During this time spent on the Reservation, I spent a lot of time with the Shaman of the Tribe.  I asked a LOT of questions about faith, the Earth, God, and life in general, many of which I had my answers to, but wanted confirmation or contradiction to my thoughts.  Through his translator (he said he didn’t speak English, but I think he truly did, and probably well!) we share may conversations and I learned and grew inside myself significantly.  Many of his sayings and stories meshed with what I had began to form in my life as well.  I was at peace within myself and starting to find out more about life.

During this time with him, I participated in a handful of Sweet Lodges (no drugs or booze involved!), and many a night in awakedness thinking things through.

Near the end of the stay, in perfect English, hence how I think he knew it well, he asked me, “Why do you ask all these questions, you are a Shaman of this Tribe and Nation already, and you know the right answers!?”  This took me back significantly.

A few days later, the Tribe was called together for a Blood Brother ceremony between Charlie and I, and at the end of the ceremony, I was announced as a Shaman of the Tribe.

For the next few years I was taught the stories of the Tribe and Nation from the beginning of their time until then.  I lead several Sweet Lodges, counseled members of the Tribe when they sought me and helped out as I could, passing on the story of the Tribe and Nation as I could.

But every time I passed a Knights Hall, I felt I belonged there.  Occasionally that dream I had for three years would pop back into my sleep again.  In 2000 I began to feel that I was not where I needed to be spiritually.  I still felt that the Native American ways were closest to what I was looking for in what I had looked at over the past years, but I wasn’t were I belong, of this I was sure.

I began looking at all the religions out there that I had looked at before, but still found them lacking, and I kept glancing over Catholicism, but passing up, as it was evil and wrong according to my upbringing and what I heard around me.

But those people I knew that were Catholic all seemed happy.

And my little brother converted to Catholicism in order to marry his great now Wife.  And he was loving it, and very happy in his faith!  (And he was a Knight, going into those Halls I felt called into.)

I began to think….

In Christ.

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