DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 363 487 RC 019 375

AUTHOR Padilla, Stan, Comp.TITLE A Natural Education: Native American Ideas and

Thoughts.REPORT NO ISBN-0-913990-90-6PUB DATE 92NOTE 42p.; Illustrations may not copy well.AVAILABLE FROM Book Publishing Company, P.O. Box 99, Summertown, TN

38483 ($5.95; 40% off two or more; $1.50 shipping perbook).

PUB TYPE Reference Materials General (130)

EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS *American Indian Culture; *American Indian Education;

American Indians; Child Rearing; IndividualDevelopment; Moral Values; *Nonformal Education; OralTradition; *Philosophy

IDENTIFIERS Cultural Preservation; *Culture Transmission; *NativeAmericans; Spirituality

ABSTRACT

This pamphlet presents quotes of Native Americanelders concerning Native philosophy and way of life. This advice isintended to transmit Native American thoughts on how to live a goodlife and to address the essence of a natural education. Originallyprepared for Native American young people, this pamphlet is now beingoffered to all people, especially those who have become disconnectedfrom their mother cultures. The quotes reveal the importance ofteaching children about themselves, about moral values, aboutrespecting nature, and about the role of spirituality. (LP)

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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made*

from the original document.********************************************************************

A NATURAL EDUCATION

NATIVE AMERICAN IDEAS AND THOUGHTS

Compiled and Illustratedby Stan Padilla

"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THISMATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY

P-- ta5 n I

TO THE U;IUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and Improvement

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC)

/his document has been reproduced asreceived from the parson or organization

originating it7. Minor changes have been made to improve

reproduction quality

points of view or opimons stated m this docu-

ment do not necessanly represent otliciaiOERI Position or policy

"

7

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 3

NATURALEDUCATION

Native AmericanIdeas and Thoughts

Compiled and Illustratedby Stan Padilla

ANATURAL

EDUCATIONNative American ideas and Thoughts

Compiled and Illustrated by Stan Padilla

"14e %". t.-

BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANYSummertown, Tennessee USA

ISBN 0-913990-90-6

BOOK PUBUSHING COMPANYPO Box 99Summertown, TN 38483 USA

Copyright 1992 by Stan Padilla

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized In any form or

by any means, electronic or mechanical, Including photocopying or by any information

retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher. Inquiries should be

addressed to: The Book Publishing Company, PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483

A natural education : Native American thoughts and Ideas / (complied by)

Stan Padilla.p. cm.

ISBN 0-913990-90-6 : $4.951. Indians of North America-Philosophy. 2. Indians of North

America-Education. I. Padilla, Stan, 1945-E98.P5N3/311 1992970.034197-dc20 15

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Our forefathers struggled for survival so that we mayenjoy what we have now. I should think the least wecan do is to be grateful to them and rememberwhat they stood for. We look back and see howthey suffered and here we are comfortable andhave all the wonderful opportunities knocking onour doors. Be ready to accept these, your future iswhat you must think about.

7

1

Tom Ration 11>Navajo Medicine Man

5

INTRODUCTION

Since earliest times there has been an aura of mystery surroundii .J Native Americanculture. Knowledge has been handed down from one generation to another throughoral traditions; father to son, mother to daughter. Whih the ancient wisdom wasencoded in legend, song and symbols, the greatest body of Native history, philosophyand life ways was preserved in the minds and hearts of the elders. Great care wastaken by them to cultivate the memory of the past, to nurture and teach it in thepresent to prepare for the future generations.

With the coming of the Europeans to America, Native American life ways were alteredin a profound way. Education, as we know it today, was Introduced and the systematicdestruction of the traditional methods for the transmission of knowledge was begun.Today these old ways continue to be woven with a small thread as compared to thepast, but they are still living!

7

For this book, I have gathered advice from the elders on "how to Ilve a good life on thisearth" and to address the essence of a natural education. Education and Knowledgenot born out of Intellect, but out of heart, soul and wIsdoml Originally this book wasprepared for Native American young people, but It became apparent that It couldalso be meaningful for many people, especially those who have become discon-nected from thelr mother cultures. Please accept this book as a gift from the elderswhose voices speak In the wind. Try as best as you can to carry these words in a sacred

manner for that is their original Intention.Stan Padilla

8

Knowledgeis like

the wind...

once obtaining it,

you can goanywhere,

Yellow Horse

1 0

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Nir 41, EF a uIN1IIS1Ib1b us emir maw fritissuel1"1"18

Always do what you can. Learn all that's in you, and bring it out for thepeople to see, expecially the children so they won't give up along theway. When our heavenly Father created us, He gave us our minds too,not just our bodies. He gave us a great gift when He gave us our minds.Because our minds come from his, it's special; it's sacred. Our minds aresacred and we have a duty to it. Nevex forget this. Always do your bestbecause we can. Our teacher is the first teacher and the leader of allteachers. So, don't say you can't. Don't hide your talents Bring themout of your minds for everybody to see.

Essie Pan-isltPomo Spiritual Leader

12

12

Regarding the "civilization" that has been thrustupon me since the days of the reservation, it hasnot added one whit to my sense of justice; to myreverence for the rights of life; to my love for truth,honesty and generosity nor to my faith in WakanTanka God of the Lakotas. For after ail the greatreligions have been preached and expounded,or have been revealed by brilliant scholars, orhave been written in books and embellished infine language with fine covers, man all manis confronted with the Great Mystery.

