It's really important that everyone take the time to share with someone young what it is you believe in and love, because it may turn out they already love and believe in those things, too.  I took my nephews, Josh and Nick, to a university sponsored Pow-Wow last Saturday.  It was the first time the boys had ever been around other Native American kids and families.  Their mother and my brother don't get along nor do their parents take the time to teach them about their ancestors.  I know it has nothing to do with my brother not seeing our ancestory as a problem, he's just too busy and hasn't learned much about our family's old ways of doing and believing to really teach the boys much.  Plus, we don't live on the reservation and some of our extended family isn't on speaking terms with my father after he left home many years ago.  What little my nephews have learned has been through the public school system and I have told them a few of our sacred stories. 

I promised them both that this time around I would get them each a necklace and teach them how to dance.  They were a bit shy about dancing, mainly content to watch the other Indian boys and girls.  Nick was deeply fascinated with the drumming.  "It's like a giant heart beat," he said, and he was exactly right. 

The only bad thing about the event were the vendors.  Since it was sponsored by UWSP, they brought in vendors who were really over charging folks for fake "Indian artifacts" -- trying to sell products that were more Eastern Indian than Native American.  We came across a bone flute and a lady really tried to convince me that it was made out of buffalo bone.  I could have been nasty at her, but for the sake of the kids, I let things go.  I decided then and there that it was more important that my nephews learn about the old ways from me, their Auntie Val, than from some white lady who was out to exploit our heritage for a quick buck.

I managed to find someone from our Menominee tribe and they gave me two bear claw necklaces to give to Josh and Nick.  Before I let them put them on, I told them the story about the first Menominee -- that the first of us was a Bear.  Wearing the bear claws over their hearts, the boys felt proud to be who they are.

Nick said, "I feel different now."  I asked him what he meant.  "I feel more like who I'm supposed to be.  Like I'm stronger and protected. Like I can walk up to a bear now and not be afraid."  He then told me that he plans on wearing the bear claw when he goes out on his first hunting trip with his stepfather next fall.  I told him that was good and to remember to honor all the animals, always.

"I'm going to wear this forever!" Josh exclaimed.

I hope they do.  I really do.