Photo: Fireplace at Cameron Trading Post, Navajo Nation, AZ, by Don Graham, Wikimedia Commons
Article by Kenneth G. White, Jr.
Introduction
Stand on the mountaintop and always remember, the sacred fireplace is real and your connection to God Almighty. Respectfully, by fireplace, I mean all ceremonial ways Indigenous people and tribes use it in a real way, as compared to that fake smoke over there. The sacred fireplace, and its beautiful smell of cedar and sage, won’t let that fake smoke negatively impact Indigenous people. Its great everlasting spiritual power among tribes honoring and respecting it is to strong.
All Smoke and No Fire
Yes indeed, the sacred fireplace is permanent and real. That smoke is temporary and fake. As Native people, we are used to fake smoke. Fake treaties, stolen land. BIA prisons posing as schools. Being “discovered” after living on this continent for thousands of years. Being referred to as “merciless savages” in the Declaration of Independence after it states “all men are created equal.” 1492 and 1776 fake dates in Indigenous history.
We survived slow-motion, methodical genocide by our own government. Genocide using the United States military to murder our dear, everyday Indigenous people. English history books then refer to murder softly as Wounded Knee, the Long Walk, and the Trail of Tears. Please understand these tragic events were not just catchy phrases in history books, but pre- planned United States military operations against our dear innocent Native people for greed, land, and money.
For example, James H. Carleton, Brigadier General writes to Washington D.C. officials requesting
“To round up the Navajo and send them to Fort Sumner.”
He says, “They have no government to make treaties.”
“They understand the application of force as a law. If its application is removed, that moment they become lawless.” He refers to “butchering Navajos” and concludes his letter “If I can have one more full regiment of calvary, and authority to raise one independent company in each county in the Territory, they can soon be carried to a final result.” In other words, believe my lies, give me some guys and I will imprison these Navajo butcherers at Fort Sumner!
His lying request was approved. Elders recount the Navajo people had to put mud on their feet as protection from getting blisters as they walked. They had to eat white clay mixed with dirt for food. on the 300 mile forced imprisonment to Fort Sumner. No real truth in these lies. All smoke and no fire.
The Real Truth
In 2024, as Indigenous people, realize WE are our own real truth. As Indigenous people and tribes, nobody is going to “save” us, but ourselves. These examples of fake smoke are meant to show the real truth and make us stronger. We have our own glorious self-concept, ceremonial ways, and ways of life.
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, non but ourselves can free our minds,” our great indigenous brother Bob Marley once sang from his heart. It is true. One God given tool of survival and resilience to free our hearts and minds, is the sacred fireplace in our respective homes, families, and tribes. What makes me strong is that I connect, and remember, this same fireplace kept my Dine’ ancestors warm during the cold winter months during their enslavement at Fort Sumner, and it is with me today.
The Sacred Fireplace
As Indigenous people, we know for fact, in a humble and powerful way, through our dear Creator, the sacred fireplace is real. Real among millions of Native people who occupied this continent for thousands of years before we were “discovered.” Real to now approximately 1.1 million Native people and tribes in the United States today. Real as it protects us and our sacred Indigenous way of life through our Creator. Real as a God given gift, that in many ways only Indigenous people understand, appreciate, and use, in a protective, and healing manner. Real within you.
Characteristics of the Fireplace
The sacred fireplace is infinitely humble, powerful, and spiritual at the same time. It has no limits, It is alive and aware of one’s needs, goals, and aspirations in life. It is the eternal light. It is colorful, dances, and has a rhythm and sound all its own. Yes, we Indigenous people and tribes pray, honor, sing, and dance to it. It connect us to Creator.
We honor it as a living, kind, healing spirit. The spirit patiently waits for you to make a reciprocal connection with its healing powers. It kindly looks at you with love, hope, charity, and faith. It’s like a kind Grandpa waiting for a grandchild. A lesson waiting to be learned. A healing with a gentle touch in God’s time. A lasting, loving relationship far beyond human understanding. A universal invite with no judgement. “Let me help, heal, forgive, and encourage you in my way.”
Comprehend its pure universal love in your heart and mind. Our sacred Grandpa fireplace. For thousands of years burning pure love among our Indigenous people and tribes unconditionally. In 2024, it is still among us in our respective ceremonial ways, people and tribes as a powerful, healing spirit for us to use for our own benefit.
