Learn something, teach something: the modern-day staff of life.

• Author: Wiesner, Pat
• Position: On Management

A LAKOTA INDIAN STEPPED NOBLY TO THE place elevated for the honored speaker, to give the invocation for the dinner event. With full eagle-feather headdress and ceremonial leathers and moccasins, it was clear that he was the genuine article. The evening was fair and cool and the sun was just beginning to settle majestically behind Red Lady Mountain, with the little town of Crested Butte backlit in the foreground. The speaker paused while the crowd of 300 or so quieted to hear his words. The entire group was ringed by some 30 tipis that blazed in the sun as though each was lit by a high-powered spotlight.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Lakota began speaking of nature, how good it is, and our obligation to it. He talked of thanks-giving and brotherhood.

He then spoke some thoughts and ideas that will stick with me for a long time. Ideas that could mean everything to modern-day Indians, other minorities and even the white majority.

He talked of how the buffalo was once the staff of life to the Indian. The Indian got everything he needed to live and prosper from the buffalo. The only exceptions were the poles for their tipis, and water. Everything they ate and wore plus the raw material for just about everything they made or manufactured came from the buffalo.

But the staff of life for the Indian now, he said, is no longer the buffalo, it is education. Without education the Indian can't compete in the modern world. When you think of it, no one, not anyone of any race or culture can improve or compete in this world without education.

The Lakota went on to speak quite eloquently about many things at this recent event, a fundraiser for the local Crested Butte Academy. It was incredibly different in that the tables for the dinner were each set in a real tipi which were in turn set in a circle around a huge fire and cook area. It was highly successful in the "let's raise some money" sense but it also made you think about...