Bayfield CO USA: Isa Vasanti
Sadness is here… She often comes to stay until I greet Her with respect and love. She then gently talks to me, teaching me the kind path of allowing and accepting what is, what I am offered to feel for myself and for my sisters and brothers. When I allow her to visit me, when I say yes to Her taking me, when I let Her move through me, She gently transforms me. She brings me closer to my deep heart where all truths meet. She is energy moving like everything is. I called Her sadness when in truth She is just another expression of Her.
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Rotorua New Zealand: Denise La Grouw
smoke rising… prayers always – lila wopila tanka.
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Stephanskirchen Germany: Uli Petri
With one heart and one mind we are connected with all you kolas. From beyond the big water we’ll pray for a blessed ride this year. We feel very honored to be ridden with you. (2006-2011 Stefan, 2006-2009 Uli) Mitakuye oyasin
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Gateshead United Kingdom: Lisa Dickinson
My heart and my families heart is with you in peace beauty and love
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Grants Pass OR USA: Pamela Nagle
My heart is with you on your ride
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Tulsa OK USA: Carol Beem and Michael Flynn
If I could be there, I would be one of those lining the road you travel to honor you and your journey. Thank you for all you do to help heal the wounds of the past. Being sent with loving light.
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Dursley United Kingdom: Diana Keeling
May love light and peace be with you and follow your paths
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Duncan BC Canada: Grant Waldman
The West Coast Men’s Support Society of Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia who are honored to live on the land of the Salish peoples ride today with all of our relatives who fell at wounded knee and all other places on Mother Earth. We return with you to the sacred land that continues to feed the spirits of your ancestors. We ride along side you here today to say that you are still here. You are still strong. You still walk this land with your ancestors as you have done for thousands of years and will continue to be the caretakers of this land for another thousand years to come. Blessings to all riders today on this sacred land. All my relations.
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Maryland Heights MO USA: Joyce Olinga
Baha’is with Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis are with you in spirit! We will be praying for all of you and our ancestors during this sacred journey.
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Abogen Norway: Morten Wolf Storeide
Long have Mother Earth tried to speak to humans about how to act towards the web of life, but only a few have listened. Humans must once again listen to the voice of Mother Earth as She speaks towards us every day. Most of mankind do not understand this language anymore, but this is not a language we must learn. This language we are all born with, it is a part of the great mystery. We only have to learn to remember it.
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Italy: Marlena Minari
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin !
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The only immigrant the white man does not recognise is himself.
From Turtle Lodge: The Great Binding Law (Statement of Manitoba Elders)
Manitoba Elders, Turtle Lodge
12/25/15
Ogichi Tibakonigaywin, Kihche’othasowewin, Tako Wakan:
The Great Binding Law
Written at Turtle Lodge
By Oshoshko Bineshiikwe – Blue Thunderbird Woman, Osawa Aki Ikwe (Florence Paynter); Zoongi Gabowi Ozawa Kinew Ikwe – Strong Standing Golden Eagle Woman (Mary Maytwayashing); Nii Gaani Aki Inini – Leading Earth Man (Dave Courchene); Giizih-Inini – (Dr. Harry Bone); Zhonga-giizhing – Strong Day (Wally Swain); Naawakomigowiinin (Dennis White Bird); Kamintowe Pemohtet – Spirit Walker (D’Arcy Linklater); Mah Pe Ya Mini (Henry Skywater)
Nitam – Michemach Oche – Ahana…
In the beginning, when time started, a long, long time ago, Kizhay Manitou, the Great Spirit, gave us one universal Law – Ogichi Tibakonigaywin – a Law that connects us all. Through this Law we were all given our unique languages, songs, ceremonies, ways of life, teachings and stories. We were all given our ways of loving and taking care of Mother Earth.
Kizhay Manitou put spirit in Mother Earth and all of life. We come from the spirit world and flow through the Earth. We will all return to the spirit world and to the Earth when our journey on Earth has been completed.
