I heard this really beautiful little tidbit yesterday and I can't stop thinking about it. When I was in college and throughout my life, I've studied and maintained friendships with a few people of Native American descent. I studied Native American tribal law for a bit in college and that was my primary reason for choosing the major I did - psychology - because at the time my goal was to graduate and move to the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Reservation in South Dakota to help out (this reservation has by far the worst poverty/alcoholism/abuse/unemployment in the United States - look it up - and perpetually is ignored by the government). Life changes and things didn't quite work out the way I had planned, but I still maintain a strong interest in Lakota culture.
So I heard this beautiful thing. When an Oglala Lakota child is born, they are treated as sacred beings. The Lakota believe that while a baby's head is still soft the divine can directly descend into them, and they maintain a connection with the spirit that other people do not possess and know truths that adults have forgotten. Children are treasured, given beautiful things, dressed in special clothing, and honored. They are sung special songs and given the best foods.
Anyway, I think it's lovely. Certainly a great way to start out in life, even if later things get more difficult.
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