My Younger Sister

She taught me so much and she is gone!

She has a son and daughter to carry on.

She has 5 granddaughters and 2 grandsons left here.

She said, “Sister, we have culture cops everywhere.”

Culture cops, where?

~

They will tell you what to do!

Who can name our children, yes they will.

And how to smudge too!

You carry the water in your left hand and still,

it is important to use traditional tobacco,

and stick matches, so

don’t use lighters, no no!

~

“Sister, we do things as we were taught

by our families.” It is not necessary to have bought

all the other stuff that is going around.

We can have a teacher we can listen to, what they’ve found.

Our answers will come using asema, yes they do

and in ceremony, a belief in giizheymanidoo

~

“Sister, we were told we can name our own. The spirit name

will come. You have had a couple of dreams for two that came

to you. We carry the water in the left hand as it is the closest

to our heart. We have a finger that goes directly there.”

Some of our people are just the nosiest, and they stare.

They could mind their own business but their

hanging around over here.

~

“Sister, we were lucky to grow up with stories like we did.”

Cultural stories, and modern-day stories too kid.

It is important to keep sharing those tails.

and the 7 grandfathers are still the thing to live by.

Our people suffer hardships to this day, no need for details,

Most of our people know. You don’t have to tell me any lie.

It is tough to follow the red road and to live in balance

The four directions, and so many more 4’s. Maybe take another glance.

~

“Sister, time is different where I am. I can visit family, friends, heaven, the everlasting happy place and Valhalla!”

I looked the last place up on google and it is a hall for warriors, howah!

I knew my sister was a warrior. Never a doubt in my mind!

She was always so sweet and caring but one or two thought she was unkind.

Keep telling your stories, living the seven grandfathers, and sharing some.

Love, truth, bravery, respect, honesty, humility, and wisdom.

~

First published by Mercury Press in Medium.