Native American Wisdom

I have spent my afternoon reading Zinn’s account of the horrific treatment of Native Americans.  I remember being confused and angry in grade school when I was taught my people, Native Americans were cruel and disgusting because they scalped the white civilized settlers.  I left school feeling ashamed, confused and angry.  My great-great grandmother was visiting, so I ask her, why do they say we were cruel savages? I will never forget her response, “Sissy, what you read in books and are taught by learned people is not always the truth. I want you to do good in school.  Promise you will always remember there is more than one way to tell a story.”  At the time I was too young and lacked the capacity to fully understand what she meant.  However I took those words to heart, many years later I fully understand there is always more than one way to tell a story.

Thanks to her story telling abilities, I had the privilege of learning about my Native American heritage. Her stories caused me to fall in love with the ways of my people. Please view the two video’s below, they are powerful messages from Native Americans.  I fully believe you will find some similarities in the Native American way of thinking and the social work way of thinking.

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