13

So if today I had a young mind to direct, to starton the journey of life, and I was faced with theduty of choosing between the natural way of myforefathers and that of the present way of civili-zation, I would, for its welfare, unhesitatingly setthat child's feet in the path of my forefathers. Iwould raise him to be an Indian!

Luther Standing BearLakota Sioux

1 413

L.'""

Training began with children who were taught tosit still and enjoy it. They were taught to use theirorgans of smell, to look when there was appar-ently nothing to see, and to listen internally whenall seemingly was quiet. A child that cannotsit

still is a half-developed child.

Luther Standing BearLakota Sioux

1 615

1 1 76

It is the power of the true Hopi People to unify theminds and spirits of all true peace seekingpeoples of the earth_

The true Hopi People preserve the sacredknowledge about the way of the earth becausethe true Hopi People know that the earth is a

living ... growing person ... and all things on it areher children.

The Hopi Declaration of Peace

1 8 1 7

My father went on talking to me in a low voice.This is how our people always

talk to their children,so low and quiet,

the child thinkshe is dreaming.

But he never forgets.

18 1 :1

Marla ChonaPapago

Sacred words spoken according to subject and purpose,either inside a house in the earlymorning, before anyone has troddenthe floor or outside in the open air at aplace, far from the beaten track,where there are no footprints of man.It is the usual thing that ordinaryspeech is not used, but the speciallanguage of the spirit ... magic wordsdescend from father to son ...

Dither Standing BearLakota Sioux

a 19

21

I still keep up the old system of teaching mychildren at the campfire. In the morning I wakethem up early and start to teach them as follows:My children, as you travel along life's road neverharm anyone, nor cause anyone to feel sad,On the contrary, if at anytime you can make aperson happy, do so.

Winnebago Efrier

222 1

In our tribal custom, which was handed down to mygrandfather ... each of his children were assignedto a tutor, like he had been by his grandparents, so thateach child would be trained by an expert. It was not aparent that was undertaking the teaching of the youngchild. It was an elder. These experts were proficientin hunting and everything for survival, as well as teachingthe blessing of the Great Creator.

Alex SaluskinYakima

2423

LI\,

I never asked anyone, "whyT It would have meant thatI was Inarning nothing. In Western society if you don't askwny they think you are stupid. So having been raisedto not ask why but to listen, become aware, I take forgranted that people have some knowledge of themselvesand myself. Then when we know ourselves we can put ourfeelings together and share this knowledge.

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Sage TrackTaos Thieblo

25

Lakota children, like all others, asked questions and wereanswered to the best ability of our elders. We wondered, asdo all young, inquisitive minds, about the stars, moon, sky,rainbow, darkness and all other phenomena of nature.I can recall lying on the earth and wondering what it wasall about. The stars were a beautiful sight. Many of thesequestions were answered in stow form by the older people.

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Luther Standing BearLakota Sioux

27

28

Too much thought only leads to trouble,We Eskimos do not concern ourselves with solvingall riddles. We repeat the old stories in the waythey were told to us and with the wordswe ourselves remember.

OruloIg luik Es kimo

3 029

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Boys and girls began their education with theirparents and by the time they reached theirteenage years, they had mastered the skills

necessary to survive on the land here. From thattime forward, the youth with his family and withinhis community devoted his attention to hisintellectual and social growth.

Mayer HobsonInupiag Eskimo

3 231

You don't ask questionswhen you are growing up.

You watchand listenand wait,and the answer wili come to you.

It's yours then, not like learning in school.

34

Larry BirdKeres Tribe

33

34 3:i

See these elders, these are those who paidattention to this counsel, which is of the grown uppeople. Do not forget this that I am telling you;pay heed to this speech and when you are oldlike these old people, you will counsel your sonsand daughters in like manner and your spirit willrise northwards to the sky, like the stars

Luiseno

3 635

36

Stan Padilla, Native American artist andeducator, is author/illusirator of the book DreamFeather and illustrator of the book Song qf theSeven Herbs.

He is very involved in the education of NativeAmerican young people. He is also active in thecivil rights/human rights movement globally. Hemaintains an arts studio in the foothills of theSierra Nevada Mountains in NortheasternCalifornia.

3S3 7

6C

These fine Native American booksare available from:

The Book Publishing CompanyPO Box 99Summertown, TN 38483 USA

(800) 695-2241

Please add $1.50 shipping per book.

A free catalog of Native American books andbooks on alternative health, ecology, gardening,children's books and vegetarian cookbooksis also available.

40

Basic Call to Consciousness $7.95Blackfoot Craftworker's Book $11.95Children of the Circle $9.95

§ Dream Feather $9.95Good Medicine Collection:

Life in Harmony with Nature $9.95How Can One Sell the Air? $4.95Indian Tribes of the Northern Rockies $9.95Legends Told By the Old People $5.95

§ A Natural Education $4.95The People: Native American Thoughts

and Feelings $5.95The Powwow Calendar (Annual) $5.95

§ Song of the Seven Herbs $10.95Spirit of the White Bison $5.95Teachings of Nature $8.95

Traditional Dress $5.95

§ by Stan PadillaGood Medicine Books

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ANaturalEducation

Native AmericanIdeas and Thoughts

BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANYISBN 0-913990-90-6

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