TANSHPASHOFA

Ingredients:

1� to 2� cups dry Pashofa Corn
1 to 3 lb Pork Loin Roast (or other bone-in pork you like)
3 Tbsp Vegetable oil (I use Sunflower oil or plain veggie oil)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Water

Directions

Notes:

1. Avoid ham, bacon or other cured meats that will put flavors in the ‘Pashofa that do not belong.

2. Use the higher amt of corn and lower amt of meat if you like the corn in ‘Pashofa best and just want the meat to mainly flavor the dish.

3. Use the lower amt of corn and higher amt of meat if you must have meat in every bowl.

You will need a large sauce pan or pot, large skillet, and a large crock pot (if you are taking it somewhere) or you can use a large cooking pot if you are just doing it at home.

Directions

Pick through your dry cracked corn to get out miscellaneous bits and yellow kernels. Rinse off all powdery substance and floating hulls in a strainer or the sauce pan with cold water. Soak the corn in cold water, rinsing every two hours or as often as you can get to it. Soak the corn at least 4 hours. Rinse it one more time and add water 3 times the volume of corn. DO NOT ADD SALT TO THE CORN! That makes it stick to your pan badly.

Bring the corn to a boil with the lid on the pan, turn the heat to a low simmer and tip the lid to let steam escape for the first 15 minutes. Simmer the corn at least 8 hours. Stir about every 2 hours to see if it is sticking.

After you have simmered the corn about 2 hours, start the pork. Let the pork sit out until the chill is off. Cut palm-sized meat portions away from the bone until you have one large bone piece and all the rest is cut up. Salt and pepper the meat.

Heat a large skillet on “High,” add oil. Place bone piece in center of pan with all other pork around it. Put the lid on as best you can. I use a lid and a spatter guard kind of tilted across the big bone in the center of my pan. Brown the pork on high, turning all pieces to get all sides brown, then turn the heat to “Medium” to cook until the juices are no longer red. You can salt and pepper it all again at this point.

Place the browned pork in either the crock pot or the large cooking pot (not in the corn). Put 2 cups water in the skillet and work the leavings and juices up off the bottom. Pour this juice over the pork. Do this twice or until the juice in the pot comes almost to the top of the pork pieces. Cover the pork and simmer for at least 6 hours, until it is falling apart and you can pick the clean bones out with tongs.

At least 2 hours before serving, combine the cooked corn and pork in either your crock pot or cooking pot. Stir and simmer together until serving time.

It is best served with fry bread.

---- Chickasaw Nation

Fish and Cattails

Ingredients:

2 quarts Cattail shoots or young stems
3-4 fish fillets-bass or trout or your choiced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In the spring dig the cattail shootss or into late spring or summer pick the green new stems, wash and set aside,

fillet several trout or bass,

lay them in a skillet, cover with the cattails then add a couple cups of water and cover,

steam 5-10 mins, depending on the mass of the contents, salt and sprinkle with crushed red peppers and serve.

Can vary it by replacing the water with oil and frying.

---- Cheyenne

Chocolate Tortillas/ Fry bread

Ingredients:

2 Cup All Purpose flour
• You may add ¼ t pure vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 Cup sugar
4-6 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1 ½ Tablespoon shortening
1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals
3/4 -1 Cup water, warm or milk, warm

Directions:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cocoa powder
2. Add instant coffee and mix well
3. Cut in shortening with hands or a fork until it resembles crumbs
4. Make a well in the middle and add water
5. Mix until soft dough is formed you may add a little more flour if needed
6. Kneed for 3 minutes then cover with a cloth
7. Let sit for 15 minutes
8. With a little shortening on hands make 5-6 dough balls
9. On a lightly floured surface roll out each dough ball and fry or cook on griddle

---- Navajo/ Laguna Pueblo

Indian Popcorn

Ingredients:

2 lbs or 2 litres of wildmeat fat with some meat attached
a large pot

Directions:

1. Place the wildmeat fat in the large pot
2. Cook on medium heat for at least 4 hours
3. stir often

When the fat looks almost see through drain using a stainless steel drainer and set aside to cool.
This can be eaten as is with bannock.

It can also be added to mashed potatoes.

---- Nakota

Pemmican and Wild Rice

Ingredients:

1-2 lbs pemmican
4 cups or more Wild Rice
vegies to vary-cattail shoots.stems, prairie turnips

Directions:

Cut pemmican into half inch pcs, put in pot with salt and other spices and water to cover, bring to simmer, add more water once simmering, enough to cook amount of rice using,(wild rice doesnt swell as much as white rice), simmer, when rice is done add any veggies and cook til done.

