My name is
Joseph,
but I am called
Two Dogs - Kahpho Kopa Konaway
which is Chinook
jargon for "The Brother of All Things".
This name
was given to me by my beloved sister Tracie,
otherwise
known as the "Blood Poet".
I have also
been given the name of "Bangii Makwa"
which means
"Little Bear" in Chippewa.
I have been
given this name by a member
of the Turtle
Mountain Chippewa of North Dakota.
I am proud
of both of these names, as they represent
my alliance
and loyalty to my Indian Brothers and Sisters
of all of
the Great Nations.
I will be 50
years of age this May 23, 2002 and was born in
Concord California,
but please do not hold that against me.
I am 6'4"
and weigh in at 275 lbs. and yes...
they do stack
it this high! Just don't let it fall on ya!
Not to worry
though, as I prefer to be a gentle giant.
I mainly go
by the handle of Two Dogs,
and I actually
prefer it to
some of the
other names I have been called in my life.
I have hung
my hat in many parts of these United States,
such as Pennsylvania,
Connecticut, Oregon, Nevada,
and all up
and down California in towns and cities like
South Pasadena,
Escondido, San Rafael, Mill Valley,
Petaluma,
South Lake Tahoe, Concord,
and The Santa
Cruz Mountains... Just to name a few.
When
the earth is sick, the animals will begin
to
disappear, when that happens, the Warriors
of
the Rainbow will come to save them.
'
Chief Seattle '
I moved here
to Montana from San Jose California
where I lived
since I was thirteen in an area that was
called "War
Zone # 1", otherwise known as the Southside.
This area
was predominately Hispanic and Black.
I had never
been in a fight before,
but had to
learn the "streets" very quickly in order to
keep my nose
on the front of my face,
instead of
protruding out the back of my head,
which happened
more than I care to remember!
I got tired
of this treatment very quickly
and decided
to do something about it.
I noticed
that there were a number of others
getting picked
on as well, so I talked to several of them.
We all decided
to meet at my house and walk to school together,
hang with
each other at school as much as we could,
and to walk
back to my house after school.
This stopped
all of us from getting jumped, but unfortunately...
I wanted the
bullies to know what it felt like
to be humiliated
the way we all were.
Before long,
I had confronted all of the individuals that had
physycally
tormented and battered us,
and not one
of them could beat me one on one.
The sad part
of this was that we had become
the batterers
and the bullies.
After proving
myself to the many neighborhood toughs,
I was able
to walk with my head high, and in peace.
I believe
a major part of gaining their respect was
the fact that,
after a few years of growing I was about
a foot taller
and outweighed them by fifty pounds,
and could
'Walk the Talk".
I thought
I was a real Bad Ass!
Those were
the old days though. Now if you defend yourself,
the cowards
come back later with greater numbers and
either stab,
shoot, or beat you to death with their gang.
All in the
name of respect. It is too bad that in this day,
there are
still people that will take your life just for looking
at them the
wrong way, a very sad situation!
As a youth
(before San Jose), I was raised in the country
and spent
hours just exploring the woods and creeks in our vicinity.
I have always
been a country boy at heart,
even while
living in some pretty large cities.
My move to
Montana has given me a long overdue
spiritual
release and has returned me to the lifestyle
I was born
to live.
It is so refreshing
to be out of the element where people
are judged
by their fists and how macho they can act,
and after
all... it is an act.
I ought to
know... I was once one of the actors!
My heart and
soul were always meant to be in Montana.
A place where
people are judged by their hearts and their deeds,
a place where
all you see are friendly faces, lots of smiles,
and when you
are on the road and someone waves to you...
You can see
all five of their fingers...
instead of
just one!
It has taken
me half a lifetime to get here,
and this is
where I will be when the Great Spirit calls for me!
I attended
San Jose City College where I majored in
Administration
of Justice, minored in Photography.
I also played
some football while I was there.
After I graduated
I went to work in the Silicon Valley
in the field
of Electronic and Equipment Maintenance
where I earned
my first degree and continued
my education
in the field of electronics.
At the same
time I continued playing
Football at
the Semi-Pro level, and tested for the
San Jose Police
department. My father was in
Law Enforcement
when I was a child and I used to go on
patrol with
him, so I wanted to do the same thing.
As it turned
out, while I was waiting to start the academy,
I had an on
the job injury that dashed any hopes of becoming
a peace officer,
or playing any type of physical sport for good.
But things
always happen for a reason, besides...
I have never
been what you would call a choir boy.
(for more
details on my injury, see the Medical page).
I worked for
a time as the Athletic Director for the Alviso
Catholic Youth
Organization, and ran the Teen Center
to help the
troubled youths in the area.
I was also
the Coach for the "Alviso Bandits Softball Team" that was sponsored by
the church and Community Center.
It was a very
rewarding job and the kids were all great. I soon found myself coaching
youth Football for the San Jose Police Athletic League.
I then became
the President of the Milpitas Knights Youth Football Organization, which
was a member of the San Jose P.A.L.
I really enjoyed
this but I soon found myself as a Head Coach for the Pee Wee division,
and filling is as the Athletic Director, Equipment Manager,
a gopher for
the snack shack, the Secretary, and the whipping post for every so called
adult in the organization. After a few years of this abuse,
I decided
that I had given my all, and it was time to take care of myself,
my dreams,
and move on with my life.
In 1994, I
returned to school and learned how to build
and repair
computers in the hopes of opening my own
business up
here in Montana. However, shortly after I
moved to Montana
I ran into some more health problems
that turned
my life in another direction. A good one!
Since I am
homebound, I have gotten into
animal rescue
and rehabilitation.
When Sylvia
returns from some of the spay and neuter clinics,
she will bring
me dogs that have been kept in very poor shape,
or those of
them that have injuries that need tending.
I then become
their caretaker until they are
completely
healthy and can be adopted out.
Our long term
plan is to raise and train
Tennessee
Walking Horses, as well as rescued horses
and wild mustangs
which are plenty in this area.
I do not need
to be rich or famous...
I just want
to stand on my own two feet again
and feel the
pride of being self sufficient,
as I help
my animal family to a better life.
I recently
finished a year of chemotherapy and treatments
for a major
health problem (Hepatitus-C),
and while
I was in treatment
I took care
of a horse for a friend of ours.
The Horse
also had a life threatening health problem.
I found that
caring for this horse, "Bay" is his name,
was as good
for me as any medicine or therapy.
I treated
Bay for a year and he is now as sound as a dollar.
I am and always
will be a devoted animal lover.
They do not
lie, cheat, steal, or use you like some of the
two leggers
I have had the misfortune to know.
They are pure
of heart and their love for you
is an unconditional
one. I have found over the years
that I have
a talent for working with children and animals,
and since
I have already given a great portion of my life
to helping
children and teens, it is now time for me
to focus on
any and all animals I can help.
From Mice
to Moose and everything in between.
My
healing buddy... Bay!
My better half,
Sylvia, works for the Humane Society
of the United
States and is always knee deep
in animal
problems herself. I admire her and the People she
works with
for their efforts in animal rescue and placement.
Believe me...
they work their butts off.
Sylvia, myself,
and a few others are very much interested
in doing horse
rescue. Not just saddle and work horses,
but wild horses
as well.
Sylvia recently
purchased a ten week old paint colt
(see horse
page) from one of the local sales lots that
was in what
they call the "Kill Pen". In other words...
he was on
his way to be slaughtered. This little guy is
turning out
to be a regular little character,
and is as
smart as they come. At four months old
he was halter
broke and has learned to do a couple of
tricks as
well. He just needed a chance at life
and a little
love to boot!
My new interest
is taking care of sick or wounded horses or
stock animals
for people that cannot afford to do it themselves,
or cannot
afford the high cost of long term Vet care.
I believe
that most people would not have their animals
put down if
there was an affordable solution to their
animals health
care. I am not a Veterinarian, nor am I trying
to compete
with any of them. However, I offer my services
as a side
benefit to Veterinary care.
The cost of
keeping a large animal at a Veterinary
clinic can
be quite high, depending on the amount of
time the injured
animal is there.
I have the
afflicted animal brought to our place
where it can
be under 24 hour care. All I ask for is that
the owner
of any animal supply any and all medications,
hay or special
feeds, and all bandaging supplies needed
in caring
for the animal. everything else is done by me
and of course,
is totally free.
My being able
to help and interact with the animal is
payment enough.
And yes... Donations are welcome,
but not required.
Here I am with
Bay doing his daily dressing change,
the lame caring
for the lame as I like to put it!
After many
months of treatment,
I am happy
to announce that Bay is now as fit as a fiddle
and will once
again be able to hit the dusty trails,
and in perfect
health. Just a little love,
and a lot
of care kept this guy
from being
destroyed due to his injuries.
Well worth
the challenge!
(I am the
one on the left)
Above and beyond
all of this I am just an average person
that loves
to have fun, and will go out of my way to help
anyone at
anytime if I can. Life is much too short
to be locked
into ourselves as individuals.
I am by no
means perfect, and I have never met
anyone who
is. To forgive yourself for your own
mistakes paves
the way to forgive others for theirs.
Hanging on
to a negative feeling only feeds the fire
of ignorance
and humility, as well as hatred.
It does not
hurt to spread a little love, laughter,
or compassion
upon our fellow brothers and sisters,
no matter
what color or creed they are.
I believe
that is the true essence of being
a complete
human being. I just wish more of us
thought along
the same lines, it would make
every one
of us a little happier in our daily lives.
It is okay
to be different.
We all have
the God given right to follow our hearts,
and be who
we are.
February
2002
There
are no ugly people amongst us...
Just
people that look at the rest of us
through
ugly eyes,
and
judge us with ugly hearts!
-Two
Dogs-
In the
beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for
Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals
to tell men that he showed himself through the beast, and that from them,
and from the stars and the sun and moon should man learn.. all things tell
of Tirawa.
All things
in the world are two. In our minds we are two, good and evil. With our
eyes we see two things, things that are fair and things that are ugly....
We have the right hand that strikes and makes for evil, and we have the
left hand full of kindness, near the heart. One foot may lead us to an
evil way, the other foot may lead us to a good.
So are
all things two, all two.
-Eagle
Chief (Letakos-Lesa) Pawnee
Song
playing is
"Mea
Culpa"
by
Enigma
"The
Hanging Tree"
Downtown
Roundup, Montana.
This
site is one of the most beautiful and touching sites I have ever found
on the web.
I am
proud to say it is the site of my beloved sister HairDark. Seeing is believing.
Please
pay her wonderful site a visit.
Please
visit this page for a wonderful prayer
and
a beautiful graphic.
Tugs
at the heart strings it does!
Please
help free our brother
"Long
Soldier"
We
pray for a fair
and
Impartial form of Justice!
Please
read and sign the petition
so
we may all have our
God
given rights to be free
and
unjustly detained by any
Law
Enforcement Blunders!