REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Listen to each other. Understand each other. Forgive each other.
That was the simple message brought to Team Redstone employees by Gina Williams, the principal chief for the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation during the National American Indian Heritage Month observance at the Sparkman Center's Bob Jones Auditorium on Nov. 24.
"When we talk and listen, human to human, we realize we're all not too far apart … Open your hearts to what we're saying," she urged her audience.
The Aviation and Missile Command hosted the event with the national theme "Growing Native Leaders: Enhancing Our Seven Generations," which originates from the Great Law of the Iroquois Seven Generations sustainability concept urging leaders to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect their communities.
Williamson has served the United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation since 1998. She was joined on stage by several Ani-Yun-Wiya tribal members from the Pow Wow Group and Thunder Heart Drummers shared their culture through dance, song and words. They sang "Amazing Grace" in Cherokee, involved several audience members in demonstrating the Snake Dance, performed on flute and drum, and provided several artifact displays teaching Cherokee culture. The United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation is from Guntersville.
In her presentation, Williamson especially emphasized the need to listen to the young people of today.
"The way to enrich their leadership ways is by really listening to them. Listening to them is an art now. We don't really listen. We don't look in each other's face. We don't acknowledge each other," she said. "We to stop what we are doing and listen. That's our future talking. They are talking right now and what they're saying is important."
Williamson said the hope of our future is in our children.
"We've got to make the world a better place. The only way we're going to do that, I think, is through our children," she said. "We need to help fulfill the prayers of our children."
With listening comes understanding and, hopefully, forgiveness. Williamson mentioned the Trail of Tears and talked about the ancestors who hid in Alabama rather than join the forced move to Oklahoma. But, instead of hating those who forced the Cherokee from their homes and those today who don't know about the plight of the nation's Native Americans, Williamson said, "try to be forgiving of the ignorant and try to educate them about the history of what happened."
She went on to talk about the stereotypes that popular culture -- particularly television -- has imposed on Native Americans. "It takes a lot of time to undo what TV has done to the American Indian," she said.
It is important, she said, to keep the lines of communication open between generations and between different cultures. "People change a little bit every day," she said, referring to their growth spiritually and in understanding.
American Indians value, above all else, respect to God, the creator; and those who speak the truth. In ancient times, when God gave a gift -- food for a family meal, a warm bed on a cold night, a horse to make a journey shorter -- Cherokee believed they should give back in some way, such as leaving strands of hair in the woods for the birds to use in their nests. Those beliefs still hold true today. "If you take something, you give back, and before you take it ask God for permission to take it," Williamson said.
In the Cherokee language, there is no word for goodbye.
"We don't believe in goodbye," Williamson said. "Instead of saying 'Goodbye,' we say 'Until we meet again.'"
Williamson spoke the Cherokee words for "Until we meet again," thanking the Aviation and Missile Command for hosting the event and Team Redstone for being a great audience.
She wished everyone a Thanksgiving that is "blessed and wonderful with long family opportunities to look into the eyes of those you care about and enjoy a meal together, and talk to each other."
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