Today I had a vision
I can't imagine, I can't ever imagine
I sat and I thought of the days when times were hard for our people. Both black and Indian. The days when Chiefs saw their children running and hiding. Running in the hills without blankets. Running to try and save their own lives. Kids, children running helplessly.
I sat and I cried thinking about it for it made me sad and sick in my heart. So many perished. So many died. The old people died. And the soldiers kept coming. Killing and scalping our people without conscience and without thought. How many prayed and hoped for this horrible time to pass. And how many wanted it to end.
I sat crying and realized that they are the reason why I am here today and they are the reason why I am proud today and they are the reason why I honor and respect today and even know of the love of our Creator. It is their reason why I follow in the footsteps of those before me.
I am a black Indian, I am an advocate for our people both Black and Native and we have survived because they took the death, the pain, the suffering and the hate for us but kept on going. And we are here today because of them. Because of the blood they had shed, the blood that so fell upon Mother Earth that cries out so we live today.
I am proud in a good way not an arrogant way of who I am and I will stand strong now and forever. I know who I am as a Black Indian and because of our children we will live on forever. Many of you are the same as me so we will be strong together. We will continue and we will as our old ones taught us we will teach our children and we will live on forever. As they live in us we will live in them forever.
Chief Eaglefeather
The Binay Tribe