Proud Native Americans

He walked into an awards ceremony wearing two things that rarely share the same stage: a black tuxedo and a traditional Native headdress.
It was more than fashion.
It was a statement.
Rodney Arnold Grant, born in 1959, grew up on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska.
Abandoned at birth, he was raised by his grandparents.
From the very beginning, his life was about survival and identity.
In 1990, he became known worldwide as Wind In His Hair in Dances with Wolves.
His fierce presence on screen gave voice to Native characters too often misrepresented in Hollywood.
One year later, in 1991, he portrayed Crazy Horse in Son of the Morning Star.
But Grant’s legacy is not only in film.
He dedicated himself to Native youth, serving on the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s Native American Advisory Board.
He carried his culture with him into every space—whether on a movie set, in a community meeting, or at a red-carpet event.
That night at the awards ceremony, the clash of tuxedo and headdress told a larger story.
A man shaped by two worlds.
An artist, a father, and a reminder that heritage is not something you leave at the door.
Rodney Arnold Grant showed that knowing who you are—and where you come from—can be the most powerful role of all.
Had you heard his story before?

Legend of the White Buffalo
Sioux (lakota)
The White Buffalo are sacred to many Native Americans. The Lakota (Sioux) Nation has passed down The Legend of the White Buffalo–a story now approximately 2,000 years old–at many council meetings, sacred ceremonies, and through the tribe’s storytellers. There are several variations, but all are meaningful and tell of the same outcome. Have communication with the Creator through prayer with clear intent for Peace, Harmony, and Balance for all life living in the Earth Mother.
Spirituality among Natives Americans and non-Native Americans has been a strong force for those who believe in the power of the Great Spirit or God.
It matters not what you call the Creator. What matters is that you pray to give thanks for your blessings and trust the guidance given to you from the world of Spirit. Many truths about Spirit are told and handed down from one generation to the next.
The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe. With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace, and balance.
Legend says that long ago, two young men were out hunting when from out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin. One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan, or sacred being lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her with lust in his eyes desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her, and as he approached a cloud of dust arose around them causing them to be hidden from view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to her.
As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, she explained to him that she had merely fulfilled the other man’s desire, allowing him, within that brief moment, to live a lifetime, die and decay. White Buffalo Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to pray. The young hunter obeyed.
When White Buffalo Calf woman arrived with the sacred bundle (the prayer pipe) she taught the People of the seven sacred ways to pray. These prayers are through ceremonies that include the Sweat Lodge for purification; the Naming Ceremony for child naming; the Healing Ceremony to restore health to the body, mind and spirit; the adoption ceremony for making of relatives; the marriage ceremony for uniting male and female; the Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for direction and answers to one’s life; and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the well-being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that within her were the four ages and that she would look back upon the People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a short distance, she looked back towards the people and sat down. When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black buffalo. Walking a little further, the buffalo laid down, this time arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a little further it rolled on the ground and rose one last time as a white buffalo calf signaling the fulfillment of the White Buffalo Calf prophecy.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman represents the four colors of man–white, yellow, red and black. These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south, and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse.
The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman remains ever promising in this age of spiritual enlightenment and conscious awareness. In today’s world of confusion and war, many of us are looking for signs of peace.
“With the return of the White Buffalo, it is a sign that prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored, and that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White Buffalo signals a time of abundance and plenty.”
Though harsh as the world we live in may be throughout recorded history there have been spiritual leaders teaching peace, hope, and balance (synergy) amongst all life. This was taught by great teachers such as Jesus, Buddha, the Dali Lama’s, and Native American leaders.
Chief Crazy Horse, Chief Seattle, and Chief Red Cloud are a few of the visionary leaders who committed their lives to bring peace, and internal happiness to all who they touched. They were tangible signs of goodwill toward all men, women, and children.

On July 21st, 1979 Jay Silverheels, became the first Indigenous Native to have a star commemorated on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Harold Jay Smith, was a full-blooded Mohawk, born May 26th,1912 on the Six Nations Indian Reservation in Ontario, Canada.
He excelled in athletics, most notably in lacrosse.
In 1931 he was among the first players chosen to play for the Toronto Tecumsehs, where he earned the nickname "Silverheels".
And in 1997 he was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a veteran player.
In 1938, he placed second in the middleweight class of the Golden Gloves tournament.
This led to his working in motion pictures as an extra and stuntman in 1937.
Billed variously as Harold Smith and Harry Smith, before taking the name Jay Silverheels.
He appeared in low-budget features, mostly Westerns, and serials before landing his much loved and iconic role as Tonto on national tv from 1949 until 1957 along with two movies.
In the early 1960s, he was a founding member of the Indian Actors Workshop, in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Where Native actors refine their skills.
Today the workshop is still a well established institution.
Silverheels died on March 5, 1980, from stroke, at age 67, in Calabasas, California. He was cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory, and his ashes were returned to the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario.