Posts

Golden Eagle - What you say.

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Golden Eagle ~ What You Say!  People ask me how I know when an animal is one of my helpers. Golden Eagle is one of my helpers! My answer is simple. When one becomes aware of these things then an animal will show itself in a way that you will know. Believe me, you will know! My Native brother, Nish, and I were traveling through Wisconsin one time a few years back. We had just come from Hannahville Reservation where we visited my teacher and Nish’s dad. Nish got a call from his sister, Neveena. Never a dull moment on the Rez! A social worker and a sheriff were at her house, and she knew Nish was nearby. “I need your help” Neveena pleaded. “They are going to take my son Jeremy! They say he beat up another kid at school. It isn’t true! He wasn’t in school today, but the welfare worker won’t listen.” Nish and I were about twenty miles from the Rez when he got the call. I asked him what we should do. Nish said, “Turn left here and go up to a farmhouse I know of on this road.” I thought t...

The Day the Sun Came Up ~ poem by James Beard aka Noodin

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  It was a dream! by James B Beard aka Noodin, September 2013   The first day the sun came up white. No one noticed all that much. Some greeted it as they do each day. The second day the sun came up yellow. People seemed to go on in their normal way. Many would pick up their weapons of choice. The third day the sun came up red. M ore people seemed intent on hurting one another. The fourth day the sun came up brown.   The people felt bitter and discouraged. The fifth day the sun came up green. The people stopped and wondered. The sixth day the sun came up black.  The clouds were filled with soot from fires, pollution from modern technologies,  ash from volcanoes, smoke clouds from explosions of war. The earth  scorched and bare. Animals were few and birds did not sing. The people were fearful. The seventh day the sun came up blue. The people put down the weapons and gave thanks. ...

Making manifest destiny great again ~ An article by Niigan Sinclair

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    Making manifest destiny great again By:   Niigaan Sinclair Posted:   12:10 PM CST Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March calling for the removal of “improper ideology” from national museums. Targeting Smithsonian institutions, including the National Museum of the American Indian, the order said it is the Trump administration’s policy to “restore federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage.” Museums in the U.S. capital, the order states, “should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.” Johns Hopkins University history Prof. Nathan Connolly remarked on the changes on Facebook in late December after visiting the museum. “No more Indigenous geography, or Indigenous cosmology,” he wrote. “The treasur...

When Wolf Steps In!

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When wolf steps in!   Though I have been attending Native American ceremonies for a few years, there were still many native people who would basically be cordial, but distant.  Especially the women of the tribe.  An Anglo stands out in this population and the people have become leery  of visitors to their sacred ceremonies.   This particular ceremony was in the fourth day and it was nearing midnight. The ceremonies were ongoing and started early in the morning for that day. It now was almost midnight. I was standing near the doorway of the teaching lodge listening to the teachings being given in the form of oral stories of the people. An art and a way that is timeless in passing of the knowledge of the people. To my surprise, a young woman in her early twenties walked up to me as I stood near the lodge doorway listening to the teachings being given inside.  “ Excuse me ”, she said, “I want to ask if you could help me.  I need a ride back to m...

About writing a sequel to "Walking Spirit in a Native Way ~ White Mocs on the Red Road"

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 I have been considering the writing of a sequel to my book. The responses from people who have actually read Walking Spirit in a Native Way ~ White Mocs on the Red Road have been very positive. Many readers have asked if there would be a sequel. There is an alternative to publishing a sequel. It would be to write the sequel on a blog and give it away. No advertisements, publishing as you write, no member fees, editable on a continuing basis, no restrictions to the reader other than copyright. In that way, as an author, the story is told and the audience can access it anytime they want. If the readership grows strong and positive it can be published at little cost as an eBook on Amazon. Why consider the alternative? Producing the first book has been an interesting adventure. Many people have indicated that they have benefited from the content and sharing offered. People have enjoyed reading the chapters and teachings shared. The book has also benefited many in the book pu...

ACCEPTANCE ~ by James B Beard, author

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  ACCEPTANCE People are seldom what we want them to be  ~ ~ ~ unless ~ ~ ~ we want them to be what they are!   MAANG   James Beard aka Noodin                Cultural Storyteller, Educator, Speaker,                Author Walking Spirit in a Native Way James Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional...