In our tribe, as in most Indian tribes, you did not go out and said: "I want to be a doctor." In fact, when you are young, you do not even think about such things. Of course, I was not, but once, when I was eighteen years old, an old man came to us.
We try not to let an old man come to us - we go to them. Perhaps they need food, maybe they are sick or need some kind of food. When an old person comes to you, this is usually a pretty good reason for them. They will say, “I have something in mind,” and they will immediately tell you. If they come for a specific purpose, they will not sit and talk about politics and the weather, about this and that all day. We talk a lot, but we are not exactly socializers, just to spend time or be nice.
So, here is this old man, Daniel Beaver, who came to our house, and the first thing we did was offer him something to eat. He sat and ate, and then said to his mother: "I came here to see your son."
"Ok, go ahead and talk to him."
At first he said: “Son, do you know me?”
"Yes."
“You also know what I'm doing?”
"I know that you are helping people."
"This is true. I noticed you, I know your people. I know where they come from, their clans. All loyal people. Days left. I do not know this. But of all the people I have known over the years with the help of medicines, I have watched you, how you wear yourself, how you keep your word. Once there was an old man who came to see your family. The end of the road carrying his bag and you ran all the way on this hot August day, grandfather, come and eat with us. Let me carry your bag. You carried her for him, you sat with him downstairs and cave him some food and water.
“I heard a lot about you. Not only among our people, but also among white people. We know how you treat other people and take care of them.
“What I mean is that I have to turn my way around to someone who is qualified. The line of vision, so I know that you are the one who must continue. I would be honored if you would allow me to turn some of my ways of medicine towards you. ”
In our tribe we speak early in life to be good recipients. When someone gives you something, big or small, our people say: "Great Spirit does not look at size, only at how this gift is given." Non-Indians know how to give, but they do not always know how to perceive things correctly, they can say, “Oh, you shouldn't have ...” or “Why?” They put a lot of small blocks, because they are so used to giving but they are not used to receive. When someone gives you, they want to somehow satisfy themselves by doing this, and if you say no, you will hurt their feelings. This is what I learned from my parents.
I said, “Grandpa, you are going to give me something wonderful, because in your ways you feel a little better, physically, mentally or spiritually, so I would be honest to know your ways. It’s better to take care of your gift in a good way. ”
This is how I started working with one of my teachers. A few weeks later another physician appeared with the same thought, so I had medicines that come to me from two kinds.
