News
Native American women concerned about fate of their culture, beliefs By Judy Salter, EditorA group of Native American women - some full-blooded, some with mixed blood and others - meet this week in Hartwell. According to Skylar Swindoll, who heads the meeting Friday, Jan. 18, topics of discussion will be current issues related to "our American Indian culture, family, community, traditions and beliefs." Swindoll said a strong heritage and history is passed from one generation of Native Americans to another, "so that our people will remember where we came from and the sacrifices that were made by so many to have the small numbers of our people that remain today. "We are those mothers, grandmothers and sisters who carry an ancient history of what has been passed to us and what is to be passed on to our children and our people, so who we are and were we came from will not be forgotten," Swindoll said. Lodges or homes were places were the oral stories and histories of Native Americans were passed down by family and story keepers of the clan. Swindoll said one of the present concerns of Native American women is the spiritual responsibility that is being lost now due to lack of focus on families and beliefs and the sharing of those cultural beliefs. "The women meeting here will be in council in an effort to find common ground and solutions regarding our children, lost of spiritual beliefs, ceremony and ways to strengthen the family unit as well as the communities in which we live," she said. Swindoll said other activities are planned for later in the year. For more information, contact Swindoll by e-mail at pejuta_one@ yahoo.com. judysalter@hartcom.net
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