"We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as "wild". To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery."

Luther Standing Bear - Rosebud Sioux

Guardian of the Water Medicine

Guardian of the Water Medicine
Dale Auger

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

Read the rest here:

http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Friday, March 12, 2010

Impact - part 2

My Relatives Say: “We are all related. We are related. All my relations.”

The impact of these words is more than phenomenal. From the trees to the soil beneath our feet, from the eagle to the mouse, from man and woman to child, we are a part of each other, connected in ways we can’t possibly begin to comprehend. Every single molecule that courses through our bodies out into the atmosphere through the sky right on up to the moon and stars connects us, weaves us together like a spiders web. And like a spiders web it is strong but tenuous; able to withstand up to a hundred times its own weight but easily torn apart when a single thread becomes weak.

My Relatives Say: “If we see as a mouse we live as a mouse.”

Mouse cannot fathom what is beyond his whiskers. The only world he knows is what lies immediately ahead and surrounding him. It is hawk and eagle who can fly the highest and can fully see the ramifications of our relation. If everything in the universe is connected like a web then the impact of what we do to ourselves we do to everyone and everything. What we do to our relatives we do to ourselves. If we poison we will be poisoned. If we kill we will be killed. If we love we will be loved.

My Relatives Say: “Honor all of Creation and you will Honor Creator.”

For a long time now I’ve wondered why people say and do the things they do. I’ve wondered why humanity cannot see how much we have in common with each other, how much we have in common with rabbit, snake, mouse, dragonfly, bear, wolf, rock, sand, wind, rain, and all the other things of this world we call insect, predator, or annoying. And really we’re not all that different from each other. We all want to be understood and accepted. These ideas impact me on so many levels.

I do not worship the moon or even the earth. I do not pray to many gods. I give thanks for and honor every speck of this world we live in. I realize that to walk in balance with all I live with in this world then surely Great Mystery is also honored. And that is why I want to walk gently upon the shores, treasure the gifts offered in the smallest ways, hear the spirit of Great Mystery in the wind and rain, and smile whenever I see a rainbow.

Tomorrow I will go to powwow for the first time in over two years. I look forward to seeing relatives I have not seen for so long. I will leave the past behind me, forgive the mistakes made by everyone, including myself, and move into the life I want to live. And when I dance in the circle I will honor the healing that will be taking place. There may be moments when I will see as a mouse but I know there will be many more moments when I will see as eagle. I will be thankful for all my relatives through laughter and tears. Once again, I will be connected and know my ancestors are smiling. It is the purest joy anyone can ever hope to experience.

We are all related. We are related. All my relations. Can you feel the impact?
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