principles of creators plan and path.

What is an Elder to do;

Elders are responsible for the well being of our community by providing LOVE, Care and Protection for every living thing in our community. Through their Teachings, Prayers, and Presence of COMPASIONATE WISDOM Elders interpret the events of today into a cultural frame work of TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL & INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE which conveys a Spiritual & Cultural continuity of the Past, Present and Future. It is through their Leadership and Role-modeling of these practices and beliefs that we become Connected to our cultural Roots and Routes in life. Elders help connect us to our ancestral teachings and through them we come to know who we are as we explore the Great Mysteries of Life.

How Elder’s walk;

Elders have received or lived long enough to understand the instruction for how to live a good Life : 4L’s Living Learning Love and Laughing they understand the way to walk in this life 4 R’s Respect Responsibility Reassurance and Rights they know their instruction from creator includes all living things and grows through the Great Mystery’s four walks of man from birth childhood youth adulthood and grandfather back to the great mystery beyond the veil and in this walk he has master the qualities of Mind, Body, Heart, Soulful-Sprit in a life filled with Purpose, Values and Relationship. In this way he has become rooted in manner that others come to know themselves and the Great Spirit mystery of all mysteries.

The Teachings:

The teachings come from all places and manner they are the stuff that has grown us into the ways of being in good relations and support and nurtured our lives that we stands as victors over the shadows that might once have taken our voices hearts and minds. They are filled with meaning values and principles about that which we are and REJECT THAT WHICH WE ARE NOT. They live long past living memories of any alive and carry to those yet welcomed in our lives. These golden rules stories and truths speak volumes about how to be, what to do and remind us of the value of the Tree and the Forest at same time. They are what make use indigenous to one another and brothers in arms. They are the missing fiber that the youth crave in connection they are what make life worth sharing and loving and being in good relations with one another.

The modern dilemma

My relations I write this in reply to the many form boards questioning the certifications and process and procedures of Elders and how things are to be. I seen this to be much as in the outer world we have come to a cross road in many things on the great road there is much Brokenness and we see an aging generation of baby boomers and peoples whom have lost there way and many more trying to find Home from and urban desert and the empty pop cultures that have been created, the decision and choices of the past are laid before us and much of the spoils leave a hollow emptiness and lay carnage of our natural resources in this we ourselves and our communities lay restless and terrorized frozen in our own stuff … it is in this moments now that we need to find courage and be the men we are and need in our lives we called upon our deepest inward voices and heart to take stock and make a decision and commitment of how things will be in this times of prophecy as the old ones say “We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For” this evolution is not one of race creed color or nations it is the voices of our ancestors reaching out through our purpose and intent to provided opportunity for each and very man to weight in and become the grandfather he wish to be creating the homes communities and nations we vision and long for. One need simply do so! There has been no other time in this world that has seen this many grandfathers it is time that each take that to heart and do as the old ones say…

The decision before us..

It is not for others to decide who we are and how we walk; we simple need to be that Which We Are… In this way I extend my hand to you that we might walk together it is not a question of how others would define our heritage, birth right and practices for there is no accreditation certification or process that clearly moves one in the journey of grandfather hood in to that of an elder but rather that we as older men need to live with Bravery, Fortitude and Generosity and Wisdom in our own practices beliefs and culture and support one another to cultivate a Minds-Heart of Equalitive-Balance, Love, Joy and Compassionate Wisdom. We are our own healers and supporters in our own places we as brother each one linked as One Peoples help one another and hold the lantern high upon the road that our relations may find us and there way Home.

I will not be defined by the roles of others and there organizations I am accountable to my children’s children and my peers. It is to my grandfather brothers whom extended there hand in friendship to me and welcome me upon there land and care for the people and there homes in a good way that I take my guidance and my support. It is they Who See Me, it is to them that I call Elder and follow in their foot steps. An elder is an Elder when one has arrived in that place where there is no other title to hold no other description that best fits there role places and purpose no walls no separation no distinction of role entitlements there is no need for division ritual holder or water poor you simple are my brothers! I would be ashamed of myself and the people if because of age or infirmity that one day my brother would not have place in the great circle that some one would tell him what he can or can not do or what role he might play as on of the oldest in my community I miss my eldest brothers while they keep the halls of our ancestors waiting to blanket our people as they arrive in the great here after I would do anything for my eldest brother still here, there is no price to high to support there dignity and they hold much of our collective memory I would think ill that some one would decided what certifies them or not.. I and We certify them we pay them the highest respect for the time they have given we feed our Elders first for that reason and more!!!

Let us instead talk the words of our teachings and how we may grow old with dignity respect kindness how we can support the younger and older brothers what we need to do our roles well and how we might show others the ways to change grow live and love… the humble gratitude’s of the things we have been given in this life and the thousand thank yous we never say but carry in our hearts…

I wish you well that these words carry far and wide; for these are the words of the old ones
I have said them as well as I can; forgive me old ones if I have forgotten any or left something or someone out for I am only man and will fast in penances and pray each day.

Peace be upon you brothers and the road ahead
May your shadow grow long and your burden lighten
May the Great Spirit be upon you and all the empty places you may go
May your brothers be there to hold you and greet you when you are Home
When your time comes may Great Spirit Mystery of all Mystery uplift sift sure
Know that there the Ancient Peoples wait in the place where no shadow lies
Open arms welcoming you as One.

Yours in the Great Sprite
Great Grandfather of Coyotes
Ipswa Mescackanis
Grandpa Coyote