Love this photo by Alex Flett of Muckleshoot Tribal Schools' Rosalie Fish ​racing at the WIAA 1B State Track and Field Championships in Cheney, Wash., with the #MMIW’s trademark red hand on the face, and the letters MMIW going vertically down her right leg in red. 

"Fish won three state titles over the weekend in the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter races. But her tribute to MMIW remained the focus in the days following."  

This is what I want my daughter Haalie to be: fearless and strong for others and Gaia. 

You can read more about this picture and the people involved here. 

One thing I like about the New Seminole, an invention by my father-in-law Busimanalotome Osceola, we are not bogged down by traditions. We are open to all things and people and fluid with our interpretations of Native lore, adapting whatever is out there to suit our style, from rock in our music around the old campfire to the use of state of the art tech in communications and war. So, when I hear the airwaves and digital pipelines spilling out one story after the other about the marches against climate crisis around the world-- and we love you Greta and wish all your followers success-- I think back to the time our Paiute brothers up north whipped out their spirit dance to herald in a new era where it was prophesied  the White Man would vacate the premises and the earth would be saved for its indigenous people. This idea of marathon dancing for change-- as an act to prove your worthiness to God-- caught on with other tribes. Unfortunately dancing around in a circle didn't change a damn thing and in fact scared Uncle Sam enough to attack the Lakota, killing 153, mostly unarmed women and children.

The Wounded Knee massacre always comes to mind when I think about a nonviolent approach to power, something Busimanilotome thought was a waste of time. Yes, I know it worked for Gandhi and even Martin Luther King, but in this New World Order where truths are lies and lies truth, and people are now more prone to revel in their bigotry (like the Arizona Border Patrol agent who referred to migrants as "disgusting subhuman shit unworthy of being kindling for a fire"), I suspect it will take something more to change the world in time to keep it from collapsing in on itself and taking all living things with it. 

​My vision then is influenced by Stanley Kubrick and not a smoke lodge or hallucinogen to jumpstart a vision quest. Instead of seeing a starchild floating through space back to earth to save us all, I see a StarChief, Christ-like on a cross, floating above the earth. But, try as hard as I can-- because I want to believe the world will be a better place for my little girl Haalie-- I don't see Him (or Her behind the helmet visor) getting here in time.

LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI was 88-years-old when he published his prose book: Poetry as Insurgent Art. Celebrating his 100th birthday this year, Ferlinghetti's long life as a poet/bookstore owner/publisher began when he published Allen Ginsberg's Howl in 1956 through his City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.  When it was ruled obscene in 1957 by Uncle Sam, Ferlinghetti was arrested, stood trial, and was later exonerated by the California Supreme Court when it found the poem had "redeeming social importance." Never afraid to face down authority, his opening words to his 2007 book are as relevant today as ever. And Greta Thunberg immediately comes to mind when we see or hear them.  At 16, she embodies those words, and with her actions inspires us to do the same. 

Just sayin'...

Also, don't mess with our Greta! There are reports of the Right ganging up on her with ugly personal attacks because it can't argue against her warnings about climate collapse and the fast approaching extinction of a million animal and plant species.  It's an ugly and dangerous world out there, Greta. Be careful. Be very careful. Hopefully you have a Nokosee somewhere to protect you from its evil.