Trail of Hope

In August, 1829 the Ohio Delaware ceded their reserve and agreed to join the Delaware west of the Mississippi. The thought of another 100 mouths to feed made the Delaware on the James Fork agree to exchange their Missouri lands for a new reserve in northeast Kansas just north of the Shawnee – subject to their approval (they had learned).

The new location proved satisfactory, and in December, 1829 the Delaware arrived in Kansas and settled on the Missouri River north of its junction with the Kansas (Kansas City).  Unfortunately, much of Delaware’s new land had formerly belonged to the Pawnee, and the United States had neglected to inform the Pawnee before relocating the Delaware. In 1831 a Delaware hunting party on the plains was attacked by Pawnee warriors.

Meanwhile, the Kansas Delaware signed a treaty at St. Louis in October surrendering the abandoned lands of the Spanish grant given the Cape Girardeau Delaware (Absentee Delaware) who had moved to Texas. The Absentee Delaware were living in Mexican territory at the time and received nothing for their old lands, but the Delaware chiefs from Kansas who signed on their behalf got $100/year for life.

The following March, the Pawnee attacked another Delaware hunting party only this time a Delaware chief was killed. The Delaware formed a war party and burned the main Pawnee village on the Republican River. To avoid a war, the government negotiated a treaty with the Pawnee in 1833 recognizing the right of the Delaware to hunt in the area. It also threatened to stop the Delaware’s annuity payments if they did not stop attacking the plains tribes! This ended most confrontations, but in 1835 a Delaware hunting party killed 12 Pawnee they caught trying to steal their horses.

Many Delaware became professional buffalo hunters which created problems and confrontations with the other plains tribes, especially the Sioux and Cheyenne. Delaware hunting parties were attacked: by Santee Sioux near Des Moines, Iowa in 1841; Sioux and Cheyenne on the Smokey Hill River in Kansas in 1845; and by Sioux on the upper Platte in 1852. The Delaware, Shawnee and Kickapoo also joined the Potawatomi during a brief war between the emigrant tribes and Pawnee during 1850.

After agreeing to removal in 1829, it took the Ohio Delaware almost three years before they joined the other Delaware in Kansas in 1832. Two groups of Moravian Munsee also left their reserve in southern Ontario in 1837 and 1838 and emigrated to Kansas.
Despite these new arrivals, the Delaware still had more than enough land to sell some of it to the Wyandot when they were removed from Ohio to Kansas in 1843.

The Absentee Delaware (Red River Delaware) from the old Cape Girardeau Band remained in Texas and allied themselves with the Texas Republic in 1836. In 1854 they were moved to a reservation with the Caddo and Tonkawa on the upper Brazos River. They served as scouts for the Texas Rangers until 1859 when they were expelled to Oklahoma and settled at the Wichita Agency (Anadarko) with the Caddo, Tonkawa, Kitsai and Wichita. By 1874 they had merged with the Caddo and by the turn of the century had almost disappeared as a separate group (less than 100). They were considered as part of the Wichita and Affiliated Bands until given a separate identity and federal recognition.

From their reserve in northeast Kansas, the Delaware became very much a part of the American movement across the west.
Delaware scouts served with Colonel Henry Dodge’s 1835 expedition to meet the Comanche, and in 1837 eighty-seven Delaware enlisted in the American army and saw service in the Seminole War. Delaware also served as scouts and buffalo hunters for immigrant wagon trains crossing the plains during the 1840s and 50s. They participated in all three of the Fremont expeditions (1842, 1844, and 1845), and during the last one, twelve Delaware who had volunteered as scouts ended up serving as American soldiers in the capture of California during the Mexican War (1846-48). Another 30 Delaware joined Alexander Doniphan’s Missouri volunteers and saw service as part of Stephen Watts Kearny’s conquest of New Mexico.

By 1854, “civilization” had once again caught up with the Delaware in Kansas, and Congress was ready to open Kansas and Nebraska to settlement. In May the Delaware were pressured into signing a treaty reducing their reserve to 275,000 acres with the excess land to be sold at auction to whites. By the end of the month, Congress had passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which not only opened the area to settlement, but allowed slavery to be decided by “popular sovereignty.”

In a prelude to the Civil War, thousands of white men arrived on the lands of red men to kill each other over the enslavement of black men. The result was a period of lawless mayhem known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

The Delaware, Wyandot, and Shawnee sided with the anti-slavery forces and offered to defend Lawrence against possible attacks from Missouri. In 1860 the Delaware signed the Treaty of Sarcoxieville agreeing to allot their remaining lands.

The treaty was an good example of corruption and bribery of tribal officials. While each individual Delaware was given only 80 acres, the head chief received 640 acres and the other chiefs 320. In addition, the treaty authorized the chiefs to draw annual salaries of $1,500 from tribal trust fund. Excess land was to be sold to Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western Railroad.

