May 9 is American Indian Day. One of the first people to advocate an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur Parker, director of the Rochester, New York’s Museum of Arts and Sciences and a Seneca Indian. In 1914, a Blackfoot Indian named Red James Fox began riding on horseback from state to request an American Indian Day. In 1915, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, president of the American Indian Association and an Arapahoe, proclaimed the second Saturday in May as American Indian Day and made a formal appeal to recognize the Native Americans as citizens. In December of that year, Red James Fox presented the endorsements he had been able to obtain from 24 states to the White House. There is no record, however, of a national proclamation of such a day. I am glad we celebrate this day and we recognize November as American Indian Heritage month. The contributions and sacrifices of the Native Americans have long been under-recognized.
Native American Prayer
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.
(translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887)
published in Native American Prayers – by the Episcopal Church.
~N
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