Request from Bernard Red Cherries, Northern Cheyenne, to all Medicine Men and Sundance Leaders

Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 18:12:56 -0000

REQUEST FROM BERNARD RED CHERRIES, JR.

NORTHERN CHEYENNE SUNDANCE/ARROW PRIEST, ELKHORN SCRAPER SOCIETY HEADSMAN.

TO ALL MEDICINEMEN AND SUNDANCE LEADERS

OF THE PLAINS SUNDANCE NATIONS.

I am in a good way as a Cheyenne Brother asking you all in a humble way to not hold any public gatherings in which our sacred teachings or ceremonies are exposed to the general public. I realize some of you may be tempted and taunted the monies generated from these types of activities, and many are willing to pay, I ask you to be strong and not let those with big words and a few dollars steer us off course, for the betterment of our "future generations". I feel however until we can restore balance and harmony to our ceremonial ways of life and help our own Nations to heal we must maintain accountability, balance and harmony to our sacred ceremonial ways of life and persevere in our efforts to protect what we have left. The ceremonies we are concerned about are the basis of our very existance, the foundation of our "very" being, and must be preserved and protected. These sacred ways of life have been exposed too much to those who now feel they have a "right" to be "Authoritarians" or "Leaders" in our sacred ceremonies.

I ask each of you as a "Brother" and friend, many of you already know my heart and are in my prayers always. I humbly ask you this in a good way, as we are in a tough way attempting to save these ways for our Grandchildren. Another meeting has already been scheduled and I will see you all there at "Bearbutte" May 10th and 11th.

Ha-ho