“Grandpa, what are they doing?”

“Ignore them, it is nothing.”

“But, what is it?”

“They are pretending to be civilized, in a flamboyant, mocking way.”

“What do you mean?”

“They come here to play this game they created. The game has many rules to follow, miniscule and arcane rules, but when they leave here, they follow no rules and behave like savages.”

“Why do they do it?”

“The game is an excuse. They place their pride in their ability to follow rules here, because they have no pride elsewhere. They are immature. Like children playfully mocking their elders.”

“Will they ever grow up?”

“When it is time they will learn the lesson, but that is up to the Great Spirit.”

“What lesson?”

“That they are responsible for the world they create. There is no hiding from it.
   Our ancestors learned the lesson long ago, and when they did they began building our culture. It is our own game with rules to follow. But the purpose of our game is to maintain the connection with our people, the Earth, and the Great Spirit.”

“How do you know they are disconnected?”

“By how they treat everything. They treat the earth poorly, like it is not what sustains them. They treat their own people poorly, like they are strangers to exploit and degrade. And they treat their own bodies poorly, like it is a machine to gain mastery over. Everything they treat with disrespect. All for a fear of not having it all.”

“They want to have it all?”

“Yes. They believe they are missing something, so they fight to acquire more.”

“But, they are missing something,.. you just said,.. they are not connected.”

“You are very smart, young one. I am proud that you are a member of our tribe.”

“What will happen to them?”

“I do not know, but I do know that if they do not find their connection soon hard times will come. Although, it is probably too late.”

“Why?”

“Because building connection is a process that takes time. They must first come together and connect as a people. Then, together they must connect to the Earth. Only then will they be able to connect to the Great Spirit.”

“I hope they figure it out soon, so we don’t have to go through hard times.”

“Do not worry young one. We cannot control the wind or rain, nor can we control easy times and hard times. Either way, if we focus on playing the game our ancestors created to maintain our connection, our culture, we can endure anything.”

“I still hope they figure it out soon.”

“Why, little one?”

“So I can see them grow.”

“Because of you, I have much hope for our future.”