Amy Mathews Amos did her homework and it showed yesterday as she asked hard hitting questions to Dennis Banks, living legend and co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM). 
   Her interview questions covered AIM and the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee; legislation and assimilation; racism and police brutality; "Longest Walks;" reversing Diabetes; The Gathering and more.
    She also interviewed his son Tatanka Banks, Curt Hansen and Chris and Rene' White for the upcoming issue of The Observer Magazine.
    Dennis Banks is Co-Master of Ceremonies for The Gathering, a historic Native American Indian / Virginia Gourd Festival scheduled for Clarke County Fairgrounds Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2015.
    The Magazine article is expected to hit the news stands by Oct. 16.

Special thanks to Vicky Moon with The Middleburg Life, a newspaper in Middleburg, Virginia covering local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events.
   Middleburg earned a reputation as the "Nation's Horse and Hunt Capital" and is located midway between the port of Alexandria and Winchester, Virginia.
   Middleburg Life covers Middleburg and the surrounding communities of Loudoun County, Virginia.

Berryville, VA - The Gathering Harvest Dance is distinctive from the traditional Pow Wow Dance. The Gathering begins with oral histories, then select children and elders from our communities bring in a fall harvest of corn, squash and apples. The Spirit of The Gathering is sure to catch you as you watch elders helping our youth of all colors (red, yellow, black and white) connect to the land. (Preview Schedule)
    Native American Indians and non-Indians are invited from the four directions to participate and celebrate in this elevated spirit of Thanksgiving and humanity. Grounds open at 9 am Friday (education day), Saturday and Sunday.   

    The event is hosted by the Sanctuary on the Trail™ in partnership with the Virginia Lovers' Gourd Society 14th Annual Virgina Gourd Festival Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, Va.

by Jamie K. Oxendine, Lumbee/Creek
Contributing Author for The Gathering

PRELUDE
     Native Americans from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Arctic to the Tropics were quite cordial and rather kind to guests in the home. Europeans and later Americans noticed certain mannerisms concerning a guest at home that was far beyond their own concept of providing hospitality.
     Even after the massive persecution from both Europeans and later Americans the indigenous people of North America were still quite benevolent to each other and even the White Man when it came to having guests in the house.
     Here are some very general policies that were common among many Tribes across Native America. One must remember that these are not set in stone and are not laws as there were vast differences among all Native American Nations.

THE ETERNAL COOKING MEAL   
     Among the Eastern Woodland Peoples it was common to always have a large container of food on or near the lodge fire. 
     In the North East this container was usually a very large calabash (gourd) or wood bowl kept simmering via hot stones and full of some kind of food stew. This was typically a stew of meat or fish with vegetables. When one was obliged they would partake of the stew and eat. The stew was retained by always replacing what had been taken. For example if a piece of meat or fish was removed a piece of meat or fish was added. If stock was removed then water and other fillers or thickeners was added and so forth.
     Among the South East Nations a large earthen clay container of hominy (grits) was always available on the fire in a lodge and some dried or smoked meat or fish was also kept nearby.
     For many Native American Nations there was no set meal time. Whenever one was hungry they dipped in the containers and had something to eat. This was often referred to as The Eternal Cooking Meal as described by Europeans and later Americans. After White Contact the original containers were replaced with metal trade goods of iron, tin, brass and copper.
     Guests were always fed. In fact the normal greeting for guests was not “Hello” or “How are you doing” or even “Good to see you” it was always “Have you eaten?”
     Even in the leanest of times it was the duty of the clans/families to do their best to keep The Eternal Cooking Meal. One can easily assume that this was very hard to do in a bitter winter or a very dry summer yet it amazed the White Man that the accumulating, conserving, storage and distribution of food stuffs by Native Americans during very sparse times was nothing more than remarkable.

BEING POLITE IN THE LODGE
     From the Longhouses and Wigwams of the Northeast to the Adobes of the Southwest and from the temporary Igloos of the Artic to the Open Lodges of the Southeast as well as from the Tipis of the Great Plains to the Cedar Plank Houses of the Northwest, there was a certain accommodating protocol of life in the home of all Native Americans.
     This decorum did vary greatly from Nation to Nation and Tribe to Tribe and even Clan to Clan but there was a general set of what one might call “Mutual Consideration” or “Common Courtesy” or just better yet plain old “Civility” and “Good Manners.”

