new thread
Hau kola (Hello friends),
To the Indian, long hair is more than just a statement. It is a symbol of many things. Freedom.... Responsibility.... Tradition.... and Wisdom. When my long hair is loose and the wind is making it twist and turn like a silent grassdancer, I feel free.... alive. When I look at the ends of my near waist-length hair, I am reminded of some of the foolish things I have done over the years. I am reminded that I need to remember that foolishness so I do not make those same errors again. The culture that cuts its hair again and again is of the same mindset of those who try to 'forget the past' and 'move on'. They forget their history, and thus run the risk of repeating the same mistakes again. The length of my hair makes me think of the ancient traditions of my Lakota people. It makes me proud. When I take the time to carefully double braid my hair, I am reminded of the patience and wisdom of my elders. I am reminded of my ancestors who wore their hair in double braids with honor. This is the 'power' I speak of when I refer to an Indian having long hair. It is not a power given from the outside.... it is a power felt from within. Pilamiya (Thanks you) for listening my friends. Peace and power to you....
In spirit,
John Two-Hawks
But what about those who think that ALL Native Americans MUST have long hair? Also, what are "double braids"? A braid on each side of the head? Or braiding two strands of hair?
Those people are wrong. There were and are many, many different Native American tribal groups, and there is tremendous diversity in the hairstyles they wore. Most Plains tribes wore their hair quite long, and so did some other tribes. However, many of the tribes did not share the custom. In the American southeast, most tribes did not wear their hair long, although there were some exceptions- such as my ancestors, the Choctaw, who were noted for the length of their hair. But to say that all Native Americans had, have, or should have long hair is definitely stereotyping.
There is a certain elegance in the appearance of the Native American man who chooses to acknowledge his heritage by allowing his hair to grow long. It is absolutely beautiful.
Their is nothing wrong with cutting your hair short or or wearing it long. People have the right to wear their hair at whatever length they want to and we should respect a person no matter how long they wear their hair or short. We are the still the same person no matter what length our hair is. Hair is only dead blood cells and nothing more.
I thought that hair is dead protein DNA.
I remember two things that have related myself to hair. The first was the musical hair around 1970, the second was Karl May's description of Indians and their long hair. I don't know if you like Karl May, but with or without him I have great respect for Indians. If I could get any reincarnation in spacetime I would prefer it to come back as an Indian.
wolfgang