Giving is sharing our culture

I apologize to my blog readers for being away for awhile, but this was on my mind recently. Of course, the Council met last week to discuss business and to inform our members that we used funds to help some of our community members out of some binds. One of our members mentioned that "we should help our members first rather than strangers..." and that we did not know these people. I found this attitude in almost every organization I have come across, and it always is the "Me First" syndrome.

Giving should never be about what you can get from another, or about keeping resources to your self. Giving is from the heart and a reflection of the Creator's love for his people. He gave freely to the Indigenous community- visions, teachings, animals, medicines, and creation itself and the guardianship over it. This goes back a long time, as tribal members refused the acquisition of material goods- even the Chief, the poorest of all his people, gave freely and without asking for anything in return. In the modern time we live in, we deal now with con artists and scams that harm and take advantage of Native generosity, but that should not deter us from honoring our commitment to the Creator in giving from the heart. If we keep the "Me First" attitude in our thoughts, then we become no better than those who came to oppress our people, and we dishonor our ancestor's memory along the way.