My new home, a gift from Allaah(swt)

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:sl:

Allaah(swt) moves fast and some times gives unexpected gifts and new challanges. Yesterday we were given an opportunity to trade houses with some people on the Oglala Sioux Reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Sunday we are going to Pine Ridge and see what it would entail.
Both Aabidah and my self have a strong desire to do what we can to help and work with Native Americans, the Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the most desolate and poverty stricken places in the USA. Perhaps that is our challange. Inshallah

Here are some links to the Reservation

Although this first video appears to have been made by Christian Evangelists, it does contain some good views of the reservation.

[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-Z0l24h88[/MEDIA]

This video shows some of the pride the Sioux still have and the strong heart they still have as a nation

[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Bs0heiR2k&feature=related[/MEDIA]

http://www.mnisose.org/profiles/oglala.htm

http://www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org/

There are 8 Sioux Muslims that we know of on the reservation. They are very isolated and are a major concern to us. Perhaps this is the plan Allaah(swt) has for us. Please make Du3a that we make the right choice Sunday.
 
Jazzy said:
I've never met a Muslim Native American. I bet that's cool MashaAllah :D
InshaAllah bro, we'll make du'a.
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My wife Aabidah is one. She is from the Cheyenne Tribe.

There are several Sioux that we know who are asking us many questions about Islam and seem to have a very strong interest in learning more.
 
Woodrow said:
That is quite alright. Woodrow actually has a very Islamic meaning as it means "Protector of the forest" and as a Muslim I am obligated to protect the gifts Allaah(swt) has given us.
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I like the name Woodrow even better now, Woodrow. :)
 
Woodrow said:
:sl:

Allaah(swt) moves fast and some times gives unexpected gifts and new challanges. Yesterday we were given an opportunity to trade houses with some people on the Oglala Sioux Reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Sunday we are going to Pine Ridge and see what it would entail.
Both Aabidah and my self have a strong desire to do what we can to help and work with Native Americans, the Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the most desolate and poverty stricken places in the USA. Perhaps that is our challange. Inshallah

Here are some links to the Reservation

Although this first video appears to have been made by Christian Evangelists, it does contain some good views of the reservation.



This video shows some of the pride the Sioux still have and the strong heart they still have as a nation



http://www.mnisose.org/profiles/oglala.htm

http://www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org/

There are 8 Sioux Muslims that we know of on the reservation. They are very isolated and are a major concern to us. Perhaps this is the plan Allaah(swt) has for us. Please make Du3a that we make the right choice Sunday.
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yes, lakota nation has very strong spiritual life. i'm actually surprised that they allow christian evangelists on the rez! some of the activists in the early AIM (american indian movement) were from pine ridge. i believe they also set up a "freedom school" there many years ago. does radio KILI still broadcast?
i think that would really be cool if you end up moving to pine ridge.
isn't it funny how life often comes up with the unexpected?
 
Woodrow said:
Allaah(swt) is indeed the most beneficent and merciful. Less then 2 months ago I did not even know Aabida and was resigned to living the remainder of my days as a live-in bachelor grandfather in Austin.

Long gone were any hopes or plans of returning to farm living or of having a wife.

Yet, totaly without belieiving it was possible, I was suddenly returned to what I love and many times better then what I ever had in the past.

alhamdilluh, subhanna rabbiyaal Azim

Never give up trusting Allaah(swt) he is the best of planners. Mashallah
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Brother Woodrow, you are an inspiration for all of us Masha'Allah. I personally have appreciated the things that you have shared about your life. May Allah grant you and your bride an eternal home in Paradise.
 
And where are working the native americans from Oglala Sioux Reservation :? I saw only a shopping center and houses.
 
WOWW mashallah well everything happens for a reason Inshallah dis is great opportunity to give Dawah for u
 
Tania said:
And where are working the native americans from Oglala Sioux Reservation :? I saw only a shopping center and houses.
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Unemployment is very high.

some do work as guides for tourists that visit the area for hunting and fishing. some do make and sell handicrafts. some of the land is used for wheat and other grain production.

but typically the average family lives on what they can raise and otherwise depend on charity.

Some do work periodically off of the rez as migrant farm workers and each year many leave the rez to try to find a living in the large cities. A sad legacy for a brave and beautiful people.

I see the Sioux as being very similar to the Palestinians, their land stolen and the people driven into hardship. The result of broken promises and failed treaties.
 
glo said:
Such a beautiful new home. I hope you both spend many happy years there together. :)

Living in the UK I cannot get over the space you have around you! Wow!!!
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Yh! True, in the UK i don't think it's possible to get that much space, even for a million pound.

Anyways bro woodroow, im really happy for you and your wife abidah, may Allah grant both of you Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen :)
 
Woodrow said:
Unemployment is very high.
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The reservation doesn't have a mayor which could find investors (some companies which could not destroy the environment and give a job to the people from there :?)
 
Tania said:
The reservation doesn't have a mayor which could find investors (some companies which could not destroy the environment and give a job to the people from there :?)
Click to expand...

The Reservations operate under seperate laws from the USA, they are under a treaty with the US. For many reasons the native Americans do not trust the US Government and would never agree to having any non-native businesses set up on Native American soil.

The laws are quite complicated and very fragile. Many treaties have been broken in the past all resulting in loss of land for the Native Americans. The territory is not under US laws and is run by a tribal system with a tribal council and chief.

Plus most businesses and the US governement seem to be more interested in just getting a foot in the door and take more land. The tribes themselves do not have the financial resources to start any industry.

I do not see the tribes opening the door for industry anytime in the forseeable future. To do so will be the end of the last of the Native Americans as a Nation.
 
^
So would it be fair to say that the native Americans forgo (modern American) wealth and riches for the sake of preserving their reservations and their way of life?

Can people make a living in 'the old traditional ways'?
Can they be self-sufficient?
 

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