Sacredness of the From page 34 in the ritual ~— in raising it to the four directions, in praying for the four races of people, in offering it to the sky and Mother Earth, and in calling upon the clders that have gone before you. “You can’t approach the pipe ceremony with any kind of selfish intentions,” said George. ‘I don’t generally advertise that I have one, because peopie attach it to being a shaman — a medicine man. ‘*f never considered myself to be that. I’m a human being who is working towards wanting to be spiritual. “It’s a daily quest. I use it to pray for other people’s needs in the community and for my own good direction.” George has used his spirituality to exorcise his own demons. During the fate '60s, while a part of the counter-culture then sweeping the country, he became addicted to drugs and alcohol. George fooks back on that era, though, with mixed feelings. He believes the essence of the ’60s movement was based on a native concept -— as characterized by the long hair and style of dress. Young people, he said, began ta question the relevance of materi- alistic values and sought the an- swers in their own tribal roots. But the use of drugs attracted illegal business interests that cor- rupted the ideal. “Between °66 and ’70, the hip movement died,’’ said George. ‘‘It became a massive destructive thing. Money became involved again.” Rejection of money and materi- alism is a recurrent theme in con- versations with George. When asked how he deals with the confrontation between his per- sonal ethics and the realities of working daily within the money- driven business community, he replied: “{ struggled with that for a long time. I rejected money because [ saw money as the enemy. As a result, | always fell short on my own needs. “1 don’t know when my lights went on, or when I| turned around, but 1 don't reject it any longer. 1 don’t see it as an evil thing. No more than the buffalo was an evil thing, or the moose, or the deer, or the spring salmon. “When there was no money, that was the only thing we could use for survival, barter and trade. So the hunt was clean then. In order to apply those ancient methods of only taking what you need to survive and sharing the rest, we have to clean the modern hunt. ‘It's not money that is evil, it’s our perception of it and how we use it.”’ George believes that blending native spirituality and_ tradition with the realities of today will be The Polo Ralph Lauren Ski Collection Polo Ralph Lauren introduces functional high-tech ski wear that creates excitement and energy with bold, dynamic colors, while maintaining clean lines and classic elements. The Polo Store Ralph Lauren The Landing 375 Walter street, Vancouver, BC 682-7656 *Free parking upon proof of purchase of regular priced merchandise. dp Tre Canadian Red Cross Society SAFE ICE CONDITIONS 15 am WALKING /SKATING 20 on SKATING PARTIES 25 cm SNOWMOBILES an important factor in the future of native people. “*f think that the face of native spirituality will have to change,"’ he said. ‘‘There will always be traditional people who will behave according to the book of old traditions. We always have to have those people within every na- tionality, but the face of it will have to change, because we will Sunday, December 20, 1992 - North Shore News - 35 become inter-tribal. We are al- ready using each other’s ways.”” His faith in the principtes of the Wheel of Life — with its objective of harmony and balance among all races — is what he hopes will guide him, not only in helping his own people find the road to their future, but in beginning the heal- ing process between the native and non-native communities. circle honored in ritual “The essence of spiritual values — what native people have to of- fer —— will be a healing gift to all of us in North America.” Perhaps then he wil] have helped fulfil the prophecy of his father who predicted that, ‘‘Like the great Thunderbird, we shall rise out of the sea. And so shall the next hundred years be the greatest of our history.” TUNE IN TO TODAY'S TOP CD HITS ~—Sony Music A ACS AN House of Pain Fine Malt Lyrics N2 Bee Back to the Hotel 13 2% Rita RicNeil Thinking of You The Ranicn Femily pa vd Essential Opera The greatest collection of artists ever! assembled on one CD... Jose Correres, Placido Demingo, Dame Joon Sutherlond, Ludano Pavorotii & more! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Sundays 10 am - 6 pm ‘The Tragically tip Fully Completel al Wreckx-n-Effoct Hard or Smooth 723%, mm Eric Clapton B Unplt AC < live (Single (D) 12%, Kenny G. Breathless rag Whitroy Houston Soundtrack The ord 88 eo. CD The Three Tenors CARRERAS - DOMINGO - PAVAROTTI IN CONCERT “METHA” £ Tho biggest sling aie otbum ever! Orchestra Fierentino Orchestra del Teatro a" I Opera di Roma 73% eo. (D vono I 4 y GUNS WN’ ROSES USE YOUR ILLUSION 1 or I! 712%, CASSETTE y fo Prices effective thru Sunday, December27th, 1992, } whiie quantities last.