HONOR

According to Native American concepts, the word to honor means to show respect for the Sacred Space, the Sacred Point of View, and possessions of another. To honor the deeds of another is to show our appreciation for that person’s contribution to a community, family, or an individual. To bring honor to our family, Tribe, clan, is to give ourselves above and beyond what is normally expected of any group member.

To honor the self is a balancing act that can take much practice. In American Indian culture, the word sacrifice, originally meant “to make sacred.” If we honor ourselves, our roles, our abilities and our talents, we must see these things as sacred. When we choose to share these sacred gifts with others, we can honor ourselves and those we serve only we do so without looking for reward, accomplishing each deed with a happy heart. Our reward is the joy we find in giving to those we choose to serve.

Jamie Sams in Earth Medicine

There are some of our fellow citizens who might agree that we honor someone by respecting their possessions. Indeed some folks get down right testy when they believe their right to possess something is being contested. But, what happens when our desire to possess something, property rights, mineral rights; those things that are important to the desire for a constantly expanding economy infringes on the space and point of view of others? Company’s push through their right to possess and ultimately destroy a watershed by building a dam in it. Yes, their investor’s make money. The power being generated is “green,” sort of. But it may come at the cost destroyed communities, polluted landscapes, poisoned water. If you accept Jamie Sams definition, these actions are dishonorable. I’m not sure many of our corporation CEO’s, their investors, or the elected hired help would agree. The loss is theirs…………..and ours.