The National Weather:
(How It really Works)
It was coming on deeper into winter, and on the Rez there were some brothers and sisters asked their Chief, if he thought the winter was going to be real cold or mild this year.
Since the Chief's medicine chief was not handy (to pass the buck to) to handle the question for him... looked up into the sky and his most stoic Chiefly look of wisdom...stared for a moment as if asking the Ancestors for advice. Then with the same look, he turned back and spoke to his people these words...
"Yes, it will be a very cold winter! go send out the word among all the people (that doesn't have gas or oil heat) to go and collect wood for the people, so all would be prepared."
Also (being a practical leader of his people), he went quickly to his house and called the National Weather Service...(Covering the back-side of his blanket) so to speak...
He asked "Is the winter going to be really cold this year?" "It looks like the weather indeed will be rather cold Sir!" the weatherman replied.
So the Chief went back among the people and told them to collect even more wood, to be ready for even worse cold than before. A week later, the Chief called the National Weather Service again, "Is it going to be a very harsh and cold winter this year?" "YES! without a doubt Sir! replied the serviceman. The Chief went once again among his people, and told them to gather every scrap of wood they could find!
Two more weeks went by, and the Chief called one last time to ask the Meteorologist at the National Weather Service about the winter weather..... "Are you absolutely sure that this winter is going to be the worst ever?" "Absolutely!, the weatherman replied, without a shadow of doubt!" "How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked...
The highly Tech. trained meteorologist, in a highly Tech. (modern day world) answered professionally.... "Because the Indians up on the Reservation, are collecting wood like crazy!"
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Once Upon a Time in Rosebud... Once Upon a time, in Rosebud, a beautiful independent, self-assured Sicangu woman, happened upon a frog as she was contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her tipi. The frog happened into the Sicangu's lap and said: "I was once a handsome Oglala, until an Iktomi cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the wonderful, young Oglala that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your tipi with my Mother, where you can prepare meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy to do so." That Night, dining on frog and onion soup and fry bread, she chuckled to herself and thought: "I don't think so!!"
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A word from the wise... Recently someone was browsing through the 40th Anniversary Issue of Reader's Digest (dated Feb.1962), came across this reprint from the Washington News, and found it quite interesting in light of our current debates. The quote reads: Vice President Lyndon Johnson received the following message froma Native American Indian Chief on a reservation: "Be careful with your immigration laws. WE were careless with ours." (Humorious but true)....
