Ghost Dance Prophecy Fulfilled
February 25, 2008
I had the privilege of attending a gathering last weekend in southern Maryland between the local Piscataway Indian Nation and people of Native American ancestry who hail from the countries of El Salvador, Paraguay, Colombia and Peru. Included in the group were Spanish-speaking laborers from Prince William County in Virginia, who have been the target of attacks by anti-immigrant forces.
During the evening, many people spoke, with English translated into Spanish or Spanish into English, as and necessary. At the end, of the evening, Chief Billy Redwing Tayac made a speech to his guests that pulled together Native American history and the current immigration debate. His speech is reproduced with his permission.
My name is Billy Redwing Tayac. I am the hereditary chief of the Piscataway people, who are indigenous to Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. Our present ceremonial ground and spiritual and political center is located in what is called Port Tobacco, Md.
Over the years, I have worked for the reclamation of Indian people. We have so many people who have lost their way, who don’t know anything about their traditions or religion. This work involves “de-Angloization,” or bringing our people back to the earth, back to being Indian people. It is hard to be an Indian in any city, because we are separated from the earth by concrete. We can’t feel the power of the earth, the wind, the trees.
All people, regardless of color, were at one time tied to the earth. Even the Europeans had tribes tied to the earth. The earth is everything to everybody.
My father, Chief Turkey Tayac, was a traditional chief, but I was much more interested in joining with other Indians in groups, such as the American Indian Movement. Through AIM, I came to realize that to be an Indian today, one must transcend tribalism. We are a race of people. In the terminology of the movement, we are “Many Nations, One People.” Whether we speak English, Spanish or Portuguese, Indians are all one people stretching from the tip of North America to the tip of South America.
The dominant society has divided us, cutting up our land into slices they call countries. But we are still a people — and not a small group of people. There are tens of millions of Indian people in the Western Hemisphere.
Governments don’t like to classify us as Indians. What some call mestizos, Latinos, Hispanics or Chicanos are really Indians. They are not classified as Indians because of paper genocide. The Indian people themselves will say, “I am a Mexican,” because they have been brainwashed, because the lowest people on the ladder are the Indians. Who wants to be part of that group?
The rise of the American Indian Movement in the late 1960s helped to restore a sense of pride. People were no longer ashamed to be Indian. They demanded that treaties be upheld. They demanded to be treated as human beings. AIM brought back the traditions, customs and religions to thousands, maybe millions, of Indian people.
In the late 1800s on the Great Plains, the Indian communities were suffering tremendous depopulation. There was famine, disease and forced removals from the land. They were losing their culture, and they were in danger of being completely exterminated.
One of the spiritual renewal movements of that time called for people to perform a Ghost Dance for several days and nights. The feasting and spiritual renewal would lead to a return of the ancestors and an end to the illegitimate power of the European invaders.
While the power of the Europeans has continued, I see the other part of the Ghost Dance prophecy coming true today. So-called Hispanics, with faces that sure look like Indians to me, are returning to repopulate North America. We cannot always speak to each other, because we have learned the languages of different colonial powers. But these Indians have as much right to come and go on our land as the geese when they migrate north and south. No one would dare to ask them for their passports and visas as they cross man-made borders.
Indian peoples can become a powerful voting block in this country, especially if we all check the Census category for “Native American.” There are some Hispanics who do not have any Indian roots because their families migrated from Europe to Latin America recently. But many so-called Hispanics can trace their roots to a combination of European, African, Asian and Indian ancestors.
Instead of seeing Hispanics as outsiders who do not belong here, we need to start seeing them as ancestors of the original inhabitants of these lands. They are the living fulfillment of the Ghost Dance prophecy.
For more information: piscatawaynation.org.
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[…] shikaa00 wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI had the privilege of attending a gathering last weekend in southern Maryland between the local Piscataway Indian Nation and people of Native American ancestry who hail from the countries of El Salvador, Paraguay, Colombia and Peru. … […]
I did a bit of Internet research and found information posted by Lea C. Sims alleging that the Maryland Piscataway Indians are a fraud. See: Simshttp://www.eskimo.com/~lcsims/tayacfraud.htm
Is there more information about this around?
Dear Troy,
Thanks for writing.
