Native Design

"You could study the ancestors, but without a deep feeling of communication with them it would be surface learning and surface talking. Once you have gone into yourself and have learnt very deeply, appreciate it, and relate to it very well, everything will come very easily." --Ellen White, NANAIMO-- Inside of every human being are our ancestors, and these ancestors still live. Today, the white man calls this DNA, but there is more than DNA. We have the ability to go inside of ourselves and learn from the ancestors. The ancestor teachings reside in the place of the center. The ancestors are waiting for us to come there so they can share the ancient teachings. It is said, "Be still and Know". Great Spirit, let me walk in the stillness.

A certain careful handling of business takes over when something makes us feel limited. Whether it is time or money or people, we know they must be utilized in the right spirit. As the Indian says, "Everything is in a circle." Whatever we set in motion comes back, and often shocks us by how quick and with what impact. Such things teach us to stop and think - to consider the use of a word or an act - and even a dollar. When we have material needs, a single dollar given where the need is great can multiply and come back to us a hundredfold. Even treating someone kindly is an investment, and though it may seem insignificant, when we are weary and sore, we learn how important it is. ~ You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle. ~

"Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good." --Chief Joseph, NEZ PERCE— The Creator gives us many laws to live by. These are different than the laws of man. The laws of the Creator are designed for us to live in harmony and balance with ourselves and each other. These laws are about having freedom and happiness. Our Elders teach us these laws. Laws about how to treat each other, laws about how to treat and respect our Mother Earth, laws about the environment. Oh Great Spirit, teach me the laws of the unseen world. Today I pray You open my eyes so I can better see the Red Road.

The Story of the Dragonfly's Flight
In the heart of the sacred forest, where the trees whispered ancient secrets, there lived a dragonfly. The dragonfly, with its vibrant blue wings and intricate markings, was not just any ordinary creature; it was the messenger between the worlds of earth and sky. It fluttered from flower to flower, gathering wisdom from the winds and sharing it with those who were willing to listen.
One day, a young child wandered deep into the forest, feeling lost and uncertain about their place in the world. They had heard stories of the dragonfly and its connection to the spirits, but they never imagined they would meet it face to face.
As the child walked along the riverbank, they noticed a flash of blue in the sunlight. The dragonfly hovered before them, its wings shimmering like liquid light. It circled the child once, then landed on a nearby branch, its eyes gleaming with a knowing look.
The child, curious, asked, “Why do you fly so freely? You move with such grace, without fear or hesitation. How do you know where to go?”
The dragonfly, in its quiet way, fluttered its wings in the air, sending ripples across the surface of the river. With a voice as soft as the wind, it spoke:
“I do not know where I go, nor do I need to. I follow the breeze, trusting in its guidance. I do not worry about the path ahead, for the winds always lead me where I need to be. Fear is not a part of my flight, for I know that every turn, every flutter, brings me closer to my purpose.”
The child sat silently, watching the dragonfly’s wings glisten in the light. The message was clear: Life, like the flight of the dragonfly, is not about knowing every step in advance but trusting in the journey itself. The winds of change would always guide them, even through uncertainty.
As the dragonfly flew off into the horizon, the child felt a sense of peace wash over them. The forest, once a place of confusion, now felt like a sanctuary of endless possibilities. With the dragonfly’s wisdom in their heart, the child stepped forward, no longer afraid of the unknown.