Mae Tallow
Mae's Old Story
Mae's Message
You have to pray every day. You pray on your own to ask for help to find your own roots and to understand your religion. You should learn to accept that no one is perfect. You must never discriminate against other people's religions. You must learn to respect all people. You can ask for help for your relatives. Ask for help to find your relatives. You always pray for your mother that gave you life and raised you. You must always respect her, no matter what the circumstances are, and honor her. You should pray for your father and sisters and brothers, to ask for protection and to keep them safe.
If you want to find help and you don't know where to start, the best way, if you are in a city, is to go to the Friendship Centre or a native organization and ask for the names of Elders they know whom you could get advice from. Find out about your history and about the kind of Indian you are and learn about your people. Come to the reserves and meet the people and talk to them, make friends and learn their ways.
Finally, say no to alcohol and drugs. Lead a good life, go back to school and work hard and make your living. If you are a parent, take good care of your children as you would have wanted to be taken care of as a child.
Always offer something – tobacco, or whatever you can give as a present – to the Elder and she or he will teach you to live a good life. Go to ceremonies and the elders will pray for you to live a good life, a long life, and to be free of sickness.
Lead a good life, not just for yourself, but for your children. Teach younger people how to live a good life. Help one another. Always tell people to work and take care of themselves so they can help others. No one will hand you money freely; it's up to you to make a good living.
