I have a lot of pride in my children and wife…an emotional connection and representation of self-reflection and fulfillment of being a father and husband. My pride I know is a secondary complex emotion built on the development of my sense of self and the mastery of conceptual distinctions of joy and happiness; and how I engage through language and actions. It is interesting then that my sense of pride also takes the form as disagreement with the truth – the truth about being Indian. Herein lays my hubris…which the recent AFN Grand Chief Elections have reminded me of. I think our sin as Indians is the often inflated sense of our status, accomplishments…and dare I say it, our cultural legacy and ritual practice. I understood, and was taught by elders and traditionally trained Chiefs, that our cultural and ritual ‘center’ should be one of humility, selfless service and represent the very social fabric that bounds our peoples together. Modern practice of Indian politicians and cultural leaders seems pretty much about conveying a high opinion of one’s self or Nation, without the proof back home on the Reserve and without their own demonstrated greatness or magnamity. The contrast of these two realities is stunning to me…and the pompous displays (and sometimes embarrassingly rudimentary displays) at this year’s AFN Elections suggests to me far more insecurity in being Indian, than any demonstrated strength of being Indian…all of which makes me more than a little sad. The slippery slope of pride, the excessive side of it, tends to create conflict and tear communities apart…which is startlingly evident for many of our Indian communities today. The hubris demonstrated through our own disconnection with reality and overestimating our own competence and capabilities…is today’s Indian Pride.
Photo by Lawrence Lewis (2012)
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Lawrence Lewis
“In wickedness of pride is lost the light to understand how little grace is earned and how much given.” – Robert Hunter
About Lawrence Lewis
I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