The Change

Chapter 5

"We blame all our troubles on Custer and not even try to make it right, it was not these people that stole our lands it was their ancestors. We blame everything on the whites today even something that happened a long time ago. Were the ones that should be blaming ourselves, for our children going to bed hungry and living in poor conditions. Not all our Native people are drunks or do drugs there are some good Natives out here, we have a lot of people that help us out but were so stubborn and prideful that we just throw it back," said Ivy.

"That's because they are living in the past, one time we did know how to live right, if our ancestors came back and saw how we lived today they would be disappointed, they turn to drugs because there is nothing here, but you're the young ones and you can change all that get off the rez, you can leave you know, you don't have to stay here, you can leave and make something of yourselves," said Red Deer.

"We can do that, let's go to the center tomorrow and have our meeting," said Ivy.

"Yeah," said White Eagle

"Good idea," said another Native kid.

"That is a good start," said Red Deer.

Then the bell rang everybody walked outside, got on the bus, and went home.

"How was school today?" asked White Dove.

"Washte" (good)," we are going to make our community great again," said Little Crow.

"That's great son," said Rocky Crow.

"Is Grandfather home?" asked Little Crow.

"Yes," said White Dove.

Little Crow walked outside and went over to his Grandfathers trailer house and went outside.

"I'm ready now," said Little Crow.

So he sat down on the floor as a child would before Storytime, Grandfather started the story where he left off.

"When Shawn and Becky arrived at the Lakota village, the chief was waiting to greet them and welcome them, he showed them around the camp.

"This place is amazing," said Shawn.

"Please stay "kola" (friend) we would like to adopt you and your "winyan" (woman) into our nation," said the chief.

"It's a bad idea, there is going to be trouble, war, when the bluecoats find us, they'll think you kidnapped us," said Shawn.

"But we can help you survive, especially in the wintertime," said the chief.

"We will stay," smiled Shawn looking around.

So, the chief showed them more and was teaching them the language, he told them there will come a time where blood will be spread on this land.

"Why did they take our land Grandfather, why couldn't we share it and live together as one?" asked Little Crow.

"Greed, greed played a role on both sides, we didn't want to share neither did they, so we fought both sides died over land that did not really belong to either one of us," said Grandfather.

"So this land does not belong to us?" asked Little Crow.

"No, it belongs to the one who created it," said Grandfather.

"As Shawn and Becky were adopted into the Lakota Nation, Becky was with the women down by the stream, a woman looked up and saw a "washia" (white man). They all ran into the camp, the warriors grabbed their weapons, the white men started firing, Shawn and the warriors started fighting, both sides were killed including Shawn, because to them he was no longer a white man, but a Native," said Grandfather. So you see grandson not all whites are bad, they do want to help us thrive and run a business out here, they want us to making something of ourselves, but our pride gets in the way of all that," said Grandfather.

"We are going to change all that," said Little Crow.

"You can put some c4 up the nose of mount Rushmore, that will get a good laugh, maybe that is all we need is a good laugh," said Grandfather.

"I can't do that grandpa, that is silly," said Little Crow.

"Yeah I don't think that is a good idea either," said Grandfather.

"Yeah I'll get in big trouble for that or even thrown in jail," said Little Crow.

"True we don't want that," said Grandfather.

"No, thank you for the stories, Grandfather. I'll catch you later," said Little Crow walking home and going to bed.