45 years ago, in 1975, with Dekshi John Fire Lame Lame Deer, when he dedicated the land that the Day Break Cultural Center is built on at Discovery Park, in Seattle.
It was a cold day, with drizzling rain. You could see your breath. Our oldest elder, Ella Aquino, other elders, and about 100 community members were standing quietly and at spiritual attention. Only a few had umbrellas. What umbrella's there were we shared with the elders.
Dekshi John could sense the tension, as the Pipe, with the beaded stem, was being prepared. He saw everyone was way too serious.
Then Dekshi leaned forward as if he had a very special, sacred teaching to share with us. We leaned closely forward to listen, as he was almost whispering.
Then his first words were, " What do you think if they knew we were smoking weed?" Then he very laughed loudly, and the "Holier than Holy, Holy Man" stereotype was broken.
Even though only the three of us close to him could hear what he had said, everyone started to laugh. He had a contagious spirit of joy and humor.
Among Dekshi's greatest gifts, along with spiritual gifts of healing and vision, was his incredible sense of humor. He was always himself, 24/7. He did not care what others thought about his outer being.
One time we met him, he had dyed his hair blond. He broke all stereotypes of a " Holy Man!" And it all seems just like yesterday!
The Pipe, we used, was given to me by Unchi, Anna Heals With Medicine, from Wakpala, when I was in my early 20's. Her daughter, Beatrice, shortened her name to Medicine. My son, Tiger now carries this Pipe.
Now, in a few blinks of an eye, I am an old man, but I do love to laugh!
