INDIAN
PHILOSOPHY TRANSLATED INTO REALITY: THE CASE OF MEXICAN KIKAPU/KICKAPOO:
KICKAPOO TRADITIONAL TRIBE OF TEXAS KTTT
Philosophy as a
guide to living- an essence of ones contentment, the feeling of treating others
well and well connected to the harmony that prevails in the universe- has been
with us since the beginning. As Lawrence van der Post eloquently described about
his beloved SAN (the Bushmen) of Kalahari- they have maintained the innocence
of being closest to the creation of human beings that the Europeans seem to
have lost 10,000 yeas ago.
Sharing, looking
after each other, putting the interests of the other before yours are at the
core of the fundamental Native Philosophy. Living this way, it is not difficult
to understand, why most of these cultures, tribes, nations, and individuals are
materially poor when they are thrust into the European dominated or the mercantile
and selfish societies of the East.
The three
examples of native cultures, which flourish while maintaining their belief
systems and not compromising their values to the occidental ones, come to mind. I am fortunate enough to have visited all three and become involved with the third tribe mentioned
The OTAVALO
Indians of Ecuador
The KUNA Indians
of Kuna Yala, Panama
Kickapoo
Traditional Tribe of Texas, Texas and Mexico
I have a
longstanding relationship with KTTT that began when their relatives to the
North, the Meskwakia, who were my initial teachers, jokingly said: If you think
we are cantankerous, you should meet our relatives, the Kickapoo of Mexico.
Reading up on
their history, including looking up some original documents in British Library
in London (I was a student of Anthropology at that time in London), I realized
that the reputation was due to the fact they would not easily give into the
European persuasions and resisted the incursions of Europeans into their minds
and bodies. When they were forcibly ordered to remove themselves to Oklahoma by
the victorious American Army, the decision was made to move to Mexico. There
they would be allowed to practise their religion and culture, in return to
their reputation as warriors, rather than submit to the American rules and
regulations of life of that day.
It was evident
to me the morning when my Kikapu sister proudly showed me the pumpkins she had
cultivated in her backyard. (Her crop of 87 pumpkins were distributed to all
the elders who needed pumpkins, an ingredient in certain foods for rituals)
Pumpkins are
dried and cut into strips, wild deer meat and black corn are added to make the
traditional soup which is the food to welcome the New year- around the full
moon in February of each year, as set by the Spiritual Leader when the first
thunders are heard.
This reminds us
who we are, she exclaimed. I recognized the steadfast desire of each Kikapu to
remind themselves who they are.
On another
occasion my Kikapu sister said to me: When we lived in Mexico for 150 years, we
were Kikapu living in Mexico and not Mexicans; and now that we are living in
USA, we are Kickapoo living in America but not Americans.
Clinging to
traditions mean following all the characteristics of the tribal philosophy-not
pick and choose what you wish to follow, to fit into an European model. Just
knowing a few words in your language does not make you a Kikapu; you have to be
fluent in that language if you wish to call yourself a Kickapoo (KTTT).
It is music to
my ears, when I hear, in the American soil, kids as young as 4 or 5, speaking
fluent Kickapoo, resonating the ancient chatter of this land.
It was the
elder, Donald W of the Meskwakia who told me that to call yourself an Indian,
you have to fulfil the following criteria. (As there are One million “real”
Indians, one million “card carrying “ Indians and many more “wannabee” Indians.
There are 8 million descendants of Indians in America)
Born into the
tribe
Speak the
Language
Believe in the
Indian ways, including Religion
Contribute to
the welfare of the Tribe
Carry on and
propagate the culture of the Tribe
In certain
countries of the American Continent, it is not at all fashionable to be
“Indian”- such as Guatemala, Peru or Bolivia, all with Indian majority
populations and ruled for centuries by European descendants.
(Viva! Evo
Morales, an Ayamara who is President of Bolivia and Ollanta Humala, a Quechua
who is President of Peru)
KTTT were dirt
poor even then they shared everything they had- land, food and money.
Around a decade
ago, two events coincided that paved the way for the welfare and good fortune
of the tribe.
