I want to send accolades to a wonderful author I’ve discovered, Sharon Oakley. Her brief bio indicates that after graduating from college, she began her teaching career.

She spent many years on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana experiencing the ancient ways of her ancestors and working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. There she taught, managed Federal Education Programs, and published a book, "Black Plume's Weasel People, the Last Bastion of Native Ways" that was guided by the sacred elder of the Blackfeet Kainai Tribe of Canada. That book was recently rewritten with new information in “Sacred Wisdom of the Ancient Grandmothers”.

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Sacred Wisdom of the Ancient Grandmothers by Sharon A. Oakley is an exploration of Indigenous oral tradition. It details the teachings of the Buffalo Society of the Kainai (Blood) Tribe, emphasizing the necessity of preserving earth-based customs, ecological knowledge, and traditional spiritual heritage.

Key Points

The Origin: The book is an expanded update of Oakley's earlier title, Black Plume's Weasel People. It is based on a two-year oral history passed down by Black Plume, a Kainai elder and the grandson of sacred Buffalo Society medicine women.

The Core Premise: Black Plume entrusted the author with this knowledge to keep his grandmothers' promise: empowering Indigenous communities and preventing ancient tribal customs from being lost to modern assimilation.

Central Philosophy: The text highlights the sacred, circular nature of life as understood by Indigenous peoples—symbolized by ceremonial circular dancing and prayers spiraling upward to the Earth Mother.

Broader Legacy: The book aligns with the teachings of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers—a global alliance of elders devoted to cultural preservation, planetary healing, and protecting the Earth for future generations.