The Warrior Within

Author: D. J. Vanas

This book explains and practically applies the common principles that our indigenous warriors successfully followed, achieving great success that enabled them to fulfill and honor their roles. The lessons and stories I share in these pages are the result of my personal experience, as well as our inherited tribal traditions, and three decades spent serving our indigenous communities and speaking with tribal elders, veterans, and others who work in service to their communities. I have tried to record the ideas most relevant to our modern societies, which we can use to elevate our lives, giving them meaning, richness, and sufficient enthusiasm. This book is not a historical or research book, nor is it a political treatise or a presentation of Native American traditions or the history of my tribe. I do not speak for all indigenous peoples either; it is not my role to do so. Instead, I share these ideas independently, from my heart to yours. This book might be accused of being perhaps overly generalized or leaning in its approach towards indigenous traditions, and this is true, but it does not diminish the power or quality of its ideas. I deliberately wrote it this way to adhere to common and beneficial principles that we can all follow. One thing I have learned during my more than twenty-five years of work in Native American communities is that the moment you start to be more tribal-centric is the moment other tribal groups feel neglected, and that your ideas are not suitable for them. We overlook the purpose of ideas and resort to another way that unfortunately leads to distracting and conquering ourselves; for this reason, I want to be as practical as possible and keep the ideas general and useful for all of us. I also realize that not all tribes had a warrior tradition, and some were more peaceful and relied on the idea of unity and solidarity when dealing with conflicts, but even then, they still expressed the spirit of the warrior. The leaders of these tribes acted bravely, despite the odds, and served their people to the best of their abilities.