Maria Wilson
They revered family, nature and the spirit that moves in all things. With no books they didn’t have all the vast amounts of knowledge we have now, they had something more valuable — wisdom. Money was not even in their vocabulary, so how could they worship it? Their children were never separated from them as they were taught all they needed to know from their family. If they suffered they suffered together and never alone. No chemicals existed, no pharmaceutical companies and no medicine, as we know it. Death was a part of life and not feared.
There was no apprehension about disease, viruses, pesticides and germs, growing old or getting uglier. Killing animals was never a sport and always out of necessity. Violence did exist but not within families. Nothing was done in excess. Tobacco was smoked, but only as ritual during a special ceremonial event. Fear of one breaking into their home did not exist. Trust did. Computers didn’t exist. Elders did. There were fathers and grandfathers who would pass on knowledge of survival as well as values. Television was absent, but stories weren’t. There was wealth in family and not things.
Let us strive to imitate the Indians deep sense of family connection and perhaps take time to pass down our own values that are important to us. Young people learn by example, it is true. However, taking the time to talk one on one to a child is crucial for the development of their character. For what truly is more important than that?