Although they were still not citizens at this time, the Delaware declared for the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. Ultimately, 170 of the 200 able-bodied Delaware men of military ages served in the Union Army – mainly in the 6th and 15th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

In 1862 a group of Kansas Delaware and Shawnee attacked the Wichita Agency in southern Oklahoma which had been seized by the Confederates. The agency was destroyed forcing the Tonkawa who lived there to pack up and head back to Texas. Very few of them made it. Their old enemies, the Comanche caught them in the open east of the Wichita mountains and killed almost all of them. During the war, Delaware soldiers also fought several engagements against Confederate Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw units.

Did you know the name “Kansas” is a Siouan Indian word?
It comes from the tribal name Kansa, which means “south wind people.”

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Well it has officially been four months on the Trail. It really hasn’t gotten any easier as I continue along. I thought it might get easier but it is not. Just the other day I had to buy new insoles for my shoes because the asphalt gets so hot from the sun that my shoes are literally melting! I’m hoping the insoles will help me out a little bit.

The landscape in Missouri is beginning to flatten yet finding shade is still a challenge in this treacherous heat. I will say that I have been lucky the past few days. During my walk, around the middle of it, I’ve been stumbling on little villages and towns where I can get some cold water to drink and sometimes a little food. That has been a good thing each day and I am grateful.

As I walk I use not only my hat but also a towel to cover my head to prevent the sun from burning my head and face. It doesn’t really make anything much cooler, but at least I can prevent sunburn to some extent.

Each day since I left Joplin, I find myself reminiscing about my time there. It is something good to think about as I battle the scorching heat each day. I continue to recall those wonderful people who worked hard to restore hope and I remind myself that I am motivated each day to walk on the Trail of Hope.

It is hard to believe that it has already been four months of walking. While the days are long and hot, my spirits remain high. With each and every step I keep going.

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Motivation is an emotion that allows you to have the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of whether you feel like it or not. One of the main reasons people fail to achieve their goals is because of inaction. It is easy to say or think about what you are going to do but actually doing what you say you will do takes commitment. It is not that people have a hard time taking action once. Anyone can motivate themselves to get to the gym to workout one time. It is being able to consistently take action that is a challenge for most people.

I find I have to keep motivating myself to keep pushing to the limit. As I walk along, my thoughts tend to meander back to Joplin. When I arrived there was a group of kids, both young and older, from Oklahoma. A few days after their group departed Joplin, a few of the kids returned with a friend to continue volunteering for 2 more weeks. That was very inspiring to me, that young kids could be so motivated to make a difference.

There was a lady in Joplin who had diabetes. She was an older woman, and I witnessed a moment where her blood sugar was so high she needed insulin immediately.  Despite her condition and her age, this woman stayed in Joplin to help out any way she could. She tended to make pancakes for our breakfast each day so we could have the strength to carry out the labor ahead. This was her special way of contributing to the reconstruction efforts.

These are the people that, when I am alone on my walk on those very hot days, inspire me to push forward and continue along the Trail.  Throughout history, people have used inspirational stories to teach, encourage, and motivate in hopes that the listener will use it as a stepping stone and as an example to live a better life. Some stories will make you think, others will make you cry. Hopefully at least one story will give you that motivation to go and follow your dreams.

The important thing to remember when you want to do something is to do it. Nothing is more of a waste than to be inspired and motivated and not take any action. Your life will only change as a result of taking a focused action. An inspirational story is nothing if it doesn’t cause you to do something or at least believe in yourself.

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Fruits of Solitude

Being Creative
 
​Creativity is our very own spice of life. We are all creative and are born with a creative drive. It is our choice whether to explore that creativity and discover where it might lead or to allow it to remain dormant inside our minds. If we chose the first, we find that we can create our own plans and life will in turn respond. Thus, to become involved with life, at its very essence, you soon find that your life becomes the subject matter of the creative process.
​In the words of photography master Wynn Bullock, “The urge to create, the urge to photograph, comes in part from a deep desire to live with more integrity, to live in peace with the world and possibly to help others to do the same.” Each one of us has the ability to do particular tasks, usually quite well. We have gifts, talents, and we immerse ourselves in activities we love to do. It is our job, as humankind to recognize these simple hobbies and allow them to grow into something more.
​These hobbies transform into passions and allow us the power to create, unite and express the unthinkable. We can create anything, anytime, anywhere, by giving into our creative passions and bringing beauty into existence which was not present to the world before our doing.
​When we are not creating, we are not doing. We are not actively participating in life and passion. Creating isn’t about construction of the masterpiece it is the art of the painting and the genuine opportunity to participate in its creation, and take ownership over development. Whether to succeed or fail, ultimately is of little importance than to undertake the never ending journey of the creative process.

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 Yesterday I walked through another very hot day. There was little shade to hide from the sun but I got lucky halfway through my day. As I was walking I stumbled across a little village where I was able to get some ice for my water. I had two pears and a banana for lunch. It was great! Many times on my long walks in very hot days, I am unable to find a place to get something to eat let alone some ice! So I was very grateful for that discovery.

The village itself was very small. There were a few houses and the store where I got the ice, but there were no people or cars. It seemed like a ghost village in a way.

