Interview · North Dakota · South Dakota · Jesse Taken Alive · OSEU 2 · NDNAEU 7
Themes: Education & learning, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Culture & continuity, Community & responsibility, Economy & livelihoods, Listening & observation, Intergenerational learning
Learn About questions
1. What data is there concerning the various resources available to the various tribes of the Oceti Sakowin?
2. What are the reasons those with the “know-how” can’t connect with the needed resources?
3. What kinds of “assessments” or “studies” have been done by the US government in the areas of education, economics, health, etc.?
4. What are some of the “practical” ways of doing things that the Lakota people have had for centuries that are being ignored?
5. How has the traditional “nomadic” lifestyle and survival in harsh climate shaped strengths and solutions among the people of the Oceti Sakowin?
6. How is “prayer” the “work” of creative problem-solving in the face of change?
7. How does thinking of “all” rather than just “me” make a difference?
Learn From questions
1. What big challenges have you had to take on in your life? How did you problem-solve?
2. How do you deal with change? What things make change positive, what things might make it a problem?
3. Have you ever been in a situation when you thought enough “study” had been done and action simply needed to take place?
4. Have you ever experienced a lack of resources?
5. How have difficulties or challenges made you stronger in some way?
6. Is prayer, meditation or quiet time ever a part of your problem-solving? How do you make time for that?
7. Have you ever been in a situation in which you had to solve a problem for a larger group or community? How was that different than just solving something for yourself?
Transcripts
The Solutions Are at Home - Jesse Taken Alive - OSEU 2
Watch this interview on YouTubeOf course, I always say this…we’ve always had to know how. We always lack the resources…whether it’s housing…schools…resources to hire teachers…we’ve always had to know how. It’s just a lack of resources that are challenging out there for us. And I say this in a respectful way to our friends out there in Washington D.C….while they talk about and provide the assessments…and say we need to study the situation more…a lot of times it’s common sense. They don’t have the solutions. The solutions are at home. The solutions are in our communities. And we’re at the juncture right now where we are saying it is ok to question the need for us to continue to study. And I respect that in itself…to be studied…or to study a situation. But the focus we have right now is to look at solution-oriented issues, discussions, circles if you will. Let’s do those types of things. The practical way of doing things…practice-based if you will…of doing things.
And they’ve been with us for centuries. And now to see us change with the times…and we’ve been able to do that as Lakota. You look at history itself…they described us as “nomadic.” Our minds were nomadic…to understand how we can live…and not only survive…but live in the challenging climates we have here in the Northern Plains. So, through that, we have a little teaching…real simple…we say “The only work that’s there, is we pray that these changes we are dealing with right now, are going to be good for the all.” That’s the only work. And the prayer part is the work…and whatever we’re changing to…let it be for the good of all.
Resource text
OSEU 2: INTERVIEW WITH JESSE TAKEN ALIVE
WoLakota Project
From the current WoLakota source page:
The Solutions are at Home
Jesse Taken Alive
Transcript
(deep listening, information)
(deep listening, transformation)
Teachings of Our Elders resource text:
NDNAEU Alignment:
Some indexed text was extracted from scanned material. Check the original source for exact wording and spelling.
Source materials
Supplied transcript document. Text preserved as supplied; spellings and transcription uncertainties have not been corrected.
Additional source transcripts
The Solutions are at Home
The Solutions Are at Home - Jesse Taken Alive -
OSEU 2
Of course, I always say this…we’ve always had to know how. We always lack the
resources…whether it’s housing…schools…resources to hire teachers…we’ve always
had to know how. It’s just a lack of resources that are challenging out there for us. And I
say this in a respectful way to our friends out there in Washington D.C….while they talk
about and provide the assessments…and say we need to study the situation more…a
lot of times it’s common sense. They don’t have the solutions. The solutions are at
home. The solutions are in our communities. And we’re at the juncture right now where
we are saying it is ok to question the need for us to continue to study. And I respect that
in itself…to be studied…or to study a situation. But the focus we have right now is to
look at solution-oriented issues, discussions, circles if you will. Let’s do those types of
things. The practical way of doing things…practice-based if you will…of doing things.
And they’ve been with us for centuries. And now to see us change with the times…and
we’ve been able to do that as Lakota. You look at history itself…they described us as
“nomadic.” Our minds were nomadic…to understand how we can live…and not only
survive…but live in the challenging climates we have here in the Northern Plains. So,
through that, we have a little teaching…real simple…we say “The only work that’s there,
is we pray that these changes we are dealing with right now, are going to be good for
the all.” That’s the only work. And the prayer part is the work…and whatever we’re
changing to…let it be for the good of all.