---- Cheyenne

"We are nothing compared to His power, and we feel and know it."

---- Black Hawk, SAUK

"Inside of every man and woman is a place of knowing. In this place is the knowing that there is a Great One, the Great Mystery, the Holy One, the Great Spirit. We can deny this all we want but we know what we know.

This place of knowing is at the very center of our being. It is gratifying to know that God cannot leave us. It is said we are spiritual beings trying to be human. With this power in our lives, we can accomplish much. We can do many good things for our people."

---- Elly Blue Ridge

SEVEN PHILOSOPHIES FOR A NATIVE AMERICAN MAN

First Philosophy - TO THE WOMEN

The cycle of life for the woman is the baby, girl, woman, and grandmother.
These are the four directions of life.
She has been given by natural laws the ability to reproduce life. The most sacred of all things in life.
Therefore, all men should treat her with dignity and respect.
Never was it our way to harm her mentally or physically. Indian men were never abusers. We always treated our women with respect and understanding.
So, from now on,
I will treat women in a sacred manner.
The Creator gave women the responsibility for bringing new life into the world. Life is sacred, so I will look upon women in a sacred manner.
In our traditional ways, the woman is the foundation of the family.
I will work with her to create a home atmosphere of respect, security and harmony.
I will refrain from any form of emotional or physical abuse.
If I have these feelings, I will talk to the Creator for guidance.
I will treat all women as if they were my own female relatives.
This I vow.

Second Philosophy - TO THE CHILDREN

As an eagle prepares its young to leave the nest with all the skills and knowledge it needs to participate in life, in the same manner so I will guide my children.
I will use the culture to prepare them for life.
The most important thing I can give to my children is my time.
I will spend time with them in order to learn them and to listen to them.
I will teach my children to pray, as well as the importance of respect.
We are the caretakers of the children for the Creator. They are his children, not ours.
I am proud of our Native language. I will learn it if I can and help my children to learn it.
In today's world it is easy for the children to go astray, so I will work to provide positive alternatives for them.
I will teach them the culture.
I will encourage education. I will encourage sports. I will encourage them to talk with the Elders for guidance; but mostly, I will seek to be a role model myself.
I make this commitment to my children so they will have courage and find guidance through traditional ways.


Third Philosophy - TO THE FAMILY

The Creator gave to us the family, which is the place where all teachings are handed down from the grandparent, to the parent, and to the child. The children's behavior is a mirror of the parent's behavior. Knowing this, I realize the importance for each Indian man to be responsible to the family in order to fulfill the need to build a strong and balanced family. By doing this, I will break the cycle of hurt and ensure the positive mental health of our children, even the children yet to be born.
So, from now on,
I will dedicate my priorities to rebuilding my family.
I must never give up and leave my family only to the mother.
I am accountable to restore the strength of my family. To do this, I will nurture our family's spiritual, cultural and social health. I will demonstrate trust, respect, honor and discipline; but mostly I will be consistent in whatever I do with them.
I will see that the grandparents and community Elders play a significant role in the education of my children.
I realize that the male and female together are fundamental to our family life. I will listen to my mate's council for our family's benefit, as well as for the benefit of my Indian Nation.

Fourth Philosophy - TO THE COMMUNITY

The Indian community provides many things for the family. The most important is the sense of belonging; that is, to belong to "the people", and to have a place to go. Our Indian communities need to be restored to health so the future generation will be guaranteed a place to go for culture, language and Indian socializing. In he community, the honor of one is the honor of all and the pain of one is the pain of all. I will work to strengthen recovery in all parts of my community.
As an Indian man,
I will give back to my community by donating my time and talents when I am able.
I will cultivate friendships with other Indian men for mutual support and strength.
I will consider the effects of our decisions on behalf of the next seven generations; in this way, our children and grandchildren will inherit healthy communities.
I will care about those in my community so that the mind changes, alcohol and drugs, will vanish, and our communities will forever be free of violence.
If each of us can do all these things, then others, will follow; ours will be a proud community.

Fifth Philosophy - THE EARTH

Our Mother Earth is the source of all life, whether it be plants, the two-legged, four-legged, winged ones or human beings. The Mother Earth is the greatest teacher, if we listen, observe and respect her. When we live in harmony with the Mother Earth, she will recycle the things we consume and make them available to our children. As an Indian man, I must teach my children how to care for the Earth so it is there for the future generations.
So from now on,
I realize the Earth is our Mother. I will treat her with honor and respect.
I will honor the interconnectedness of all things and all forms of life.
I will realize the Earth does not belong to us, but that we belong to the Earth.
The natural law is the ultimate authority upon the lands and water. I will learn the knowledge and wisdom of the natural laws. I will pass this knowledge on to my children.
The Mother Earth is a living entity that maintains life. I will speak out in a good way whenever I see someone abusing the Earth. Just as I would protect my own mother, so I will protect the Earth. I will ensure that the land, water, and air will be intact for my children and for my children's children-the unborn.

