Navajo Hataalii's (Healers)

[asdzaanlichii_PREV (deleted)]

I was reading a few articles on-line at www.navajotimes.com and a thought popped into my head. With the threat of cultural identity loss, language loss, etc., I realized that we are also losing a vital part of Native American life- traditional healers & doctors. On the Navajo reservation, we call them Hataalii (Ha-ta-thlee). I was raised traditional and as I get older, I wonder if our Hataalii, if any, will be around for our next generation. I strongly believe that without our Hataalii people, we truly will be lost. They hold our sacred stories, healing songs & ceremonies, and that one thing that sets them apart from us all. I hope I do not live in a time when I cannot seek the help of a Hataalii elder for advice or help. for those of you who are familiar with such a dilemma, please share your thoughts and ideas. Ahéhee' (Thank you).

Asdzaanlichii (Red Woman)

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`I agree. It scares me too. I have actually started working with my shimasani in learning herbs and sorts. It seems like my generation do not understand what our culture means, anymore. They are becoming lossed with the idealisms of being white and do not see a point in the lessons that our elders teach us. I remember when I was little, all those stories that I was told intrigued me and I wanted to be apart of that. You know?

I don't know about anyone else but I am wanting to embrace our culture. I have been away from my community for a year now to learn about other cultures. Living in a white culture has really opened my eyes a lot! I decided, I like who I am. *laughs*

`kai`

[(deleted)]

` I hope it's ok to respond to this subject. Anyway, I have just read your posts on this forum, and though I was not born a Native, nor was I raised in any of the many Native American cultures, I have to say that the thought of loseing all those things as well as the traditional healers is unsettleing, and worriesome at the very least. Take it from me, white doesn't make right. THere's too much destruction. too much pollution and too much loss among other things on white hands. I'm sure my own race will probably veiw me as a traitor for saying those things, but I'm only speaking of those who live that way or beleive in that way. probably about 3/4 of them. Anyway, I have heard of a lot of the current Native generation loseing touch and or interest in thier traditions, languages, and spirituality. It is scary as you both say. For a long time, I have been wanting to learn how to use herbs, and learn other healing ways, but feel it is best to learn from a real person resepcted by their community not from a book that may not have all the facts or a person claiming to be something they're not. THe trouble is, I do not know of a way to get in contact with anyone, least of all someone willing to help me. Not just with the healing arts but culture and language. I come with an open heart and mind and a genuine desire to learn and understand.

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`You are apart of the mindset so of course it is okay to respond. As long as negativity doesn't overpower, I don't care what color you are.

You are right, it will be hard to find a native elder that will help you learn the traditions of healing and ceremonies. A lot of them are very negative towards white people which, is sad in itself. I am not like that though. I may still be learning but I will help you with anything you would like to know that I already have learned.

The significance of teaching a child in a clan of yours the arts is so that they will carry it down from generation to generation. That is why many elders wont, "waste their time" with other people.

I hope that didn't offend. Just letting you know the mindset.

I think it is great you have found a culture to support.

`kai`

[(deleted)]

`I have every intention of passing everything I learn down. Mostly to my children should I be lucky enough to marry and have children of my own. Other children in the family if they feel the call. Beleive me when I say no Native elder would be wasteing their time with me. All I want is to be given a chance to prove myself. THis is not something I just decided to do because I thought it was cool, or I wanted to play at being Indian. Too many things have happened, too many visions and dreams have come to me showing me this is the path to take. For a while I could make no sense of anything I saw, I only knew that I'd been chosen for something. Because I have no real guidence in these matters I've been forced to go it alone for the most part as far as finding the meaning behind everything. Sometimes I'll be told something by an amimal or spirit that comes to me, but mostly, it's that I've learned to trust my heart and in those things have gained a little more understanding of what's truely being asked of me. Now I feel as if time is of the essence, like too much time has been wasted already. So now I'm putting out the call. Anyone out there on this site know of an Elder Native Healer, Medicine man/woman who would be willing to teach and share these things? I will relocate in order to show just how dedicated and serious I am about this. I do not make this request lightly. I know that this is for life, that it will not be easy, that it can be down right dangerous at times, Still, My heart and spirit are pure in their intent. I only want to do what's being asked of me by the spirits. Please serious responses only. Also no New Agers please, No offense. It's just not the path I'm meant to be on. I hope there is no hard feelings. Anyway, THank you for the support Kai Also for not being judgmental. I understand that these are sacred things, that most Elders would seriously hesitate in teaching me or would down right refuse me. All I ask to everyone, is look at the spirit that's inside, not the skin. Feel free to respond off forum. Again serious responses only. THank you:)

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`No elder would be on a website.

