Indian Giver? NOT!

I remember a protocol ceremony where my friend Jonathon Maracle sternly rebuked the concept of ‘Indian Giving’, where a gift was given, then demanded back at a later time. This is racist foolishness, and has never been part of the culture, traditions or honor of any known tribe…

He then gave a very expensive and beautiful flag and gift from the Mohawk nation to a white leader…

Warrior!

Mt 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Matthew 6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [[a]reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be [b]recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward [c]in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.

As I studied the history of the Choctaw/Chickasaw people, I read this, and it touched me:

“Like all their race, the Choctaws never forgot an act of kindness be it ever so trivial; and many a white man overtaken be misfortune when traveling over their country, and weak beneath the remorseless grasp of hunger, has felt that the truth of the eastern proverb has been brought home to him: Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days. More than once has it fallen to my lot to contribute to an Indian’s immediate necessities, in days of their individual want and weakness; and, in after days—the incident by me long forgotten; they have returned the favor thirty fold; and for many favors have I become indebted to them, when I had nothing to return. Their great delicacy in conferring a favor was not the least admirable part of their conduct, often they would leave a large wild turkey upon the door-sill, or place a venison ham just within it, and steal away without saying a word, as if they feared you might suspect them of trying to buy your friendship, when not enabled to secure it alone by merit; or that, to accept a present from a poor Indian might be humiliating to the pride of the receiver and they would spare him mortification of returning thanks. Never was a race of people more sensitive to kindness, or more grateful for any little act of benevolence exercised toward them, or practiced the great Christian principle, Charity to a greater degree of perfection, especially in regard to strangers, than did the North American Indians. The missionaries everywhere and among all tribes, met them with kindness and confidence and conducted themselves by the rules of strict integrity in all their confidence in the Indians was betrayed, or their good opinion of them destroyed.”

Let’s Pray
‘Father, may we continue to give to those less fortunate than us, secretly, that You might reward us openly. We ask, knowing we are heard, for we ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!”