After I had my brief respite, I continued walking into the heat. The terrain consists of a few fields here and there and a very flat land. There isn’t much to look along the way. As I walked, my thoughts kept going back to Joplin. Somehow I feel very spiritually energized. I assume I feel this way because I had the chance to be surrounded by so many great volunteers that are pouring in each day and contributing to the hope and the community of Joplin. I feel a high spiritual energy and it is great!

Tomorrow I am probably going to take a day off. It has been awhile since I took a day of rest. I know I’m going to need at least a day long break from the hot and humid air. Hopefully this rest will help me get my body on track to continue the journey.

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Yesterday it was very hard for me to leave Joplin. I was dragging my feet a bit. It took me a few hours to get my stuff together and leave the church. It seemed like my legs didn’t want to move forward. While I was in Joplin, everything was about Joplin. Now I have to put my thoughts towards the continuation of the Trail.

As I left Joplin my friend Fred decided to walk a mile with me. It was very nice walking with him and I was happy for the occasion. It was symbolic in a way as I let get of my Joplin experience, thankful for my memories. After that mile, I continued on my own.

The weather is still insanely hot. The temperature lingers in the 100s from sun up to sun down. The heat is already getting to me. The weather is expected to linger in the 100s and above for the remainder of the Trail. So I can expect to encounter these boiling conditions all the way to Oklahoma! As I was walking alone, I tried to gather my thoughts and concentrate more on the Trail. I only walked about 12 miles but it seemed like I had forgotten how to walk. It is going to be difficult to get back into my walking routine.

Despite the heat, everything went well. I stopped at a motel about 12 miles north east from Joplin at around 4pm. I’m sure I’ll get back into the swing of things soon.

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 My experience in Joplin, Missouri was one that I could have never imagined. It was fruitful in many ways and I feel this experience has rewarded my soul. I’m so grateful for every opportunity I was given to make a difference in someone’s life. I’m very thankful for Pastor Larry from the Christian Center who opens his doors for all the volunteers and cares for them during their stay. Each week thousands of volunteers rotate in and out of the doors of that church, all with the intention of giving their hearts and service for a brief span of time to restore hope.

 I have enjoyed meeting all of the volunteers that came. They all gave their hart to a cause and despite the fact they were tired and worked in 100 degree weather each and every day, they still gave all of themselves for a purpose. They were not ordinary people; they were a very special kind of people.

I made a lot of friends. On such friend that stands out in my mind is Fred. He would be up at the crack of dawn and work steadfastly until sunset. He was truly inspiring.

Even though the tornado passed through about a month and a half ago, there is already so much work that has been done by all the volunteers. There are vacant and cleared lots ready for rebuilding.

During my brief stay in Joplin, I had the opportunity to speak with a few residents who lost their homes in the tornado. It was very difficult for me because it was really hard to find the right things to say. They feel such an immense loss and they are stuck in the middle of unimaginable devastation. Despite this, they are very gracious and thankful for all of the volunteer efforts working to restore their community. In the middle of such devastation, the residents carry within themselves a great hope and they are ready to rebuild their previously shattered life.

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http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-story-blazing-a-trail-of-hope-to-joplin-20110714,0,1921294.story

Fruits of Solitude
Persona
 
​There are two types of persona found within the world. The first is comprised of people who need to make a positive difference because they value contribution and derive satisfaction from meaningful work. The second is made up of people who feel validated by tangible benefits, for example, winning should be rewarded.
​While these two types exist, it is a myth that each one of us has a fixed, self limiting personality. Personality, as a concept, is merely an illusion for it can be changed at will.
​It is a tragedy that most people will live trapped inside their own personalities throughout their entire lives without ever knowing what is truly there. They become victims of their own limits, placed upon themselves by ignorance of life outside their personalized definition. Each day is unclear as the fire within their soul grows dimmer. People become victims, believing all power lies outside of them.
​There are others who take full responsibility for their life and tap into the power of the human spirit. They are not bounded by a bleak definition of self imposed standards. We all have the ability to chose our thoughts and embody an optimistic or pessimistic perspective.
​It is important to understand that our future is not determined by our personality. We are the driver who determines who we are and who we will become. It is never too late to act upon this understanding for we are either living our dreams or living someone else’s.

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There is a Road

           There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unknown, secret place.                                                        -  Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief
 
                  Behold, my brothers, the spring has come; the earth has received the embraces of the sun and we shall soon see the results of that love! Every seed has awakened and so has all animal life. It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being and we therefore yield to our neighbors, even our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves, to inhabit this land.   –   Tatanka Yotanka (Sitting Bull), Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux
 
                           -Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.                                                                            - Ancient Indian proverb
 
                                              Peace and happiness are available in every moment. Peace is every step. We shall walk hand in hand. There are no political solutions to spiritual problems.
 Remember: If the Creator put it there, it is in the right place. The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.

                             -It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace and live in peace.
                                                         – Shenandoah
                  -Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
 
       -Don’t judge any man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins”   –  Indian Proverb

The  most beautiful things in the universe are the starry heavens above us and the feeling of duty within us.”
                                                                  Indian Proverb
 
…….. everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence.                                                                                      Mourning Dove (Salish) 

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