Episode: Canupa of Lakota Strong Heart Society.

Episode: First nation man Canupa of Lakota nation speaks truth...

We spent three days listening. Sitting in discomfort. Some people walked out. Most stayed. We sat and listened to hard, terrifying truths. His language, which you'll hear in this video, sounds familiar like the sound of ocean waves crashing to shore and birds and stampede of buffalo. These truths they share with us aren't taught in most American schools or spoken about in most American homes. I've learned more in the last five years than I did in all my years in all the seven schools I attended in New England (Neshobe & City Magnet being the two best). I love Turtle Island. Turtle Island is the original name for this place you live. I love it mainly because of you, the people. I love the diversity & this idea of democracy. Though I feel we have taken it for granted, I love that we can gain it back together. So many strong people born here whose ancestors were also settlers, or slaves forced to live here, or indigenous people who were slaughtered and torn apart and forced to live in reservations that are drying up, far from forests, far from animals and clean water. I would like to break apart the White Mountain National Forest and give it back to them. Do not take for granted your democracy. Take it back. It is because of the people and the land that I will begin to bring up the uncomfortable conversations. My ancestors were settlers here. They came from Ireland and Italy and Spain. They farmed and took care of one another. This is not my land, nor is it yours, it is truly the land of the indigenous people and we stole it from them. We give them deserts for land. Land they do not own, as it is all communal. They are the poorest 1% right now.Shut the televisions off, it is a weapon of mass distraction. Put down your phones (after calling all of your friends to schedule a meeting) and tune in to whats happening around you. Look around the world and see how utterly fucked everything is. Our safety is dependent upon a police force that murders people of color with impunity, dependent upon a government that invades countries around the world using our money. Dependent upon a system of production that uses slave labor around the world and here in this country to produce the clothes you wear, the tools you use. Dependent upon food created in labs. The fucked up shit that federal government allows on shelves in stores is fucking absurd and they do it because we let them. Everything in my life is perpetuating these systems I find myself being against, yet I feel I can't do anything in my position, up until this point, to really challenge them. We need to work together though. I need your help with this. Something is terrifyingly wrong. This hole in the hearts of our whole society started hundreds of years ago and we must address it with radically intellectual & peaceful action. Begin having uncomfortable conversations. Hold meetings in town halls, synagogues, churches, friends houses, anywhere, but make sure it is together. Some may not like it, its alright, let them walk out, they may be want to stifle true change, they may have egos too big and mind chatter too loud to truly understand the wrong that was done. That continues to be done. We are agents of change, Change Agents of America. Accept it. Having these conversations in your communities will change this fucked up system we find ourself stuck in. We're dying, we're sick, we're suffering, we're poor, we're lonely and we're sick of this shit. I'm sick of this fucked up emptiness that I feel and see all around me. One person can not represent thousands. Time to change the numbers. More intellectual action. Get out and vote even before elections. You the PEOPLE hold the POWER. In fact, I'm requesting now that all businesses shut down on Election Day. If you need help organizing, let me know and I'll put you in touch with people. I am so grateful for all that I have learned outside of the school system. Change starts now.

Posted by Fallon Leigh O'Brien on Tuesday, April 28, 2015