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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>A reflection on Native American (American Indian/First Nation, etc) Day as recognized by the Presbyterian Church (USA)...</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>In the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s program calendar, today September 23 (4th Sunday of September) is designated Native American Day--maybe other faith communities do so as well or in various ways --I don't know. Below is a song in honor and remebrance of the First Nation Peoples whose legacy and presence still implore and challenge us to honor, care for and live in harmony with Creation and each other, walking lightly on Earth's sacred space.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red Cloud was an Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief in 1800s-early 1900s who defended his people and land against the continual encroachment, plundering and broken treaties by the U.S. government, military, and economic interests. He was the only one to defeat the US military in what was called Red Cloud's War (although the US started it) 1866-68 when the US built forts on Lakota land. He was a leader before, a contemorary of Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Big Foot and others and outlived them, dying on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1909. Today, Pine Ridge is the poorest community in the United States. Some statistics indicate its poverty rate and hopelessness level lower than Haiti. Similar patterns of political oppression, economic exploitation and religious legitimation (Borg) continue to be US policy toward populations in this nation as well as other nations. Such behavior, especially our attitude toward the earth, is coming back to haunt us.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Ellie Stock</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><a href="mailto:elliestock@aol.com">elliestock@aol.com</a> </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>RED
CLOUD APPEARED IN A DREAM<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red
Cloud appeared in a dream—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>no
warning, no words,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>head
unbowed, spirit free,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>crying
out, silently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>“Creatures
beware!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>What
was done to my people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>is
turning back on your league.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red
Cloud appeared in a dream—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>defender,
protector of<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>life,
land, and liberty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Prophesy,
warrior chief,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>bold
truth declare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>midst
treaties broken and breached,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>victories
and tragic defeats!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red
Cloud appeared in a dream—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>same
vision for Earth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>for
its fate, flowing tears:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>mountains
gone, rising seas—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>critters
take care—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>dying
rivers, chopped down trees,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>lands
grabbed by power’s rampant greed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red
Cloud appeared in a dream—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>eyes
open and wise—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>lasering
poverty,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>violence
and disease,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>heartbreak’s
despair,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>shattered
lives and families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Is
this how Life is to be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>Red
Cloud disappeared from a dream—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>his
wisdom still heard,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>his
presence lingering,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>call
for justice and peace—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>no
time to spare—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>seventh
generation to reach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>to
build Earth’s new community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>ejhs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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