Whitebison.org

[Michelle 2010]

Since we seem to have a fair number of people here with Native American bloodlines, or interest in their spiritual precepts, I thought I'd post this. I first heard of White Bison from an AA speaker named Don C of Boulder Colorado. His journey into recovery from the depth of alcoholism started on his reservation and is spoken from the heart. Woven into his story and experience, strength and hope, are some spiritual principles that others may find interesting even if the listener is not struggling with substance abuse or involved with someone who is. Of particular interest to me is at the end of the presentation he talked how the Indian ways of his elders align with the 12 steps of recovery and act as a road map or gyroscope in dealing with life.

Here at Laura's I often think of how the 12 steps have benefited me and that, if someone is not dealing with chemical dependency, they may not think a step program has relevance to them. At White Buffalo, they refer to Wellbriety instead of Sobriety, acknowledging that the steps can lead to a well grounded and satisfying life.

I make no claim that the site is a wellspring of eternal Indian Truths, but the speaker who helped start it had a major impact on me, and I can see they are headed in a direction I like. For readers here, it may plant a seed that sprouts in other directions? Don't really know, its not my specific path. Just thought I'd offer it up for those interested. It looks like the resource component is stronger than the forum component so I encourage looking around.

I found Don C's speech at http://xa-speakers.org

He has one to the 15th annual Sioux Empire AA Roundup at Sioux Falls South Dakota that looks interesting though I haven't heard it. http://xa-speakers.o...ion=file&id=916

The White Buffalo site is http://whitebison.org/

Bon Appitete!

Michelle

[Guest erinanita]

Since we seem to have a fair number of people here with Native American bloodlines, or interest in their spiritual precepts, I thought I'd post this. I first heard of White Bison from an AA speaker named Don C of Boulder Colorado. His journey into recovery from the depth of alcoholism started on his reservation and is spoken from the heart. Woven into his story and experience, strength and hope, are some spiritual principles that others may find interesting even if the listener is not struggling with substance abuse or involved with someone who is. Of particular interest to me is at the end of the presentation he talked how the Indian ways of his elders align with the 12 steps of recovery and act as a road map or gyroscope in dealing with life.

Here at Laura's I often think of how the 12 steps have benefited me and that, if someone is not dealing with chemical dependency, they may not think a step program has relevance to them. At White Buffalo, they refer to Wellbriety instead of Sobriety, acknowledging that the steps can lead to a well grounded and satisfying life.

I think that a twelve step program can benefit anyone, whether they have a chemical dependency or not. I rarely think about my alcoholism anymore but I do still focus on my higher power and the twelve steps. As was told to me many times, the twelve steps is a program for living.

Early in my sobriety I used to spend time with other AA members who were also members of the First Nations. They used to talk about their brand of spirituality. I always enjoyed hearing their stories.

I think if I had known about two-spirit earlier I might have closely identified with it.

I am an intersex person and I feel drawn to characteristics of both genders. In our culture, however, we are affected by the social construct of only two genders so it's been hard to accept that concept until recently.

Erin

[Michelle 2010]

I think that a twelve step program can benefit anyone, whether they have a chemical dependency or not. I rarely think about my alcoholism anymore but I do still focus on my higher power and the twelve steps. As was told to me many times, the twelve steps is a program for living.

Early in my sobriety I used to spend time with other AA members who were also members of the First Nations. They used to talk about their brand of spirituality. I always enjoyed hearing their stories.

I think if I had known about two-spirit earlier I might have closely identified with it.

I am an intersex person and I feel drawn to characteristics of both genders. In our culture, however, we are affected by the social construct of only two genders so it's been hard to accept that concept until recently.

Erin

The talk by Don C that I refer to includes his journey back to his tribe after getting sober and how they discussed the specifics of how the directions on their compass or world view align with the journey within, getting in touch with God,,helping others etc. That realization of similarity was the driving force for the whitebison movement that was started. Cool stuff. Universal truths are just that...Universal. I think an important premise of both movements is to help others on the rocky road. Freedom from the bondage of self by helping others in the tribe, be it the Sioux nation or the human race.

Michelle