BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Native American The Campfire Circle

PS: Sandi Ault is not Native American but does have extensive knowledge of the Puebloan way of life and beliefs.

Momaday, N. Scott (Kiowa), wrote House Made of Dawn in 1968. I have not yet read it, but heard it is really good and well recommended.

I found a link to a site that lists Native American fiction writers. It looks pretty good:

www.multcolib.org/books/lists/NatAmerWriters.pdf

Phyllis, thanks I'll check it out at the library.

Recently, by referral of my great aunt, I read "13 moons" by Charles Frazier.

It is set in the Civil War South. It is basically an orphaned white boy who is sold as an indentured servant to work an out post in the middle of no where not quite NC yet, and how he becomes part of the Native tribe in the area.

Wendy, I'll put this on my list also, thanks.

Ya Ta Say!

I am so pleased to see more friends join us here around the campfire.

I welcome you all and would like to say:
'Cante Waste Nape Ciyu Zapo' (I greet you from my heart).

A little poem I would like to share:

THE HILLS THAT SPEAK

The hills that speak with the voice of one,
The sparkle of the all knowing sun,
The remnants of a stream gone dry,
The sound of an eagle as he passes by,
A movement in the rocks so slight
As you turn to see a lizard run in fright...

All these are there for you to hear,
If you would but listen to the hills.

Until next time,
Wakan Tanan Kici Un.....for those of you who may not know, that means...'May The Great Spirit Bless You'.

Hugs,
kimi kaya

Kimi Kaya,

Greetings and blessings to you.

I love your poems - thank you for sharing.

Ya Ta Say!
Cante Waste Nape Ciyu Zapo
Wakan Tanan Kici Un

Hi Kimi,

Could you please let me know from what language the above phrases come from?

I am trying to learn short phrases (greetings, blessings, etc) from Native American languages and eventually learn entire (hopefully) languages, starting with the ones that are free on-line. I am very concerned that a lot of languages of the First Peoples are becoming lost to the younger generations and I would like to do what I can to help prevent that from happening.

One of my goals in life is to teach Native American languages or at least help in that cause.

Thank you.
Wakan Tanan Kici Un
Phyllis

Lakota Prayer:

Wakan Tanka ~ Oh, great mystery
teach me how to trust my heart and mind,
and to listen to the intuition of my small voice within.
To trust the sacred senses of my body
and the blessings of my spririt.
Please teach me to trust all these things
and to be still, as the air before the dawn
that I might enter my sacred space
and learn to love beyond my fear
and thus, walk in the beauty way of peace
with the passing of each sun.

I agree, Phyllis. It seems the younger people are not interested in learning the native language. What a shame.

It is a very admirable goal you have set for yourself. I wish you luck!

I, too, am trying to learn Lakota. Unfortunately, I was not taught. With the exception of 'ya ta say' which is Apache, the other two phrases are Lakota. My personal favorite is 'Wakan Tanan Kici Un'!

A few Lakota words that may interest you:
'pilamaya' (thank you) or 'pila mita' (my thanks)
'atanikili' (you are awesome)
'heen akeeya' (smile)

oglu waste mitakola, (Good luck, My Friend)
kimi kaya

Thank you, Kimi Kaya. I will add these phrases to my notebook.

I am excited about learning the old languages and doing what I can to pass them on to younger generations.

Pilamaya.