Connection and Forgiveness with Renee and Manny Iron Hawk

Manny felt the weight of the lasting trauma from the Wounded Knee Massacre and decided that he was going to dedicate his efforts to start alleviating this hurt.

I said, ‘Well, this is going to have to stop one day. We are going to have to start healing one day.’ I decided that from here we are going to start healing as much as we can. Talking to people that can help, going in that direction. But our work is not done, there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed.

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Through ceremony, they seek to transform their trauma into compassion and human connection.

At the end of the ceremony there’s such a feeling of connectedness. That’s the one feeling that comes to me. It’s such an overwhelming feeling of brotherly, human love, you feel such compassion for each other. I share this with you because I know that we have so much to be able to share with others that can help them come to this place of reconnecting with who they are and what their place is in this universe.

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A meeting with a descendant of a cavalry commander involved in the Blue Water Creek Massacre proved a powerful moment for peace and reconciliation.

That feeling you get when they’re extending their hand in a good way with peace and understanding, asking for forgiveness... those who were there felt that. They put their hurt and pain to the side and they allowed themselves to be present in an open way. That’s what I would like our people to feel, because it’s a truly healing place. It’s the beginning of reconciliation. It’s a start and it can only be engaged and reinforced by continued communication, understanding and support.