Article: 1046 of sgi.talk.ratical Newsgroups: sgi.talk.ratical,sgi.environment,sgi.general From: (dave "who can do? ratmandu!" ratcliffe) Subject: PLEEZ support: 1994 Prayer Vigil for Future Generations Summary: we are about to enter the time of the "Seventh Generation" & renewal Keywords: sustainability, seeing wholistically, Tree of Peace Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 21:14:23 GMT Lines: 326 This past October, on the 501st anniversary of Columbus voyage to the North America, about 400 people from more than 20 tribes came to the [D.C.] Mall for the first of these convocations. For the first time since Europeans landed on these shores, The Keeper of the Sacred Hat of the Northern Cheyenne and The Keeper of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota met at the Prayer Vigil. They were able to pray together for future generations in a teepee on the grounds next to the Washington Monument.... In Native culture, we are about to enter the time of the "Seventh Generation," marked from the Battle of Wounded Knee, a period foretold in prophecy where the young people will take charge of their ancient ancestors and again become wise stewards of the land and cultures, where a new harmony will emerge among all who share Turtle Island (North America) as our home. The Native tribes and cultures from throughout the United States and Canada reach out now for an actualizing experience that will usher them--and all for us--into this period of healing, a time when their spiritual and cultural practices will no longer be diminished by the dominant people, but in fact will shine with all the other traditions that enrich the potent mosaic of cultural experiences .... Now it is time to do all that we can to enhance these meetings; to bring together more elders, more young people; to invite representatives of the United States government; to allow for the free flow of ideas and practices; to make the convocation even more meaningful than last year's. the following is hap'nin in d.c. on sept 30th-oct 2nd. 132 lines below is the "background" explanation post from last may. desendants of the people who were `holocausted' from the leif erickson/chris columbus time period to now, are *still* attempting to heal their wounds and those of Mom Earth. their future and our future are the same. their medicine is unitary in its understanding, and outside the domain of the analytical industrial-mind. if ya wanna do something supporting sustainability and wholistic living for all, donate $$ (tax deductible) by sending a check to From the Circle, one of the groups attempting to make this thing in d.c. happen. ---------------------------------------------- *** ONE MIND, ONE VOICE, ONE HEART, ONE PRAYER *** 1994 Prayer Vigil for Future Generations Sunrise, October 1 - Noon, October 2 HEALING GLOBAL WOUNDS POW WOW September 30 & October 1 (Sponsored by Native Youth Alliance) On The Mall in Washington, D.C. (next to the Washington Monument) From The Circle is collaborating with Native American Youth Alliance of Washington, D.C. and other organizations to create a living prayer for the healing of ourselves, our community, and our relationship with Mother Earth. Activities begin with Grand Entry for "Healing Global Wounds Pow Wow" on Friday evening, September 30th. On Saturday, October 1st, we start with a Sunrise Pipe Ceremony on the Mall followed by continuous prayer for the next 30 hours. As part of the vigil, we will hold a special ceremony, "Bless The Eagle-Hands Around Congress", on Saturday, October 1st at 10 AM. Everyone is invited to create this Sacred Hoop. Guests of the Pow Wow and Vigil: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arvol Looking Horse Carole Anne Looking Horse Grace Smith Tommy Porter Thomas Banyacya Burton Pretty-On-Top Joe Chasing Horse Roberta Black Goat Harry Byrd Corbin Harney Sequoyah Trueblood Mazatl Galindo Elijah Harper William Commanda Tom Little Bear Phil Lane, Jr. Leon Shenandoah Nathan Chasing Horse Partial Schedule: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fri. Sept. 30 - 7 PM Grand Entry, Pow Wow Sat. Oct. 1 & Sun. Oct. 2 Sunrise Ceremonies & Prayer Vigil Sat. Oct. 1 - 11 AM Bless The Eagle-Hands Around Congress Sat. Oct. 1 - 1-7 PM Pow Wow Sun. Oct. 2 - 9 AM Planting of the Tree of Peace As we mark symbols along the path to the next decade, the next century, the next millenium, we are called on to mark yet another turning point: to prepare for the period of the Seventh Generation. In Native American culture this is a time of healing, when the dreams of the people are returning, when health and happiness for all people can be restored. It is a time of forgiveness and renewal. One Mind, One Voice, One Heart, One Prayer is a vigil that brings Native elders and diverse spiritual leaders together so that all people can share in this forgiveness and renewal, and participate in the creation of One World. We are asking all our friends and neighbors to be part of these events and to tell others about them. It is in our hearts that elders and youth from all walks of life participate in Saturday's "Bless The Eagle" ceremony. We need (1) prayers, (2) presence, and (3) financial support. Please keep the events and their intention, to be One People in Prayer, in your prayers and thoughts. If possible, plan to come to Washington, D.C. Finally we ask for whatever financial support you can provide. Funds are needed for: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Air Fares for Traditionalists & Holy People $450/person or donate coupons to Suzanne, University Travel, Berkeley, CA (Ph: 1-800-654-1130) *Tree of Peace (White Pine - Mohawk Tradition) $200 *Transportation of Teepees and poles from N.C. $1500 *Food for our Guests, prepared by Juanita Neconie's Native Group $1000 *Transportation (van rental) in D.C. for Guests $600 *Communication Services $2500 *Air Fare for 2 Drum Circles $4500 *Lodging - does anyone have links for donated hotel rooms (block of 30-40 rooms) in downtown Washington, D.C.? We appreciate whatever you can afford. Donations will be used for specific items if indicated. Please make checks out to: 'From The Circle' and place our non-profit number - 94-3133148 - on your check. From The Circle 56 Joaquin Miller Ct. Oakland CA 94611 For more information: Alpha Institute, CO 303-343-4114 Wittenberg Center, NY 914-679-9764 Sacred Life Assoc., WA 206-432-5412 New Futures, MD 301-468-9431 Native Youth Alliance, D.C. 202-234-8631 North American Coalition on Religion & Ecology, D.C. 202-462-2591 International Computer Users Group, D.C. 202-269-3347 From the Circle, CA 510-531-7427 *~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~+*~+*~+*~+*+ "When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them." -Oren Lyons, Onondaga Nation *~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+*~+~ milo@scicom.alphacdc.com Michele Lord Alpha Institute +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ +*+ ______________________________________________________________________________ B A C K G R O U N D ______________________________________________________________________________ ONE MIND, ONE VOICE, ONE HEART, ONE PRAYER A Prayer vigil for Future Generations, October 1-2, 1994 The Mall, Washington, D.C. As I pushed the wheelchair of one indigenous elder through the Holocaust Museum feeling her pain and that of others, I wondered when our own nation would acknowledge the even greater holocaust here at home against the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Elisabet Sahtouris, Ph.D. Geobiologist and author October, 1993 A HISTORY OF PAIN AND SORROW Native American peoples have been subjected to humiliation, defeat, isolation, and rejection for more than five hundred years. At one time they were wise stewards of a great land mass and all the life forms on it; now they are largely confined to reservations and subjected to political and economic systems that regard the land as something to be exploited. Too much has been broken: their homes, their nations, their religions, their lives. But not their spirit. It is from this indomitable bounteous spirit--still rich with hope--that healing becomes paramount as we approach the 21st century. In Native culture, we are about to enter the time of the "Seventh Generation," marked from the Battle of Wounded Knee, a period foretold in prophecy where the young people will take charge of their ancient ancestors and again become wise stewards of the land and cultures, where a new harmony will emerge among all who share Turtle Island (North America) as our home. The Native tribes and cultures from throughout the United States and Canada reach out now for an actualizing experience that will usher them--and all for us--into this period of healing, a time when their spiritual and cultural practices will no longer be diminished by the dominant people, but in fact will shine with all the other traditions that enrich the potent mosaic of cultural experiences in this land of ours. TO HEAL THE WOUNDS AND GREET A HOPEFUL FUTURE From the Circle, a private non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Native spirituality, values and traditions as an integral and valuable part of our American culture, proposes an annual convocation of Native peoples (and others) on the Mall in Washington, D.C., every year for four years. This coming together, called "One Mind, One Voice, One Prayer," will provide a rich spiritual and practical foundation for the upcoming Seventh Generation period, as well as a framework for addressing future issues of mutual concern among Natives and other Americans. This past October, on the 501st anniversary of Columbus voyage to the North America, about 400 people from more than 20 tribes came to the Mall for the first of these convocations. For the first time since Europeans landed on these shores, The Keeper of the Sacred Hat of the Northern Cheyenne and The Keeper of the Sacred Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota met at the Prayer Vigil. They were able to pray together for future generations in a teepee on the grounds next to the Washington Monument. During this gathering time, Molly Olson, newly appointed Executive Director of the President's Council on Sustainability, met with three Dine'h (Navajo) and Hopi elders to discuss the contributions