- E
FIRST NATION PRISON MINISTRY
YOUR URGENT HELP IS NEEDED IN PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR CONTINUING A
❊ NATIVE, BEAUTY WAY OF BEING PRISON MINISTRY ❊
INTRODUCTION
My name is Larry Wakia Wandbi Colbert, I am a 71 year old tribal elder certified by the www.whitebison.org as a facilitator for the Mending Broken Hearts: Native American Grief Recovery. I began walking the red road in 1990. In 1993, a tribal elder asked me to conduct sweat lodge prayer ceremonies for the violent offenders program at the federal prison in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. I have provided this type of cultural awareness services at several prisons in British Columbia and Quebec. I possess years of experience and enjoy doing my part to help fulfill indigenous prophecies of healing. Presently, I am an Oklahoma Department of Corrections Religious Services Volunteer at two prisons working with the chaplain to help maintain peace and co-existence.
GOAL
The goal of this campaign is two-fold; a short term goal and a long term goal.
Short Term:
- Money is needed for travel expense to and from prison. It is a 4-hour drive one way. There is also expense to gather ceremonial sweat rocks. In summary, support is needed for travel and material expense.
Long Term:
- Financial goal of $6000 purchasing a 6-cylinder used vehicle under 100,000 miles is needed to keep the spiritual initiative ongoing. Currently, I drive a 2010 Tahoe with 317,159 miles. This old pony is on its last leg. Please, help instill an inner peace in the sacred center of pitiful human beings.
CULTURAL AWARENESS; IDENTITY
Traditionally, we are ceremony people. What happened? Why are native families not holding on to the teachings of traditional morals and values? Forced assimilation and the implementation -- "Kill the indian to save the man" has an unexpected twist and detrimental effect resulting in low self-esteem, lack of confidence and self value, shame, denial and identity loss, among a host of other issues.
SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION
There is a small minority population of American Indians that are Christian and actually live the will of God. A minority are retaining our natural relationship with the Creator through ceremonial ways of being. However, the majority of indians do not know God. This is not an opinion. This is fact. The proof is in the pudding.
FACTS
Suicide is nine times higher per capita than any other ethnic group. Alcoholism is ten times higher. Unfortunately, everything bad is statistically higher among natives than any other people in the U.S. In modern times, now, indian culture is alcohol, drugs, gang activity, domestic violence, spousal abuse, sexual molestation and many dysfunctional lifestyles have become normal in adapting to assimilate for survival. Natives are not the only ones "out of whack." American society as a whole manifests dysfunctional behavior; school shootings, drive-by shootings, innocent people killed by drunk drivers... etc. There has to be healing on both sides. One cannot heal when another continues to inflict hurt. If people do not return to sacred teachings and begin to conduct themselves displaying God-like behavior characteristics, we are all going to suffer. To be a better human being, one must turn to a higher power for help.
SOLUTION
There is no solution. There will always be a segment of society that will remain "out of whack" to the bitter end. There will also be people that will seek hope. Returning to our spiritual ways is doing something responsible to correct these things.
Connecting spiritually to stand upright in the sacred powers of creation has worked for native peoples prior to European contact and it will work again now. Thankfully the prophecy of healing has already begun.
"Today's greatest arrogance is to forget the past." -- Joseph Marshall III, Lakota scholar and historian.