Post by auntym on Aug 10, 2014 11:40:53 GMT -6
groundreport.com/they-called-him-the-dreamer-the-life-of-an-apache-medicine-man/
They called him the “Dreamer”
the life (and death) of an Apache medicine man!
by Robert Tilford
Posted: 08/08/2014
Ghost dancers.
I recently sat down with an elder of the White Mountain Apache tribe, who granted me permission to write about some of the more obscure aspects of Apache history around the turn of the twentieth century.
Most of our conversations revolved around Geronimo, but we also discussed other famous Indians as wells.
One in particular caught my attention right away, because it contained all the elements of a good story.
It was about an Apache medicine man and prophet named Nock-ay-det-klinne, also known as “the Dreamer.”
The Dreamer it appears was a deeply religious man, a seer! A seer is one who has special access to hidden things. They are by nature intuitive and sensitive people. The Dreamer was, of course no exception to the rule.
He claimed to communicate regularly with extra dimensional beings or entities, we might call ghosts or spirits today. They granted him supernatural “power” and knowledge to hidden things.
“Power is everywhere. It lives in everything. It might be known through a word or come in the shape of an animal. We all have power but some tap into different rooms. Power speaks to those who listen. The greatest thing a person can have in Apache belief is power!” Apache Medicine Man 1889
Power is an interesting concept within Apache culture and religion. I’m not even sure if I understand the true significance or meaning to be quite honest with you…
It refers to an intangible quality or aspect in every human being. Sometimes called “gifts of the spirit.” It was gained through dreams,visions, fasting and prayers. Often times it fell within the field of precognition, or extrasensory perception.
In the case of the “Dreamer” it was all of that and much more!
He also came at a time when the Apache culture and worldview was under direct assault by the White man – who came not only to “kill, steal and destroy” but to erase a complete way of life!
The “Dreamer” called upon the people to remain steadfast in this adversity and participate in the ritual of the “Ghost dance.”
The ghost dance was started by a Paiute leader Wowoka – it centered around this idea that a time was approaching when the White man would be “de-fanged” and driven out of North America and the Indian people across the nations would unite.
CONTINUE READING: groundreport.com/they-called-him-the-dreamer-the-life-of-an-apache-medicine-man/
They called him the “Dreamer”
the life (and death) of an Apache medicine man!
by Robert Tilford
Posted: 08/08/2014
Ghost dancers.
I recently sat down with an elder of the White Mountain Apache tribe, who granted me permission to write about some of the more obscure aspects of Apache history around the turn of the twentieth century.
Most of our conversations revolved around Geronimo, but we also discussed other famous Indians as wells.
One in particular caught my attention right away, because it contained all the elements of a good story.
It was about an Apache medicine man and prophet named Nock-ay-det-klinne, also known as “the Dreamer.”
The Dreamer it appears was a deeply religious man, a seer! A seer is one who has special access to hidden things. They are by nature intuitive and sensitive people. The Dreamer was, of course no exception to the rule.
He claimed to communicate regularly with extra dimensional beings or entities, we might call ghosts or spirits today. They granted him supernatural “power” and knowledge to hidden things.
“Power is everywhere. It lives in everything. It might be known through a word or come in the shape of an animal. We all have power but some tap into different rooms. Power speaks to those who listen. The greatest thing a person can have in Apache belief is power!” Apache Medicine Man 1889
Power is an interesting concept within Apache culture and religion. I’m not even sure if I understand the true significance or meaning to be quite honest with you…
It refers to an intangible quality or aspect in every human being. Sometimes called “gifts of the spirit.” It was gained through dreams,visions, fasting and prayers. Often times it fell within the field of precognition, or extrasensory perception.
In the case of the “Dreamer” it was all of that and much more!
He also came at a time when the Apache culture and worldview was under direct assault by the White man – who came not only to “kill, steal and destroy” but to erase a complete way of life!
The “Dreamer” called upon the people to remain steadfast in this adversity and participate in the ritual of the “Ghost dance.”
The ghost dance was started by a Paiute leader Wowoka – it centered around this idea that a time was approaching when the White man would be “de-fanged” and driven out of North America and the Indian people across the nations would unite.
CONTINUE READING: groundreport.com/they-called-him-the-dreamer-the-life-of-an-apache-medicine-man/