these elders and others can make to our national discussion of sustainability. Beautiful prayers and ceremonies were conducted by Lakota, Mohawk, Hopi, Dine'h, Choctow Aztec and others. The participants, representing a broad range of people, were invited to join together for several rounds of dances. After one of the dances, a participant who had just left the Holocaust Museum and stumbled upon the Prayer Vigil shared how meaningful it was to do something positive for humanity after touring the Museum. It is ironic that, due to lack of education, she probably did not realize she was dancing with the descendants of people who suffered a holocaust in our own nation's history. Now it is time to do all that we can to enhance these meetings; to bring together more elders, more young people; to invite representatives of the United States government; to allow for the free flow of ideas and practices; to make the convocation even more meaningful than last year's. The goals for this year's convocation are: 1. To come together in prayer for future generations. Prayer is a vital part of Native American life and has sustained many of the tribes through 500 years of atrocities. It is fitting that prayer--an abiding presence over the years--be central in creating the vision for personal, cultural and inter-cultural healing in the future. 2. To provide a context for healing a national wound. Many Native people seek closure on the past. "One Mind, One Voice, One Heart, One Prayer" will provide a forum. A representative of the United States government is being invited to either smoke the Pipe of Peace or partake in the Planting of the Second Tree of Peace near the Lincoln Memorial. These powerful and ancient ceremonies establish a strong foundation for the future and acknowledge from the heart that the future is about unity and forgiveness. 3. To strengthen and acknowledge the important contributions that Native Americans (and other indigenous cultures) can make in creating a sustainable world. Unlike our dominant Western culture, the Native American culture fostered harmony with the land, and regarded it as a giver of life. Now--as over-population, pollution, and scarcity threaten to destroy the planet--there is a need to examine the concepts of sustainability; the need is so critical that President Clinton has created a Council on Sustainability. The convocation will provide a forum for problem solving discussions related to sustainability in our time. 4. To acknowledge and support the programs of the youth. Young people are regarded as the Seventh Generation. It has been prophesized that they are the ones who will bring true healing to their peoples and all people. Sequoyah Trueblood, in conjunction with his work at the Four Worlds Development Project at Lethbridge University in Western Canada, will coordinate an Earth Ambassadors program for young people in the context of the Prayer Vigil. Youth who participate will disseminate the news to others of their generation and provide a seminal role in taking all Native Americans to the next level of cultural actualization (i.e. responding to the charge of healing the people and the planet). 5. To provide a forum for elders to share their wisdom with the youth. Always revered and respected in Native cultures, the elders will be honored and called on to pass on the heritage and values to the young people who as noted above, will have a great responsibility in improving the condition of their lives and the world. 6. To provide hope for Native American people in prison. Many incarcerated people will participate in the prayer portions of the program, from their prisons. 7. To set a framework where diversity is valued. Traditional Native Americans and Christian Native Americans, groups that have been divided in the past, will plan programs together, Native American scientists will discuss sustainability; Native American populations with AIDS will be present as will many other communities. Prayer is the thread that will link these and all groups present. 8. To educate the American public. Apart from the standard classroom approach to American History, most Americans are uneducated about Native cultures in our land. The convocation will seek to publicize the events, invite many outside the Native cultures to participate, and commit to sharing Native ways with the greater public, as appropriate. 9. To support the re-alignment of the Jefferson Pier, the cornerstone of our nation's capitol. A citizen's group is working with individuals in the Smithsonian Institute and the National Park Service to raise the funds to re-align and restore the neglected Jefferson Pier. The Pier, which is close to the Washington Monument, is not correctly aligned with the North, South, East, West axis. The citizen group wants to have Native American people conduct a re-aligning ceremony ideally one which allows the Pier to be part of a small medicine wheel. The Prayer Vigil is viewed to be the best context for this ceremony. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- Tomorrow becomes necessary when we do not see very clearly today. -- J Krishnamurti, "Is Thinking a Slave to Time?", 1974