I think I've reached my limit.

[H2O Man]

62. Thank you!

I identify as Irish-American. Various DNA tests have verified the oral history on both sides of my family, including a small amount of Native American and of Ashkenazi Jewish from around 900 ad in the Ukraine region. But overall Irish, going way, way back in time. Now my younger son's son, who a few of our community members have seen elsewhere, is a combination of Irish, African, and Onondaga. People have said that if Disney were to create the cutest little boy -- he is three -- he would be their model.

Oren is the Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation, one of the six of the Haudenosanee, or Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. Back in 1973, he and I were across the corner from each other, as my brother-in-law fought Greg Sorrentino, who was the great Carmen Basilio's last boxer. Oren trained him. In the decades that followed, we were in the same corner (!), working on numerous cases, usually having to do with burial protection and repatriation. Oren sat with Chief Waterman on the Onondaga Council of Chiefs and the Grand Council.

Now, without sounding like a "big-headed" person ..... I had a status that the NYS Museum's Iroquois Studies noted was the first time anyone had it in over a century. Of much greater significance than anything I've accomplished, would be the wisdom of Paul Waterman and his student Oren. I strongly recommend that people watch Bill Moyers' interview with Oren, which can be found on youtube.

I never met John, who was an amazing human being. The suffering he endured with the loss of his family would crush most strong people. We had a number of friends in common, and John allowed me to use his works in the Haudenosaunee newspaper I used to edit and write for. Those were The Days! And today, the strength and wisdom of Oren, Paul, and John provide us with examples of how we can not only survive this era, but actually grow in spite of the horrors.

Decades ago -- and I hope that you like this! -- when Paul and I were speaking at colleges & universities, a young man asked Paul why so many white people thought they were "part Indian?" Now, Paul had a unique sense of humor, and I could tell a hundred stories. His first respionse was, "Because my grandfathers were like me." Then he spoke of the fact that all human beings were tribal at one time, and that it is important that we all learn from our ancestors. We all had the Original Instructions and honored them. That we all share the wonder of being siblings in the human family.