Emma Fish
Emma's Old Story
Emma's Message
Listen to the old people, is Emma's advice. She is concerned that the young people of today and especially the young people who are learning traditional ways are not making enough of an effort to go to the elders and ask for their advice.
Emma says, "Asking for advice is one of the ways we Native people show respect to our Elders. The young people should not be making up their own ways in the ceremonies. They need to follow what the older people do. You have to go to the ceremonies to know how things are done. We must acknowledge the experience and teachings of our old people. We should not presume that we know more than those people who have lived longer than us."
Emma says, "By listening and asking questions, you are gonna learn a lot that way. You will learn about things that are good. The Elders teach you a lot." She says her mother-in-law taught her about living the Indian way. Her father-in-law also taught her many things.
"You need to go and talk to the old people when they are still alive. My father-in-law said you have to go to the old people to ask them how to deal with problems," she emphasizes. Emma stated very confidently, "I learned to listen to the old people and have learned to enjoy them. I love to listen to the old people talk." She says that these skills are learned and need to be developed by younger people today. Emma believes that by learning to listen to the Elders you learn the difference between right and wrong. And part of what you learn is to never make fun of other religions and to respect other people's beliefs.
Emma believes there was more respect for our old people in the past. There was much more respect for our brothers and fathers in the old days. To keep close together you must show respect for one another. She says that to do this, you must be willing to ask about a person's troubles and listen to their problems. You have to be willing to take care of one another. And you must never say anything bad about the people you care about.
Emma says she was taught by her mother to help the old men and women in her community by offering to do housework or asking if there is anything they need help with. She says she taught her children this practice. She says, "It is your responsibility as parents to teach your children these things and to teach them how to do things the right way."
"Children should not be yelled at," she says. "Children should not be mistreated." Emma cited as an example of mistreatment, raising children in a home that is loud or argumentative.
"To raise children the right way means doing everything for your children the right way, such as keeping clothing clean, taking them to school, teaching them to listen, teaching them how to treat others and not yell at them. Children should be taught to get out of bed early and to work hard."
Younger people should learn about respect and learn to go to elders for advice, Emma says. "They should not think they know everything."
"Never put down another religion."