Sims has been discredited, but continues to spread falsehoods. The State of Maryland convened a Recognition Committee that unanimously determined that Chief Tayac and his family met he criteria for recognition. See the letter of former Recognition Committee member Chris Goodwin for details:
http://tinyurl.com/2hyzr6
http://tinyurl.com/2zlfye
The Wikipedia entry for Chief Billy Redwing Tayac’s father, Chief Turkey Tayac says it all: “In contrast to Sims’ and Brown’s self-published internet pieces, the State of Maryland appointed a panel of anthropologists, genealogists, and historians to review thousands of pages of Piscataway genealogical primary sources. The panel, including a genealogist with the Maryland State Archives, concluded that the Piscataway records showed a clear link to the historic Piscataway. A Letter to the Editor published on August 29, 2007 in the Maryland Independent provides testimony by a member of the Recognition Advisory Committee testifies to these facts. Turkey Tayac’s genealogical information was also validated by this panel of independent experts and reviewed and approved by the Maryland Commission of Indian Affairs. In contrast, Leah Sims’ allegations were disproved and characterized as a politicized action to dispute state tribal recognition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_Tayac
Best regards,
Phil
Bravo !
Phil Nash and AsianWeek may be but one small voice herein, but, nonetheless, a voice AND a view long long overdue in the “American” dialog.
The fact that the direct descendants, in mind and spirit that is, of the original usurpers and oppressors still in denial of their culpability, continue to trump up lies about Chief Tayac should reenforce the claims and charges of the American Indian Movement.
What I find poetic AND pragmatic in Tayac’s speech above is his reference to the “earth,” much as Chief Joseph’s of the Nez Perce?, and no less in everything we believe we know about the Druids.
Equally pertinent, and touching, is the concept of “paper genocide,” resonant as thunder.
And, bemusingly, highly applicable to today’s “mestizo” reclamation of California del Norte.
As for the “ghost dance,” is that ought but an honoring and celebration of one’s ancestors?
And is that not a truly holy AND authentic belief?
Only in respecting and honoring one’s forebears can one discover one’s self, and, perhaps, inspire the way to respecting and honoring one’s progeny?
Frank Eng
P.S.: Phil: Did you know that the Navajo are not only matrilinear in their ethnocultural society? And that they are, like the Chinese, among others?, hip and cool to the subtleties of matrilinear and patrilinear relationships and titles? Methinks they crossed the Bering Straits as a landmass, and the “Indians,” non-Hindi that is, athwart both continents, north to south, are “a people,” even as Chief Tayac believes. Not that that makes “them” special, but it sure as hell makes them “equal.”
First of all, when you say anti-immigrant you mean anti-illegal immigrant. Secondly comments like “We cannot always speak to each other, because we have learned the languages of different colonial powers” are ridiculous given the hundreds if not thousands of indian languages in this hemisphere. Furthermore, he simplifies the vast cultural differences between American Indian groups. Finally you need to know that while Billy Redwing Tayac may represent your opinions on immigration he certainly does not speak for all American Indians. As someone with American Indian ancestry (Choctaw) I’m certainly not happy to see further invaders.
Dear Frank and Tim,
Thanks for your comments. I wanted to give a brief reply to Tim about several points he made. Yes, there were many Indian languages in 1491, and yes, there are many points of view on immigration and every other issue within the American Indian community. I am not an expert on American Indian culture and history, but was merely trying to capture the view of a well-respected Chief here on the East Coast. I do agree with his sentiments, however, so I’m sorry you see the so-called “Latinos” of Indian ancestry as “invaders.” I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
Thanks again to both of you for taking the time to write.
Phil
Tim:
Even though I too disagree with you about your concerns about “other invaders,” I think I can also “understand” said “feelings.”
They are feelings rather than reasonings, and, as such, go back to every individual’s fears of “others.”
But, that in no way rationalizes the obvious fact herein that native “Indian” mixed-race newcomers are in any way, shape, or form, “invaders.”
They are, in fact and essence, spirit buddies as the oppressed.
A century and a half ago and more, some Cantonese were “imported”/recruited as cheap labor in the “Gold Mountains,” and were, similazrly, marginalized and oppressed and totally misunderstood, as if the “white” establishment made any such effort.
We threatened no one, indeed, subsequently, quaintly?, were idealized, in the face of less “ruly” “minorities,” dubbed a “model” such, apologies to Arthur Hu.