Sixth Philosophy - TO THE CREATOR

As an Indian man, I realize we make no gains without the Great Spirit being in our lives. Neither I, nor anything I attempt to do, will work without our Creator. Being Indian and being spiritual has the same meaning. Spirituality is our gift from the Great One. This say, I vow to walk the Red Road.
As an Indian man,
I will return to the traditional and spiritual values which have guided my ancestors for the past generations.
I will look with new eyes on the powers of our ceremonies and religious ways, for they are important to the very survival of our people.
We have survived and are going to grow and flourish spiritually. We will fulfill our teachings and the purpose that the Creator has given us with dignity.
Each day, I will pray and ask guidance. I will commit to walk the Red Road, or whatever the spiritual way is called in my own culture.
If I am a Christian, I will be a good one. If I tradition, I will walk this road with dedication.
If each of us can do these things then others will follow. From this day forward, I will reserve time and energy for spirituality, seeking to know the Creator's will.

Seventh Philosophy - TO MYSELF

I will think about what kind of person I want to be when I am an Elder. I will start developing myself now to be this person.
I will walk with the Great Spirit and the grandfathers at my side. I will develop myself to remain positive. I will develop a good mind.
I will examine myself daily to see what I did good and what I need to improve. I will examine my strengths and weaknesses; then I will ask the Creator to guide me. I will develop a good mind.
Each day, I will listen for the Creator's voice in the wind. I will watch nature and ask to be shown a lesson which will occur on my path.
I will seek our the guiding principles which guided my ancestors. I will walk in dignity, honor and humility, conducting myself as a warrior.
I will seek the guidance of the Elders so that I may maintain the knowledge of culture, ceremonies and songs, and so that I may pass these on to future generations.
I choose to do all these things myself, because no one else can do them for me.
I know I CANNOT GIVE AWAY WHAT I DON'T HAVE, so I will need to learn to walk the talk.

---- White Bison 1996

"This war did not spring up on our land, this war was brought upon us by the children of the Great Father who came to take our land without a price, and who, in our land, do a great many evil things... This war has come from robbery - from the stealing of our land."

---- Spotted Tail

"Being Indian is an attitude, a state of mind, a way of being in harmony with all things and all beings. It is allowing the heart to be the distributor of energy on this planet; to allow feelings and sensitivities to determine where energy goes; bringing aliveness up from the Earth and from the Sky, putting it in and giving it out from the heart."

---- Brooke Medicine Eagle

"The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged...."

---- Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief

"There is no death. Only a change of worlds."

---- Chief Seattle [Seatlh], Suquamish Chief

"It was supposed that lost spirits were roving about everywhere in the invisible air, waiting for children to find them if they searched long and patiently enough...[The spirit] sang its spiritual song for the child to memorize and use when calling upon the spirit guardian as an adult."

---- Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket], Salish

"The idea of full dress for preparation for a battle comes not from a belief that it will add to the fighting ability. The preparation is for death, in case that should be the result of conflict. Every Indian wants to look his best when he goes to meet the great Spirit, so the dressing up is done whether in imminent danger is an oncoming battle or a sickness or injury at times of peace."

----Wooden Leg (late 19th century) Cheyenne

"We, the great mass of the people think only of the love we have for our land, we do love the land where we were brought up. We will never let our hold to this land go, to let it go it will be like throwing away (our) mother that gave (us) birth."

---- Letter from Aitooweyah to John Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee.

"When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre."

---- Chiksika, Shawnee

"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other.
If you do not talk to them you will not know them
and what you do not know, you will fear.
What one fears, one destroys."

---- Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, British Columbia, Canada

"We are now about to take our leave and kind farewell to our native land, the country the Great Spirit gave our Fathers, we are on the eve of leaving that country that gave us birth, it is with sorrow we are forced by the white man to quit the scenes of our childhood...we bid farewell to it and all we hold dear."

---- Charles Hicks, Tsalagi (Cherokee) Vice Chief speaking of the Trail of Tears, November 4, 1838

"When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."

---- Chief Aupumut in 1725, Mohican.

"The land is sacred. These words are at the core of your being. The land is our mother, the rivers our blood. Take our land away and we die. That is, the Indian in us dies."

---- Mary Brave Bird, Lakota