Red Star Prophecy: Mad Bear Anderson

A lot of people have been inquiring about the redstar prophecy lately, and I just told someone I would write something on it....so here goes. Background history: I first heard the Redstar Prophecy from my deceased friend Mad Bear. When I was a child living on the Tuscarora rez, there was a crazy old coot with a bad reputation living down the road from me. His name was Mad Bear. My brother met him first, and introduced me to him, when it was mentioned that I had unusual chess playing abilities. My brother bragged to Mad Bear, that his big brother Johnny (me) could play better than the Mad Bear. Being that Mad Bear was so good at chess, and I was only 15, we got together for a shootout. Yeah I beat him. But just barely. Our final score was about 24 games to 22, with me in the lead. Of course he was astounded that a "boy" could actually beat him. And I was astounded that I had actually lost 22 games. We became good friends after that, and I often dropped by to play chess, while Mad Bear took this as an opportunity to

tell me about native culture, history, and current events. Like one time he told me, that he traveled to Cuba and met Fidel Castro, and that it was Castro who invited him. I of course laughed at the story. I laughed at all his stories. He laughed with me, he never took offense at my scoffing or disbelief, but one time I must have called him on the story, as I had probably heard it one time too many. Mad Bear replied that I should go ask my grandmother Shirley then. I said, yeah, I'll do that. I mean Mad Bear showed me some silver medals that he said were from George Washington. I wasn't born yesterday; I was like a whole 15 years old. I heard a million stories from him while playing chess. I thought he was just trying to distract me. Medals from George Washington, trips to visit Castro, arresting white people on Six Nations for treachery, taking over Alcatraz Island, storming the BIA office in Washington? I don't think so. It was about six years later that I actually remembered to mention this crazy Castro story to my grandmother. All she did was pull out her photo album and show me pictures of her and Mad Bear landing in Cuba and being met by some honor guard. It was then that I learned who the Mad Bear really was. But it was too late then, as he had left our res and he had taken off back on his adventures. I remember the time he said he knew Marlon Brando, or the time he said he knew Bob Dylan the singer. I disbelieved that too. I thought it was a little weird the time, Dylan came to our rez to meet us in the community gym, and Mad Bear was there acting like he actually knew him. I figured the Mad Bear, was just claiming credit for the chiefs actions. In time I learned nearly every story he told me was true. He had led a revolution on the Six Nations reserve in Canada, and had white people arrested for treason, and threatened to hold court. The Mounties finally moved in, and the Mad Bear had to escape back to the American side of the border.
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A lot of native historians credit Mad Bear and the Tuscarora Nation for initiating the modern "militant" Native rebellions of today. They say the Tuscaroras lit the fuse for native nations across America to wake up, stand up, and fight back...with weapons and violence. This is said to have happened because of our land fight with Robert Moses and his plan to confiscate half our rez to build a power plant and a reservoir. In the end the court upheld the right of the state of NY to take our lands, but by then they had reduced their land theft attempts to 1/4th of what they originally tried to steal. And today you can come to my res, next to Niagara Falls, New York, and see the large reservoir built on my land. They needed to store water at night, because of treaties with Canada limiting water usage, or otherwise both nations could shut down Niagara Falls itself and use all the water for electricity. At night they take water they don't need--low electricity demand--and store it in the reservoir built on our land. But back to the point of this story: So one day while playing chess, Mad Bear tells me the prophecy of the "Redstar." This is the best that I can remember it, considering that I wasn't paying attention, because I know so much...and didnt need to listen to anyone. When a redstar falls from the sky, it will herald the arrival of a native child (boy/girl?) who will rise up and unite the Indians across America--I presume he meant North and South America--and this child will bring about the resurgence of Native power. This "resurgence" can be interpreted in many ways, just as the term "Native power" can be interpreted in many ways. I have my own interpretations. But you can decide yourself:
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does it mean this redstar child will bring about a mighty Native Nation that will attack and destroy the white world? Does it mean this redstar child will bring secret weapons to protect the natives, and force the white world to flee back to Europe? Does it mean that the mere presence of this redstar child is a sign that the white world is about to collapse, and the United Native Nations will by default regain their land and power? You can see the many variations possible in interpreting these words. Another question: Why do I call myself johnny redstar? Answer: It was many years later that I finally learned the significance of Mad Bear's words, and I wanted to make sure that they were never lost. I have taken the name as my own to help remind us of this prophecy. I do not believe I am that child, as I am no longer a child. I named myself this name, and I believe it was given to me by Mad Bear. He told me this prophecy many times as though he meant for me to never forget it. I haven't, and when the time came for me to take up a Native name, I named myself. I believe he meant for me to take up this prophecy, not as the child leader, but some other reason, maybe what I am doing now. Keeping alive this prophecy. It just came to me, and I named myself the name. I wish only to keep alive this prophecy, so when the time comes, those who need to know will know. Maybe five generations from now, or a hundred, or tomorrow, this redstar child will arrive, and there will be someone there to recognize and herald his/her arrival. So when you see a mighty red star fall from the sky, that causes the world to look and take notice, you will remember what I have told you. This is all I hope to accomplish with my humble taking of the name "REDSTAR." "When a Redstar falls from the sky........"
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