All of it is tripe, or garbage, in the sense that none of it addresses either the realities OR the “ideals” of said “community.”
What I am trying to say is simple: the “common” working man, the ‘EVERYman” of Englsh Lit, is the “universal soldier” of “civilization,” what little there is of it today.
“We” are ALL, of every race and hue and creed and code, the ciphers and minions of those who mindlessly “move” and “shake,” with or without condescension.
In my day, said “aliens, ” legal or merely exploited, were referred to as “wetbacks,” their immediate predecessors pachucos and gang-bangers. Nothing has changed but the demographics and the self-identification of far too many of the oppressed with their oppressors.
Think about it.
I once met a young Navajo? in Gallup, who, in his brainwashed way, assured me that the Canyon de Chelly was “just another ‘ditch’.”
Well, after breathlessly contemplating same, high atop the Spider Rock Overlook, unbidden tears of wonder in my eyes, I pondered the sad cynicism of said young man.
No cathedral, whatever the architectonics, could ever come so close to GOD.
And that is but one single obeisance to Chief Tayac’s reverent reference to “the Earth.”
Frank Eng
P.S.: The identical attitude is precisely what enables the establishments to wield their unearthly and ungodly “powers” of domiinance and diminishment. Of our joined and individual worth that is.
[…] was ratified, limiting presidents to two terms. In 1973, members of thewww.worldalmanac.comGhost Dance Prophecy Fulfilled - Asian WeekThe rise of the American Indian Movement in the late 1960s helped to restore a sense of pride. […]
GREETINGS!
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS MADE BY TIM THE (CHOCTAW) NATIVE AMERICAN DESCENDANT.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF THAT PART OF YOUR ANCESTRY, HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY THE RICH HERITAGE THAT YOU HAVE INHERITED BY BLOOD. ONLY THEN CAN YOU UNDERSTAND & APPRECIATE THE WORDS OF THE CHIEF & RELATING TO THE PROPHECY OF THE GHOST DANCE.
IMMIGRATION…LEGAL OR ILLEGAL IS A BITTER SUBJECT…FROM YEARS PAST TO PRESENT DAY FOR MANY NATIVE AMERICANS. NEVERTHELESS, THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION CONCENTRATES ONLY UPON THE NATIVE AMERICANS [CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA] DESCENDANTS ON THE U.S.A. SOUTHERN BORDER.
THE ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN PROPHECIES SPEAK OF THE THE GREAT GATHERING IN THE CENTER POINT OF NORTH AMERICA. THIS AREA WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE RESERVATIONS THAT WAS PROVIDED & CURRENTLY MAINTAINED FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS BY THE EUROPEANS.
I AM A NATIVE AMERICAN & MY FATHER’S PEOPLE WERE THE FIRST NATION TO BE PLACED ON A RESERVATION IN NORTH AMERICA. THE TUSCARORA NATION LOST A THREE YEAR WAR IN 1713 TO THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA.
THE RESERVATION WAS KINDA LIKE THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS[PRISON] OR THE FEDS DEPARTMENT OF BIA. THE RESERVATION IS AN INHERITED BONDAGE FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS. WE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN NORTH AMERICA OR THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE WAITING TO BE PAROLED FROM THIS DOC SYSTEM DESIGNED OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
TODAY…I’M A MEMBER OF THE LUMBEE NATION IN NORTH CAROLINA A STATE-RECOGNIZED AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBE.
KNOW THAT ALL THESE EVENTS WERE PROPHESIED BY ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN FATHERS TO COME FORTH IN FUTURE GENERATIONS OF TIME. I INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE OF THE ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN FATHERS & THEIR PROPHECIES DOWN TO THE PRESENT DAY. THE UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PROPHECIES MAY HELP YOU HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR OUR ANCIENT FATHERS & THE CURRENT NATIVE AMERICAN CHIEFS TRYING TO EDUCATE MANY ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION THAT IS PROMISED TO THIS PART OF THE LAND ON MOTHER EARTH.
THEN YOU MAY UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS A MIGRATION OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS TO THIS LAND OF THE FREE…A MANIFEST DESTINY IN REVERSE.
HAVE A NICE DAY!
BJL