Our Indigenous Power is Real
What is real? For the Dine’ people, we know our Dine’ deities, language, land, ceremonies, songs, and protection prayers are real. We know our true tribal history is real. We know our four clans running through our bloodline are real.
We know our sacred mountains are real. We know the plant world, animal world, Mother Earth, and Father Sun are real. We know air, water, and fire are real and are our protectors and shield us from harm as Dine’ people. There is no doubt about these realities, brothers and sisters. It is such blessing to know we have these real truths as Dine’ people. Take pause and bless yourself. Every Indigenous person and tribe has these realities and blessings also. On a bigger picture, we know that Crazy Horse’s prophecy is real and coming true.
Cartoon Time is now Prime Time
Why I am bringing up the universal goodness of the fireplace and what is real among our people and tribes now? At this time, as Indigenous people and tribes, I truly believe we need to separate insanity from reality.
Cartoons used to be on Saturday mornings. As the United States general election approaches, cartoon time is now prime time. We need to remind ourselves what Indigenous America is now and in the future. Contrast the current all smoke and no fire, as compared to, our eternal fire and Indigenous Truth as follows:
1. The main character in this sick cartoon, filled with hate and selfishness, calling our dear veterans, who gave their lives for America, “losers and suckers” and America “a joke” and “a third world country” compared to;
2. The truth and sanity of the lifelong Lakota prophet Crazy Horse. A Chief filled with love, humanity, and reverence. Praying in ceremony and calling upon the Great Spirit for a vision to save the people and Native America, his beloved homeland. Then, prophesizing that all Colors of Mankind would become One Circle unified under the Sacred Tree of Life.
Keeping in mind Crazy Horse was the messenger, the prophecy from Creator to Chief Crazy Horse was as follows:
“Upon suffering beyond suffering the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness, and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations when all the Colors of Mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become One Circle again. In that day there will be those among the Lakota who will carry the knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am that place within me, we shall be one.”
My dear Uncle Mike gave his life in Viet Nam on June 6,1968. He was my hero and certainly was not a” loser or sucker.” America is nota “third world country.” It is a glorious living spirit and our Mother as native people. America is really stolen land. In reality, America is forever Native America, always has been, always will be. We, as Native people, respect her as a Mother, not degrade her with non-sensical political rhetoric.
In 2024, please clear the fake smoke and separate insanity from reality. Turn off the sick cartoon and turn on real life. Degrading our veterans and insulting our Mother Native America only shows a lack of empathy and stupidity. Get back to reality and honor the real indigenous truth because the Colors of Mankind need to become One Circle and gather under the Sacred Tree of Life now more than ever. Although the great Chief died 147 years ago, humanity needs to update and apply the action words contained in this great prophecy – knowledge, understanding, unity, wisdom, and light now more than ever.
Let’s come together as a people for the sake of our children and grandchildren. With all due respect, that is why I am bringing up the universal goodness of the fireplace and what is real among our great Indigenous people now.
Conclusion
Fake smoke cannot rise above thousands of years of indigenous fire and truth. WE are our own Indigenous truth above and beyond politics. Real Indigenous truth versus fake smoke gives light in darkness. Hope in despair. Good in evil. Recognize the sacred fireplace is unique, has its own ceremonial ways, but is in each home, community, and tribe, and is the eternal light and power for us as Indigenous people.
When you want something good -- healing, a degree, sobriety, a job, a companion, or God - remember, the sacred fireplace never left us as Indigenous people. Settler colonialism took it away.
Or made us forget it. Go ahead, pray, meditate, sing, and dance to its connection to God. Let’s realize ourselves, celebrate our way of life, and inner core values. Let’s honor Creator, not sick cartoon characters.
Here is a real leader, Chief Manuelito, describing coming home, after the lies, sacred fired saving The Dine’ at Fort Sumner, , and the real truth emerging. “When we saw the top of the mountain from Albuquerque we wondered if it was our mountain, and we felt like talking to the ground, we loved it so, and some of the old men and women cried with joy when they reached their homes.”
Yes indeed, stand on the mountaintop and always remember, the sacred fireplace is real and your connection to God Almighty. It will always be the sacred light, burning bright and beautiful within you, among our great Indigenous people, and tribes forevermore.
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