A younger generation
of Kikapu took over the leadership
A casino was
established. The KTTT location just across the river from Mexico was also a
fortunate coincidence.
The tribal
council sorted out and invited the expertise of considerate Americans, Mexicans
resident locally and in Mexico, to plan for the future: welfare in all its
forms, Health, Education, Housing, Security without surrendering their unique
cultural identity. It is the traditional values of the Kickapoo that have
lifted them up from poverty to an all around “middle class affluence”, still
classless and without status among themselves. Each and every Kickapoo would be
offered new housing, for example, depending upon your needs.
Elders get
spacious houses with furnishings, middle aged with families also get larger
homes with spacious backyards, younger members with small children live in a
part of the reservation in modern trailers with all conveniences (believe it or
not, including WI fi! they all will soon move into their own homes}. Each home
is furnished in the mould of well off middle class American ones. Slowly these
fiercely independent group is shaking of their dependence on Federal
Government, letting go one by one, the federal agencies from the reservation,
so that they can live without their authoritative influences and taking over
these responsibilities. (I was given the example of federal help for single
mothers, among others)
I like to tell
people that just because I know how to use a MacBook Pro, I don't stop being
Jewish. The “modern” is convenience, and does not interfere with the
traditional strong values.
Each time I come
to this settlement of KTTT along the Rio Bravo, my heart rejoices. The self-confidence
of each and every Kickapoo is up, people are no longer ashamed to be Indians,
and hide behind the cloak of “being Hispanic” in this predominantly
Mexican-origin town. When it comes to the attitudes of newcomers to the
indigenous people, the contempt stands out, whether European in Australia, USA,
Canada and NZ; Black Africans in Namibia and South Africa; Mestizos and
Europeans in Latin America; Asians (Indians, Malaysians, Vietnamese,
Cambodians) in Asia.
A spacious and
modern Health Centre is under construction with good access to Health Care. (There
are even free Zumba classes for those who would like to participate). All
children are given opportunity to educate themselves, from
Headstart/Kindergarten to the University levels.
But they remain
steadfastly Kickapoo, holding on to their value system and world view and
practising their ancient ceremonies and religious practices, which has seen
them through conflicts with the French and then the English and later the
Americans and Exile and poverty and marginalization.
Currently in the
region where they live, their community is one of the more prosperous. They
achieved it through traditional means, not through the manipulations of the
system, or illegal trade or competition.
Many would like
to claim that the prosperity of the Kickapoo is due to their presence in
America. Certainly there is some substance to it I like to dispute it. I feel
that the current prosperity which is all inclusive, there are no social divides
or status divides in their society, is due to the fact that they have remained
Kickapoo, rather than being integrated into a society whose values are not
congruent with their traditional ones.
During my
travels, questions would be asked, why do the Jews succeed well, regardless the
country of their residence (well according to the local standards) whether it
is USA, Argentina, France or Australia or South Africa?
What is the
single theme in this “success”? (Which is a measure by others strictly in
material or educational terms). It has to be more than our country of
residence, however integrated we may be. Argentina and Australia are very
different, Social systems in the USA and South Africa are not similar.
Then the thought
occurs, we have “succeeded” because we have remained Jews
A Line from my
favourite poet, Pablo Neruda of Chile, rings in my brain.
A soul without
roots is an injustice!
Una Alma sin
raices es una injusticia!
I wish my
Kickapoo friends and relatives well into their future: living with their
organic gardens, in their spacious homes, with good access to health care and
education, while caring for each other as they always have.
I know that the
spiritual ground in Mexico would always attract them and they would be there
regularly to build traditional homes, Wickiup, for summer and winter each
season, to perform ceremonies and rituals; to learn, to demonstrate what it
means to be a Kickapoo/Kikapu.
On my way out of
the reservation, I dropped in to pay my respects to Sr Don S, the administrator
of the tribe and he said the most complimentary words that I have ever heard
about Kickapoo and in fact all the Indians:
“I consider them
super intelligent. What all they need is Experience and Education, which are on
their way”
