Shawn Desjarlais tells the story of his efforts with other Native American youth to create an art form that speaks both to his indigenous roots and to his generations sense of self expression. The Native "hip hop" that Shawn and others are working to create is a distinctive beat, and style, and is explicit in its anti racism and struggle for sovereignty.
Overcoming colonialism through faith and action.
Hau, anpetu kile, me cante eta woaglake,naha, nape chiuzipelo.
(Today I speak to you from my heart, and offer you my hand)
I am Joe Don Kotrla-Chipps from the tiospaye Woptura in Pine Ridge. I am a traditional Sun Dancer and follow the traditional ways of my people, the Oglala Lakota.
The Tunkasilas came to me during a Sun Dance and told me that the sacred hoop was broken when the people were massacred at Wounded Knee in 1890. They said that the hoop couldn't be mended until the medals of (dis)honor that were awarded for this massacre were rescinded.
This year is the year to accomplish this, and I come to you to ask for your help. Through your presentations, and concerts the people can be made aware of these medals and can help get them rescinded.
We need to have congress appoint a committee to review the awarding of these medals. It was done once, but it was back when they were still calling it a "battle". They finally admitted it was a massacre, but still haven't been able to figure out that medals aren't supposed to be awarded for massacres, courts martials are more appropriate.
Please check out my web page at:
http://woptura.com
and please help me get these shameful medals rescinded this year. I am getting older, and I want to see this happen in my lifetime. It will turn things around for our people once the sacred hoop is mended and alcoholism, drug abuse, suicides will all be reduced, if not totally eliminated. The people have lost hope and need something to believe in. Once the sacred hoop is mended this will happen and the people will once more have have something to believe in instead of the bottle.
Pilamaya yelo,
Buffalo Man
Mitakuye Oyasin
How do I help with this? Are there other parts of the Sacred Hoop that need mending also.
Tatanka Mani