THE WEIGHT WE CARRY FOR THOSE NOT YET BORN
Our nations and our tribes live or die in the hands of our children. That is not symbolism. That is reality.
Every political game that keeps us small, every device designed to slow our growth, every tactic used to divide and conquer us only succeeds because we allow ego to stand where responsibility should be. If we were willing to step out of our own way, much of what holds us back would collapse on its own.
We speak often about sovereignty, about rights, about recognition. But an attack on you, an attack on your tribe, an attack on your nation is not just an attack on the present. It is an attack on your children. Without you, without us, what chance do they truly have. They become exposed. They become vulnerable. They become easy prey in a system that has never been designed for their survival.
Our future exists only through our children. And as much as you love your child, as much as you believe in their brilliance, none of them can carry the weight alone. Ask yourself honestly. Could you?
My child, just like yours, has the potential to be a great scientist, a great doctor, an inventor, a leader. But no matter how gifted any one of them may be, they cannot do everything by themselves. Nations are not built by individuals standing alone. They are built by people standing together.
That is why I involve myself in world affairs, domestic affairs, politics and what I call poli tricks when it comes to Indigenous peoples. I do it so our children will still have land beneath their feet, water that is not poisoned, wildlife that is not extinct, and resources that are not stripped away before they ever get a chance to inherit them. I do it so they can experience unity instead of fragmentation and learn cooperation instead of competition.
Our children are our people. This is for my children, your children, our children. Without them, we cease to exist. That is not dramatic. That is biological, cultural, and spiritual fact.
What parent would not do this for their children. If you are a loving and protective parent, you will do whatever it takes to ensure not only your child’s survival, but the security of their future. That includes land. That includes education. That includes financial stability. That includes identity.
We are the ones on the front lines now. We are the ones carrying the weight so that tomorrow does not crush those who come after us. And when we are gone and the work continues, it will be our children leading in ways we lead today and hopefully in ways that are wiser, stronger, and more united.
The Creator gave us this planet with an instruction, not a suggestion. Take care of it as it takes care of you and pass it on to your children and your children’s children and the generations beyond them. That responsibility did not expire. We simply stopped honoring it.
Look around us. People are dying at alarming rates from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, addiction and despair. This is not our original culture doing this to us. This is something we accepted, normalized, and allowed to replace our ways.
Children are more unhealthy than ever before. Adults are numbed by alcohol, drugs, and dependency. Too many are surviving instead of living. Too many are disconnected from who they are and where they come from.
Ask yourself honestly. Are you not concerned about your children. About your grandchildren. About those who will carry your blood long after your name is spoken for the last time.
It is selfish to think only about today and ignore tomorrow. It is dangerous to enjoy comfort now at the expense of future generations. Imagine if our great great grandparents thought that way about us. What shape would we be in today.
If we do not teach our children who they are, they will remain trapped in a cycle of disease, poverty, and disconnection that was never meant to be ours.
When we have cultural identity, land, resources, businesses, education rooted in truth, and financial independence, we create conditions where our nations, tribes, and communities can grow instead of merely survive.
It starts at home. It always has. And then it reflects outward through action.
This is a call for Native nations to establish a time and a place to finally come together as one voice instead of scattered whispers. Unity does not erase difference. It strengthens it.
Your willingness to begin dialogue is the first step toward a truly united Indigenous America.
I believe many Chiefs across different nations have the capacity to work together. I also know there are some who do not want this to happen. That truth does not change the necessity of the call.
Your response will be received as proof of your willingness to stand together, not above or apart, for the future of our people. This is not a plan of action. This is a call to action.
The only thing I seek is for our Chiefs to speak, to establish brotherhood, camaraderie, and true nation to nation relationships. Whatever grows beyond that will be determined by the councils themselves.
I look forward to your response.
Lovell Pierce Jr.
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