HOST OBLIGATIONS

• Assume guests are tired, cold, hungry and thirsty.
• At no time worry guests with troubles of the host.
• By no means sit while Elders stand.
• Compliment guests.
• Do not trouble or pester guests.
• Give thanks to The Creator for company.
• Lend help to Elders with entering or leaving the lodge.
• Never sit while any guests stand.
• Offer guests the places of honor in the lodge and the best food available.
• Protect guests as members of the family or clan.
• Repay calls of courtesy and do not delay in communication.

GUEST RESPONSIBILITIES  

• If the lodge door is open one may enter directly but if the door is closed one should announce their presence and wait for the  invitation to enter.
• Follow the customs of the lodge and not one’s own. Remember to “follow the rules of the house” not necessarily the territory.
• Accept any food offered.
• Be grateful for any and all offers from the host.
• Bestow great respect to the Woman of the lodge as she is the keeper of the flame.
• Compliment the host.
• Give thanks to The Creator for hospitality.
• Never worry host with guest troubles.
• Present the host with a gift.
• Repay calls of courtesy and do not delay in communication.

GOOD MANNERS FOR ALL

• Be humble and show respect to all but grovel to none.
• Do not interrupt others speaking.
• Do the best not to walk between persons talking.
• Keep the fire open and do not block one from the fire.
• Let silence be your motto, listen and then speak.
• Never stare at others and as you speak keep your eyes low.
• Show kindness and humanity and great humility.
• Speak softly and with a clear voice.
• Talk with others but do not force conversations.

CONCLUSION

Europeans and later some Americans knew of some of the mannerisms above as all cultures have very specific rules of etiquette for being civil. But for various reasons such decent behavior had become lost among the European explorers and later colonists when meeting new and different cultures. Such respect also vanished among the later American colonists and settlers pushing ever more across North America.

Unfortunately assimilation, removal, relocation, and more assimilation of Native Americans created a massive injury to the well-practiced lodge etiquette for all peoples of Native America.

Sad but many of the courtesies of the Native American Culture that was developed over centuries are not always found among Native Americans today. It is not surprising to find The Native American People not treating each other with veneration. In fact the opposite is quite true and one does not need to do a study or research of the phenomenon. All one needs to do is step back and witness the poor treatment and disdain that some Native Peoples have towards each other.

It is for this reason that we must all seek wisdom from Elders and those of proper knowledge and use the most basic of common understanding to be kind to each other regardless of culture and history.

Remember, esteem and reverence starts in the home and is passed on from there to others.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Carver, Jonathan. 1778. Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America, In the Years 1766, 1767, 1768. London.

Hudson, Charles. 1976. The Southeastern Indians. University of Tennessee Press.

Lawson, John. 1967. A New Voyage to Carolina. University of North Carolina Press.

Lewis, Meriwether. 1814. (Reprint 1904). History of the Expedition of Captains Lewis and Clark, 1804-5-6. Chicago: A.C. McClurg.

McKenney, Thomas & Hall, James. 1933. The Indian Tribes of North America. Edinburgh: John Grant.

Mails, Thomas. 1972.  Mystic Warrios of the Plains.  New York: Doubleday & Company.

Mails, Thomas. 1973. Dog Soldiers, Bear Men and Buffalo Women. NJ: Prentice Hall.

Richter, Daniel, K. 1992. The Ordeal of the Longhouse: The Peoples of the Iroquois League in the Era of European Colonization. University of North Carolina Press.

Tanner, John & Edwin, James. 1830. (Reprint 2007). A Narrative Of The Captivity And Adventures Of John Tanner, U. S. Interpreter At The Saut De Ste. Marie During Thirty Years Residence Among The Indians In The Interior Of North America. Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing.

Timberlake, Henry, Lt. 1765. (Reprint 2007). The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765. Cherokee, NC: Museum of the Cherokee Press

William, Bertram. 1791. Travels Through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East & West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Countryof the Choctaws; Containing An Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions, Together with Observations on the Manners of the Indians. Philadelphia.


Read more: http://www.powwows.com/2014/08/10/native-american-home-etiquette/#ixzz3bJ03Z2ek

Thank you James Morales CEO/President and Joleen Brown Vice President/C.O.O. Native Hoop Inc and  everyone else with the October Native Hoop Magazine issues #34.

"Native Hoop Magazine focuses on “Natives Supporting Natives” and brings a variety of Native Voices to the realm of publishing," Powwows.com.