The Children of Our Future
Our Children will be adding pictures of their  Artwork
and pictures of animals they see around their homes
to this page.  Elders if you know an answer to any of
the questions the children have posted please feel
free to email that answer to                                              
                 troubledwaterss@yahoo.com  
and we will post the answer with its question.  Our
children wish to learn from you all.  Wado, for your
time and patience as we learn from you.
Our Children Ask
At what age are you considered
an Elder?
Is one animal more important than
all the others or are they all
equally important?
As an Elder, I still use the old colors from our Medicine Wheel which are
different than
the Lakota Colors, or colors on the wheel of many other tribes.

  EAST:        The color is red.  The East is where the Eagle (U-wa-ho-li)
sits.  The Eagle teaches
                    distance vision, and great illumination.  Eagle teaches us to
not only look
                    at what seems the closest and easiest answer, but to look
ahead for the wisdom.

  NORTH:      The color is Blue - North is where the White Haired Ones
(A-ga-yv-li-ge) live.
                    The All-Knowing, The Rattlesnake, and all keepers of Wisdom.
 It is  the place              
                     where we learn the wisdom of the Old Ones.

  WEST:        The color is Black.  It is where the Bear (Yona) lives.  It is
where we look in retrospect
                     at what we have been doing with our lives.  Are we
respectful?  Are we
                     responsible?  Are we honest?  Do we honor our parents and
Elders?

  SOUTH:   The color is White. It is where the Panther (Tlv-da-tsi)  lives.   
South is the Place of The Heart
                     and is where we learn courage and bravery.

In the center of our Wheel, lives Blue Man, where we must return between
each directional teaching
so that we may learn humility.

The other three directions (completing the 7 directions) are placed in the
center of the Wheel, and
Yellow is for the Upper World, Green is for the Middle World and Brown is
for the Below World.

Respectfully,
Grandmother Red Leaf,  Agigaue
Are we allowed to talk to the Elders?
Yes, especially if you are very
respectful!  All of the elders that I know
love to answer questions from younger
people.  It is a good idea to stand and
wait quietly until they ask you what you
need.  Do not interrupt them if they are
busy or talking to someone else, that is
disrespectful, your questions will not
be welcome then.  Your actions show
your respect for them.

Yona Dideyahvsgi

....If an Elder is busy all the time and
you cannot get his or her attention
properly, it is okay to go to another
older person and ask them to ask that
Elder when you can ask your
questions.  Much important talk is done
at Gatherings with so many honored
guests that getting time can be difficult.
 Sometimes you just have to wait a
while.

Ulista Waya
How many dances are there? Are
they hard to learn?
Why do some people where
one kind of dress and
others are fancier?
How old do you have to be when
you are allowed to wear your first
buckskins?
How do you ask an Elder
permission to learn from them?
Such as a Pipe Maker,Language,
Beads/Quillwork, Drum maker. I am
sure there are more but I am just
curious of how and who to ask.
Why  are there different
types of Moccasins?
...You can just simply ask.  
Traditionally in many of our Native
cultures, there is a simple ceremony.  
The person asking offers the elder a
gift of tobacco or other sacrd herbs,
sweet grass, sage, or cedar are often
used.  You are asking for something
special.  Most elders don't give an
instant answer, they want to know a
little about you first and may ask your
parents.  If for some reason the
answer at this time is no, they return
your gift offering.  Maybe they will tell
you there is something else you need
to learn first.  Once you have learned
what is needed, then they can
continue your lessons.

Yona Dideyahvsgi
Is there an age you have to be
before you may wear a medicine
bag?


What do the colors mean? What
direction are the colors to be
facing?
Where can I learn the
language?
What is the importance of
the pipe ceremony?
Where do we find the old songs?
What did the Ancestors eat that
we still eat today? Are there
recipes that can be handed
down?
Basically it is an earned title.  It is my
experience that there is no specific
age, though usually I find that most
elders are much older than 50 winters.  
Personally I had 60 winters when I was
first seated at the Elders' Table.  It was
a great surprise!  I and my wife felt
greatly honored.

Yona Dideyahvsgi
p.s. Currently I have more than 5 great
grandchildren.


.....Some persons are addressed as
Grandfather or Grandmother at an age
younger than 50 because of the
wonderful things that person has to
teach other people.  Some men and
women get wisdom at a very early age
because of what they have
experienced or have some to
understand.  At our Gatherings people
of over 65 get to be brought to the
front of the line at meals, and it is
always polite to offer to let an older
person move in front of you.  They
may decline to do so but they will think
you have good manners.

Ulista Waya
They are all equally important!  Even
Grandmother shrew is as important as
Grandfather bear.  Each animal has its
place in our world wide family as each
of us do!  Remember this true fact my
children and grand children.

Yona Dideyahvsgi

.....The mouse and the shrew know
many things that the bear does not.  
The sparrow may not fly as high as the
eagle, but can turn faster and go into
many places the eagle cannot.
Each creature has its own type of
strength and knowledge, all have much
to teach us.

Ulista Waya