Sweetgrass Coaching

Protest has value beyond the immediate cause you support.

The psychological and emotional benefits of standing up for your rights have been well documented, but largely ignored by the mainstream.

Protest has never been more appropriate in these times marked by violations of basic human rights and wide scale degradation of our Mother.

However, compared to other generations and societies, people in North America are generally scared to speak out against the powers that be. We are lulled into thinking that anything can be taken away if we begin demanding justice.

The anger and resentment that we feel against the politicians and big companies does not go away. Watching sports or soap operas and buying stuff does not completely get rid of this anger. Even physical activity does not sublimate this anger.

If we don’t acknowledge and express this anger, it gets turned against ourselves or our loved ones. Alcohol abuse, physical abuse or any other type of abuse can all be attributed to doing or saying nothing when bad things are allowed to happen.

When anger gets expressed against the perpetrator, then it won’t get expressed to the innocent ones who just happen to be around. Expressed properly, anger is not a bad thing.

For us, as Native people, we must remember that any gain made by colonization in increasing convenience or ease of living is far outweighed by the continued rape and murder of our People. And colonization continues to this day.

Part of the problem is that we get tied to results. That is, we fool ourselves into believing that if we aren’t completely convinced  that we can change the world by our actions, we won’t do anything at all. That type of thinking is very dangerous.

Taken to its extreme, no goals would have ever been set by using this flawed logic. For that matter, no one would ever have the guts to ask anyone out on a date. We would all be alienated. The worst place to be is alone, on the couch in front of the TV.

The good news is that more and more people are taking to the streets and venting their frustration. Our voices are being heard. Stay strong. We can make a difference. Not only out there, but in here (pointing to my heart) as well.

In unity and hope,

Rich