Silver Bells

Thirty-eight silver bells ringing in the night

Thirty pieces of silver the price of injustice

Thirty-eight silver strands holding the weight

Thirty-eight silver bells ringing, ringing, ringing

Weep not for me, I have made my peace

Weep for the silver bells singing

Weep for the injustice and and its might

Weep for the silver strands pulled tight

Sing my song, sing it strong

Strike the drum with gentle beat

Sing my song, with the ground so far below my feet

Strike the drum our honor song you will never defeat

Thirty-eight silver bells chained with hoods

Thirty-eight voices never more to be heard

Thirty-eight memories remain so restless

Thirty pieces of silver the Judas price

Riders in the snow

Ride on, ride on until everyone will know

The silver bells and the memory of those brave souls

To stand for what is right is our aim

Listen in the distance the sound so real

Listen in the distance Yankton Sioux

Listen to the song of the living children and elders too

Listen for the sound of hope and the silver bells we ring

Thirty pieces of silver

Thirty-eight silver bells

Thirty-eight memories awaken the dawn

Thirty-eight  plus two horses to run

Thirty-eight plus two shouts of justice, we have only just begun

Danny J Dean (copyright) 2015

We will not forget the holocaust, we will not forget Pearl Harbor, We will not forget 9/11 and we will not forget these brave innocents. We will not forget the Trail of Tears. We will not forget Wounded Knee and we will not forget Chief Sitting Bull who was assassinated on this day in 1890. The beginning of healing is to admit something is wrong. America Remember !!!

Update from Yakima

It is hard to believe a year has past since I stopped to write here.
Today I want to stop and remember a true hero who had his life taken from him today.

On this day in 1890 the great leader, holy man, and Chief of his tribe, of the Hunkpapa Sioux was assassinated.

We remember and rever his great man. Sitting Bull.

Throughout history there have been great mistakes that have cost the lives of innocent ones. Misunderstandings across cultural lines have led to disasters. Another holy man Wavoka received inspired revelations not unlike John the Baptist. As a result of these revelations new hope spread throughout the people. This hope was interpreted as a threat and thus Chief Sitting Bull was caught up in the political confusion of the day. As a result of those people guided by suspicion and fear of what they did not understand, an innocent man lost his life.

We raise our hands to the Creator and give him thanks for the few short years Sitting Bull walked the earth.

Mitakuye Oyasin

The Sound of the Drum

Why does the drum lift my heart like an Eagle soaring higher and higher?
The rhythm of the honor song opens up my eyes to see what I have never seen before
The Grass dancers moving this way and that as all sadness is carried away
The hoop dancers comes to show what has started will have a beautiful end
Such is the circle and such is the scene before me now here in  my heart my Native friend

Like a magnet pulling me in, the warrior circle lifting their song
In this moment I am home, In this moment the sounds of the city are no more
Like a tug on my soul there is no where else to go, I cannot explain
Why my heart is pulled to the plateau people who stand in the gap
Between what was and what is and what should be

     Can you hear the drums?
         Can you hear the elders song?
             Can you feel what life really is?
                 Can you hear Black Cloud?


                              Restoring the land
                             by the Creators hand
                            brothers all, one band
                           with you I will stand

Update

Greetings,

So many changes have happened over the last six months it is hard to believe and hard to keep up.
My wife and I have moved to the land historically the home of the Plateau people. Nez Pierce, Palouse, Walla Walla and Yakima.

I was honored to meet with a Yakima Elder and requested permission to live here on this land. With much thanks we were granted this permission. We live here now with His blessing.

Are hearts lift up prayers of gratitude to our Creator for all He has done for us.

To you all may this note find you in great peace and much joy.