Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Oren Lyons is the Faithkeeper. With 95 years of experience on this Earth, he has witnessed some of the most historic events of the last century. When you are with him, you know that you are in the presence of greatness.
One week ago today, our film crew had the pleasure of sitting down with this calm and thoughtful man as he recounted the stories on which our movie, An Arrow Shot Through Time, is based. He should know. He was there for much of it. I will let you wait to hear his words and experience his being as you watch the film. The documentary will be much more meaningful thanks to his contributions.
Rex Lyons, Oren’s son, is not only an accomplished guitarist and a dear friend, he is also at the center of the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team. In explaining the game’s history, how it’s played, and the stick it’s played with, you begin to understand what the game means to their culture. He is spellbinding in his descriptions. Again, just wait until you see the film. Amazing stuff. Bill Muench said it best.
We’re deeply grateful to Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, and his son Rex Lyons for sharing their powerful insights on the cultural and personal meaning of lacrosse. Their reflections—and their friendship with the people of Ireland—will be a highlight of our film.
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Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Oren was part of the delegation, many decades ago, when the natives of our continent decided on the term “Indigenous” to describe all of the residents of this hemisphere, before the Europeans arrived. He doesn’t mince words. There is no reason to celebrate Columbus. There are many reasons to celebrate Indigenous Peoples. We live here in the land of the Haudenosaunee. It was their government that the Founders of America patterned our government after. We adopted their Thanksgiving celebration. Look around, their culture has had a profound effect on who we have become.
There is a statue in front of our courthouse in Onondaga County. The Onondagas, as well as all the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, are rightly horrified that Columbus is celebrated with a statue on their land. He was a conqueror who did unspeakable things. Please, take it down. How about Hiawatha? A great leader and peacemaker.