I remember clearly, in 1956, at 12, close to Wakpala, on the Standing Rock, being given my first Dakota name, by my Grandfather Chante Waste, Strong Heart. He was a World War I Veteran. Tunkashina was blind in the left eye and the whole left side of his face scarred, after the German Warriors he was fighting gassed him. He merely commented that the Germans were fierce fighters. He said that the Oceti Sakowin served as Code Talkers in WW l, just as the Navajo’s did in WWII. Tunkashina gave me his father's name, Shunkmanu.
There was no trace of animosity or hatred for what he experienced, even though he lived in real, physical poverty, after serving a Government that has broken every Promise and Treaty they made with Native Americans, except one. The US Government promised to take our land, and they did. Then, having no morals or spiritual values, they stole, more and more.
Chante Waste, and many more Native Americans fought, sometimes died and were severely wounded, even before being recognized as a US Citizen, with any Constitutional Rights. They served in the military, as today, to protect our land, relatives and future generations.
Maybe these old veterans knew spiritually that their dedicated service would be eventually be recognized by the descendants of their spiritual Companions at Arms. And at that prophesied time, their future generations would come together, in unprecedented, unified, prayerful action, to Protect, and Restore our Mother Earth and the generations now, yet to come, of our Human Family.
In my short 72 winters, I have witnessed and experienced more mysterious and strange synergies and synchronicities, than this spiritual possibility!
With Warm and Loving Greetings,
Ate, Dekshi, Tahansi, and Tibdo Shunkmanu