"Women's role in their families   and communities"

    The richness of our histories and heritage provide anchors, which hold us to who we are.  Our people have experienced generations of loss from which we are only now beginning to recover.  This sense of loss and intergenerational grief that is a part of it are strong elements affecting the balance of our families.

    In our traditional way, our women are the foundation of their families, creating a home atmosphere of respect, security and harmony.  By natural laws, our Creator gave women the ability to reproduce life.  The most sacred of all things is life. We need to treat our women in a sacred manner- with respect and understanding.  This support can keep cycling throughout our Indian families, strengthening our journey to wellness.

"Strengthening Our Families Through Women's Wellness"

    We often hear the term "walk in balance."  We strive for that balance, but it can be challenging at times.  We walk through many stages of life;  infancy, childhood, teen years, adulthood, then becoming an elder.  As we get older, our priorities in life change.  What doesn't change is our ability to learn and grow spiritually and emotionally.  Knowing where we came from helps us to know where we are going.  But what is most important is where we are now.  Balance includes regular check-ups, healthy diet, exercise, prayer, ceremony, friendships and family.  Sometimes being in balance means sacrifice but the rewards are abundant.  The difficulty is being patient in our journey and maintaining the balance we seek.

"Little Sister Mouse"

Our little Sister Mouse lives in the East. The Great Spirit has given her many gifts. One gift given to her is the gift of living in the here and now. Not always looking to the future or the past. This is the special gift of our little mouse sister.

Little Sister Mouse is sometimes caught unaware by the owl because she forgets to listen and watch for inner warning signs that rumble like thunder or flash like lighting within her.

It is our brother, the noble eagle, who also lives in the East that teaches us to listen and look. Listening to the strength within, he keeps strong and healthy by being watchful for sickness which can rob him of his health.

Soaring above, the noble eagle sees the big picture of life and understands the importance of taking the time to take care of himself by listening and watching for warning signs of the enemy: CANCER. To be like our little Sister Mouse, doing things with all of our might, is good, but we must also be like the noble eagle-watchful of keeping the enemy of cancer away by knowing the seven possible warning signs of cancer.

Change of bowel or bladder habits,2) A sore that does not heal,3) Unusual bleeding or discharge,4) Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere,5) Indigestion or having difficulty swallowing,6) Obvious change in wart or mole,7) Nagging cough or hoarseness.

    The preventive way was the Indian way of life for most young women.  From childhood to womanhood, we were taught the ways of good health.  Good health equaled a good life.  Mind, body and spiritual ways were as consistent as teaching balance food intake.  Harmony was the ultimate in achieving one's goal.

    There is much we need to learn about breast and cervical cancer and how it acts within indigenous women.  It is our responsibility as native women to participate in annual screening programs to protect ourselves.....to remain healthy to care for our families and community and to serve as role models to our younger women.  As Indian women, let's take a leadership role and set an example for our young women.

"Honoring Our Women On Mother's Day and Everyday"

    Most of the important things we've learned in life----are about caring, giving and being strong, we've learned from women.  As we pay tribute to these special women, we must honor the valuable life lessons they taught us.

    We have been taught to be strong and still gentle, to be brave and good-natured no matter how severe the pains of challenges and struggles will bring. But we've also been taught the depth of unconditional love only a parent can feel for their child.  And, as we've grown up, raising our own families, she continues to show us how to be quiet and listen, be patient, and contemplative when one's years are greater than one's physical strength.

    On Mother's Day, May 11th, let us celebrate by honoring all the special women who have touched our lives with gifts of wisdom, reflect on what each has taught us and hope that we've learned their lessons well.