Vision, Mission, &
Core Values

My only regret is that I cannot still be up there, giving all I have and am -- I hear things have gotten rough up there lately.  Several arrests, an assault on an activist, and the other day, for the first time this winter, buffalo have been trucked away, most likely, for slaughter.

So I've made a new focus for my prayers.  In canvassing and talking to the locals, I found that the overwhelming majority -- estimate about 90% -- of the people there are outraged at the slaughter and support the buffalos' right to live in the way that God intended them to live.  Each person has unique talents given them by God.  May everyone, especially the people who live in the state of Montana and in the vicinity of the park, find ways to use -whatever- they do best, to help save the buffalo.  It is fine and glorious to go out into the snow but not everyone can do this.  What about radio hobbyists, artist, writers, legal people, educators, construction workers, students, everyone!  Look at what you do best, and find a way to apply this to helping save the buffalo.  Because as the buffalo come back, the peoples of the earth get strong and the earth gets strong. If many people look at it this way, this will bring about a wide variety of creative actions far beyond the usual types of things people do to make a change in the way things are.

One idea I had, is that everyone who supports life and freedom for the buffalo, wear a loop of brown ribbon, similar to the other colored ribbons people wear for other causes.  People who see each other wearing these ribbons will be inspired to take creative action together, to help save the buffalo.  Maybe the gov of Montana will see these ribbons and know that each one represents a vote for his opponent, unless he changes his ways!  I've given a few people a prototype brown ribbon, made from twisted cordage of shed-off buffalo hair.  This would be best but cloth would do. This is why I hope to return to Yellowstone in the spring, to collect shed-off hair. If anyone has accesss to -shed off- buffalo hair (no hair from dead buffalo, please!) please send it to me.  Email me for my mailing address.  I will make ribbons from these and perhaps activist groups up there would be willing to distribute these ribbons to their supporters. There are many other ideas I have, as well.

There are several groups in the Northwest area working to help save the buffalo.  At least one frontlines activist group; other groups whose focuses are legal work, community relations, tribal relatoins, prayer, etc.  I hope and pray that these groups, as well as unaffiliated persons, work together in true cooperation and mutual understanding.  They need not all agree on tactics, approach, etc, but the important thing is that they make -constructive- efforts to help save the buffalo.

Here I would like to emphasise that I am not a member or spokesperson of any group, that I speak only for myself.  I intend to abstain from food one day a week, on Sundays, and pray for this and for all the earth changes.  I hope others will do so as well.  Not many people can abstain from food these days; life in the dominant society has made many of us very soft and weak.  But those who wish to join in the spirit of the fast can do so by giving up a favorite food such as sugar, coffee, meat, tobacco, etc.  I've found by experience that fasting adds a lot of power to prayer.  For example, I prayed and abstained from food on the day of the court hearing, when it was decided that no more than 100 buffalo would be killed this year without getting another court order.  100 too many, it is true, but a step in the right direction, especially since I've heard that that particular judge had shown signs of being unfriendly to this cause.  Who is to say that my small contribution to this effort had nothing to do with this partial victory?  And this is only one of many examples I can give, of the power of prayer and fasting.

Some people scoff at prayer; some people, proud of their own strength, are actually offended at the suggestion that prayer changes things!  But what I've found is this. Work alone maintains the status quo; prayer alone only makes people feel better.  But work and prayer together can bring about miracles!  If you agree, please Pass the word!  Organising and mobilizing people is not one of my talents but perhaps if I can pass these ideas along to a few others, it will be picked up.

I am working on a longer written account of my impressions and experiences while working with this activst group.  Writing is one of the things God has given me to do well -- unfortunately, I have a hard time being brief; it's over 33K!  If you'd like to see it when it's done, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you.  Again I must say that I am not a spokesperson for any group or anyone other than myself.