On
the way to Glacier National Park, we stopped at the Little Bighorn
Battlefield in southern Montana. I was especially impressed by the
Indian Memorial (dedicated in 2003) and by the Park Service movie that
details the events leading up to the
battle in June of 1876 between George Custer's 7th Cavalry, and Lakota,
Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho forces, led by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse
and others. Notable sections in the video include clips of interviews
with Ernie La Pointe (Sitting Bull's Great Grandson),
and with Joseph
Marshall III, who has written a number of books - most notably, "The
Lakota Way."
I was struck in the museum display by a paragraph
explaining that Lakota Medicine Man Sitting Bull strove to live all of
his life "according to the virtues of honesty, fortitude, bravery,
generosity and wisdom."
Joseph Marshall's books support this approach
as well by telling stories that focus on the Lakota virtues of humility,
perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion,
wisdom, peace, knowledge, bravery, fortitude, generosity, tolerance,
patience, silence, introspection, faith and selflessness. My question
is this: how many times in our modern culture do we talk about "the
virtues"? Almost never, it seems to me. We focus instead on
accumulating material goods, our technological devices, pleasure and
security. The Lakota way - along with indigenous culture in general, at
its best - is more concerned with making a "work of art" out of one's
character. Why, do you suppose, do we no longer strive to become
OURSELVES such a work of art? Why do we focus so much time and
attention instead on "things" or on external "beliefs" ?
Photos; Indian Memorial, Little Bighorn National Monument (near Hardin,
MT, July 19, 2014); Chief Sitting Bull, Ernie La Pointe, Joseph Marshall III.
