BY: PHIL PRESTON

INDIAN TIME - VOLUME 22 - NUMBER 21 - MAY 27, 2004 EDITION

"Let's get back to work. We still have lots to do." My friend responded, "We shouldn't work or run that machinery while it's thundering." Being in a hurry, our schedule got the best of us and we went back to work. Not ten minutes later, with an explosive crash of thunder...BOOM!... the power went out and we nearly had a fire not being able to let the machinery cool down before shutting it off. It was a good lesson and reminder for me.

In our modernized lifestyles we can become disconnected from our natural world. We can let our busy schedules and endless public events lead us away from our simplest duty and privilege of taking moments to give thanks to the natural world. We also give thanks to the many Beings that though we never see them, we know they are here and still taking care of their responsibilities. They never tire or become distracted, so long as we give thanks to them.

At this time of year we are hearing the thunder sometimes daily, bringing cleansing rains and hopes for healthy, plentiful gardens. The rains will also replendish water in the many rivers, lakes, and streams for fish and other water animals to thrive, and to quench the thirst of countless more. All we need to do to show our gratitude and acknowledgement to Ionkhisotha okon'a Ratiweras (our Grandfathers the Thunder Beings) is to give Oienkwa'onwe (sacred tobacco) whenever we hear the rumbling cracks of thunder. Some people will stop and burn tobacco in a fire or fill a pipe and burn tobacco in that manner, making prayers of thanksgiving. Others will simply talk to the tobacco and to the Thunder Beings as they hold sacred tobacco in their hand, and then simply let the tobacco go in the wind or let it fall to the ground. Some families will put tobacco on a window ledge during the storm, making their offering in that way. So long as we stop everything to take a moment from our day to acknowledge our Grandfathers for the work they do in bringing the rains, cleansing the air with bolts of lightning, and keeping the fearful Beings underground with earth shaking thunder, we are doing our part in this world to be grateful for the gifts we enjoy. With every breath we take we benefit from the work of so many forces in the natural world, and from the original work done by Shonkwaiatison and his family long ago when we were brought to life.

People seem to notice that when horribly destructive storms and tornadoes ravage the land, often Native communities are spared, as though the storms split and went around us. This phenomena is said to be due to the fact that Traditional people still give gifts of gratitude to the Thunder Beings with prayers using our sacred tobacco.