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To Speak Without A Tongue by: Peter Schuler Ojibwe Elder - Mississauga First Nation

By James B. Beard aka Noodin
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  To Speak Without A Tongue To Speak Without A Tongue by: Peter Schuler     Ojibwe Elder - Mississauga First Nation November 2, 2013 They came from a place we knew not where. We fed them when they were cold. Little knowing; They could eat so much more than we. Little knowing; They would eat so many birds, buffalo... trees. Little knowing; They would poison Mother Earth That sores of greed would open to run rivers of pus Where once ran Mother Earth's crystal clear blood. Our tongues crossed theirs So that they could travel our lands and see what we saw.  Little knowing; That they saw things so much different than we. Then; slowly, surely they cut out our tongue And replaced with theirs. To speak without a tongue can mean many things. loss of language speaking without your own language. To speak with your actions, to speak with silence. To speak through art, dance , drumming.   To speak with a look!  ...
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Charlie – The Barking Raccoon by: James B. Beard aka Noodin

By James B. Beard aka Noodin
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  Charlie – The Barking Raccoon by: James B. Beard aka Noodin     At Monadnock State Park in the Gilson Pond Campground I set up my summer camp in the early spring. Usually as soon as the snow has gradually melted away and about two to three weeks before the campground actually opens for the public. It is a peaceful, quiet time to sit by a fire with the stillness of the forest all around. This one night I sat there enjoying the fire when I heard a barking noise. No dogs are allowed on Mt Monadnock so it was a little bit of a surprise to hear a dog barking. I listened intently and the barking continued but it didn’t quite sound like a dog. Kind of a Woof, Woof but deeper and not as high pitched and rich in sound as a dog. The sound came from down around our lower loop of the campground and seemed to be moving up the hill. The next time it barked it sounded like it was almost in my site. Then I looked toward the bathrooms in the park and saw so...
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WHO ARE YOU?! Always direct questions from this man, Noodin’s teacher. (Excerpt from the book ~ Walking Spirit in a Native Way by James B Beard)

By James B. Beard aka Noodin
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    CHAPTER ONE - WALKING SPIRIT IN A NATIVE WAY While We Were Dancing   Misho asked slowly and deliberately; “Who are you?” Always direct questions from this man, Noodin’s teacher. The rain started coming down even harder as if it were making some sort of statement to emphasize the importance of the question. “I am just a man.” Noodin felt as if he had yelled it out to be heard over the rain. He knew that was not what Misho wanted to hear.   Misho was making a point and Noodin avoided it.    “I hate when he confronts me with a direct question,” Noodin thought.   “I never feel that I will give an answer that will be right even when there are really no wrong answers.” Misho looked down at the floorboard of the car with some dismay.   The wrinkles on his face went deep with concern about how to say the next thing he would share.   It was a full minute before he said anythin...
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