Voices from ‘The Rez'

By YoNasDa LoneWolf Hill | Last updated: Aug 17, 2011 - 9:45:15 AM

An occasional series of stories from Native Americans that are living on the reservations or in slang terms The Rez

Greetings Relatives,

(FinalCall.com) - With the guidance and permission of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, I have been blessed to be the National Director of the Indigenous Nations Alliance of the Millions More Movement. Since 2005, I have learned so much about other Native American tribes through my travels.

My late mother Wauneta LoneWolf was full blooded Ogalala Lakota. She raised my brother and I on the traditions and culture of our tribe. Even though I was raised part of my life in Arizona which is predominately Navajo, I just looked at our tribes one in the same, until I was chosen for this position.

I have been invited to speak at various mosques, schools, and community events throughout the country. When I would travel I would take a small group to the nearest Native American community, or the reservation (rez). Just so people from the urban community can get an opportunity to see their roots. Did you know that 85 percent of Black people have Native American in their lineage?

In my travels, I too, learned so much from the other tribes. I was in awe to visit the Shinnecock and the Seminole Nation and to see Native people that look like me. I was filled with joy to be alongside the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan when we visited the Navajo Nation. We all were educated when the then President Joe Shirley taught us all how to properly pronounce my Dine' name YoNasDa. It was a historic moment when the Minister spoke to the Navajo Nation Tribal Council, the first time a Non-Navajo was ever given that platform. I was emotional when I was invited by Martin Luther King III to facilitate his tour against poverty to two Native communities. To witness the destruction of the Houma Nation after Hurricane Katrina and the government abuse to my tribe the Lakota people in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Not only did I learn about other tribes during my travels, but I saw myself in every tribe. There is a universal saying all tribes say it's Mitakuye Oyasin “we are all related” or “all my relations,” and I can see why all tribes say that because they see the similarities.

I am now opening up my travels to you. The Indigenous Nations Alliance is presenting a series of Rez Tours. We will be hosting trips to various Indigenous communities in the world. Our first public event is September 9-11, 2011. We will be going to the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona, we will attend the Navajo Nations Largest Fair, Navajo Nation Museum, and we'll also drive to Flagstaff, AZ to see Pueblo Castles that were made in 600 B.C. and go on a lava trail that the ancients lived.

We will visit the the vortexes of Sedona— a well-known spiritual center of the world. It's going to be a three-day weekend of engulfing yourself in the Southwestern Indigenous culture.

For a full schedule and to book your tour, please go to www.indigenousnation.org. Also, if you would like us to go to your state and host a Rez Tour email [email protected].

The wait is over. It is past time for us to re-connect with our Indigenous brothers and sisters!!!

Mitokuye Oyasin
YoNasDa LoneWolf Hill
Wacipi Ola Win (Star Song Woman)

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