The Sacred Tree
The Sacred Tree
Introduction by Dr. Jane Goodall DBE
Authors: Phil LaneJr., Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Lee Brown and elders
Native American Religion
Session 1
10/15/12
I have lived on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation here in Belcourt, ND basically my whole life. I am ashamed to say I do not know a lot about my culture. However, I am not ashamed about my beliefs. I was raised in a Christian home we went to the Assembly of God church every Sunday, Sunday night and Wednesdays. My family was very dedicated to the church, with that being said I was not allowed to participate in the Native American ways. I’ve heard people talk in school about the medicine wheel, dream catchers and other things and I heard stories from my great grandfather about Native rallies. I have never heard of the sacred tree but in reading it reminded me of the movie Avatar. I remember watching Avatar and feeling like they were telling the story of my people. I remember feeling very connected even thou I never grew up that way, this is how the book made me feel again connected. In my opinion, after reading this book I feel that Native ways aren’t that different from Christianity as people may think. There is a part in the book off of page 30 this specific saying reminds me so much of what our church talks a lot about with God and Jesus. I have heard my mother say to me countless times as well as our pastor God will not put you through anything you can’t handle. So the part of the quote would be “No test will be given that the traveler does not already have the strength to meet.” The test would be the struggles that we go through on a day to day basis. My mother always came and prayed with us on a daily and nightly basis before we go to sleep and before we go to school. My mother would pray to have God put his angels about us as we sleep and as we go to school pleading the blood over us. The part of the quote that reminds me of this is “There
Introduction by Dr. Jane Goodall DBE
Authors: Phil LaneJr., Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Lee Brown and elders
Native American Religion
Session 1
10/15/12
I have lived on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation here in Belcourt, ND basically my whole life. I am ashamed to say I do not know a lot about my culture. However, I am not ashamed about my beliefs. I was raised in a Christian home we went to the Assembly of God church every Sunday, Sunday night and Wednesdays. My family was very dedicated to the church, with that being said I was not allowed to participate in the Native American ways. I’ve heard people talk in school about the medicine wheel, dream catchers and other things and I heard stories from my great grandfather about Native rallies. I have never heard of the sacred tree but in reading it reminded me of the movie Avatar. I remember watching Avatar and feeling like they were telling the story of my people. I remember feeling very connected even thou I never grew up that way, this is how the book made me feel again connected. In my opinion, after reading this book I feel that Native ways aren’t that different from Christianity as people may think. There is a part in the book off of page 30 this specific saying reminds me so much of what our church talks a lot about with God and Jesus. I have heard my mother say to me countless times as well as our pastor God will not put you through anything you can’t handle. So the part of the quote would be “No test will be given that the traveler does not already have the strength to meet.” The test would be the struggles that we go through on a day to day basis. My mother always came and prayed with us on a daily and nightly basis before we go to sleep and before we go to school. My mother would pray to have God put his angels about us as we sleep and as we go to school pleading the blood over us. The part of the quote that reminds me of this is “There