`kai`

[(deleted)]

` I was not asking if there was an elder on this or another website, but rather if anyone on this site knew of an elder in or around their area that would be willing to teach and train me in the healing arts as well as share culture and language.

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`Alllllllright. Its okay. Calm down. *smiles*

`kai`

[(deleted)]

`I wasn't upset. Just wanted to clarify as it seems there was a misunderstanding. It's cool though:)

[clownway]

`Honestly horses06, I think what your trying to do comes from your heart and that you truly want to learn native healing and language and I respect that and please don't take this the wrong way.. But for a white woman to ask a traditional to teach her such things are looked down upon...and then to claim to keep that knowledge, power, and medicine in her family through her kids and keep it going through a non-native family is forbidden. It took all native families generations and generations of seeking, praying and sacrifice to gain that knowledge and medicine and to understand it. Most will not give that up, or be so quick to teach it to others, especially a white. And the way that all works too is to understand that that healing ways are taught while one is growing up so that it becomes second nature and to develop a deeper understanding than if you were to learn it as an adult. And know that if praticed wrong or not understood correctly that you will hurt people, and the spirits are to blame the family not you for that mistake cause the spirits trusted that family to keep those ways. If the spirits wanted you to have that healing ability they would have given it to you. And if you really did get those dreams and visions then its good..! And one day you will learn it and gain the trust needed to deserve it. But remember that stuff like that should been given to you full heartily... and not asked for, so be patient and it will come. =)

[(deleted)]

`It seems someone went around teaching whites on traditional teachings as you see many books written, also Natives are selling their beliefs $40.00 course.. Plus you can find things put out by Natives on internet.
Whites use to have strong roots and practice teachings, Druids for instance talked to spirits and healed with herbs.Before they became Christians they practiced Paganism about the same beliefs in spirits, Gods male and female herbs and so on..

Horses06
White people (as you call them) are not the only people polluting this planet,you think they are the only people buying gas, plastic and so on? Why can't you be proud of your own people and not wanting to be something you are not?

Nature-based spirituality and worship the Old Gods who pre-existed the Middle- and Near-Eastern monotheism. In general a Pagan is a person who recognizes that the Universe is finely balanced and therefore contains a feminine power that harmonizes with the traditional 'male' power of God, who may use the natural gift of magic to improve themselves and their environment, follows an ethical way of living and aims for a certain level of spirituality. Today's Pagans are not escapists, nor are we trying to hide from our problems in a world of fantasy and make believe. Our mind is firmly rooted in the present but we seek an older knowledge to complement our modern lives.

In its purest sense Paganism is Earth Magic, a memory of the time when humans lived in harmony with their environment rather than riding roughshod over Nature for their own personal gain.


SOMETIMES I AM EMBARRASSED TO SAY I AM NATIVE WHEN I SEE THIS BLATANT ATTACKS ON SO CALLED WHITE PEOPLE. I GUESS EVERYONE NEEDS SOMEONE TO TAKE TO THE WHIPPING POST AND WHITES (NOT MY WORD) EUROPEAN DECEDENTS ARE IT..

Just my take on this..

SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS WRONG!!!

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`Since I am a woman with my feet planted on this earth until the day I die..I can take a "whipping" (so to speak here) and turn and look anyone squarely in the eyes who do it. That is what was taught to me by people from all walks of life and in various ways. I was born in 1967 and I dont recall being asked under what circumstances I would be born into..I have nothing to suck my thumb about.*especially being judged by those who dont know me over that which I had no control over.

[clownway]

`what?lol

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`Exactly!(lol)

[clownway]

` easyy hugger.. lol..! I wasn't taking anybody to the "whipping post" I was just simply saying that traditional natives (especially elders) are not so quick to just teach anybody their ways, theres still a lot of mistrust of "white" people in the elders... you know many of them were ripped from their homes as children and forced to go to a boarding school, forced to cut their hair and forbidden to speak their language, forced not to pray to the land, but to open a bible. And all that was happening in the 40's and 50's and even in the 60's... so you can't blame them for not wanting to teach these people sometimes. And I call them white cause that how we identify our selfs to the 4 directions... we honor all people in the 4 directions.. White, Black, Red, and Yellow, each color representing a direction, a story, and a season. So when I call someone a color, I'm not saying to insult you... I'm saying it because I honor you, rather your from the Red Nation, White Nation, Black Nation, or Yellow Nation, we are all human and are all a part of the sacred hoop, standing proud in our direction, our heritage, and our teachings.