Through Mother Earth, Kizhay Manitou planted the seeds of life, with Original Instructions on how to be and how to sustain our relationship with Mother Earth. Mother Earth gave birth to the plants, the animals, the birds and finally to the human being. Kizhay Manitou gave us medicines for everything that can affect us.
Mother Earth is alive and she is the Original Mother of life. She has a living spirit and she is sacred. Mother Earth is so beautiful – she is the most beautiful creation – the most beautiful woman of all.
As the Mother of life, Mother Earth gives birth, and gives us everything we need to live – the food, the water, the medicines, the clothing, the shelter, and most of all, the love, kindness and teachings that a mother gives to her child.
Her teachings are reflected in Natural Laws – the balance of nature in the rising and setting of the sun, the patterns of the weather through the winds, the rains, and the elements of life, the natural flow of the blood of the Earth through the rivers and the oil beneath her, the cycles of the moon and the breaking of the waters when a child comes, as woman gives life in the most natural of ways. As long as we are breathing this beautiful air, whether we realize it or not, there is an invisible umbilical cord that always connects us to our Original Mother – our life source, Mother Earth.
In Nehetho, the word Waskaawe siweno (WAS-KAAH-WAY-SEE-WIN) means “Everything around you” and describes how we are all connected.
In Dakota, Mitakuye Owasana means “All my relations – we are related.” We are related to the stars in the sky, the birds, the fish, the animals and the plant life.
In Anishinaabe, Nikanisitook acknowledges “All my relatives in life.”
With the exception of the human being, all of the other living beings of creation have continued to follow their Original Instructions and live in balance and harmony with Natural Laws. It is only the human being that has severed its natural connection to Mother Earth and lost its connection to her Natural Laws.
We cannot continue to disrupt the Natural Laws of life. If even one of us disrespects that Great Binding Law, it affects us all, and it will come back to us. Nature’s Laws are self-enforcing. What we put into our circle always returns to our web of life. Mother Earth will have the final say because she is the Mother to us all.
Nature is always giving us signs to bring us messages. Right now, the human beings are behaving out of balance, and Mother Earth is reflecting that imbalance through climate change.
We are the Earth. We are the voice of the Earth. In our Original Instructions as human beings, Kizhay Manitou gave us the responsibility to respect, take care of, and most importantly to make a journey to Mother Earth, to connect to the land and learn how to live.
We are the free and independent Original People of this land. As the roots of this land, we are the true leaders of our ancestral lands – Manito Ka Apit – Where Kizhay Manitou – the Great Spirit – sits.
We come from the Dakota, Nehetho, and Anishinaabe Nations who have lived on our ancestral lands since Kizhay Manitou placed us here with our languages, songs, ceremonies, teachings and ways of life. We have always been here.
As unique Dakota, Nehetho, and Anishinaabe Peoples, we speak with one voice. We have respect for each other. As the Original People we welcome you. We come forward to share with you. We come to share that love with you. We bring our shared understanding and that is this:
We are all brothers and sisters and we all have a sacred responsibility to take care of and make an alliance with Mother Earth.
We are a peaceful people. We are not asking for anything for ourselves. The human being was the last part of creation to be created. It is our spiritual responsibility to take care of that life.
Kizhay Manitou had a vision of a world filled with peace and love. It is through the land that we can find that peace and love.
All of humanity needs to make a journey to the land, to the sacred sites, places of healing, teaching and connection, to find peace.
We make an invitation to the whole human family, and all the children, to come to our lodges so we can teach them to love the land, connect to the land, and take care of the land. Our journey begins with gratitude to the Earth and to the Spirit. Kizhay Manitou gave all of us gifts to share with each other, to take care of the Earth and all life.
In our lodges, the children will hear the teachings, feel the ceremonies and feel the love for Mother Earth.
Our ancestors prophesized of this time – a time of climate change, a time of crossroads, a time of self-examination, and a time of choice. Our choice is not a choice of words, it is a choice of action. We need to stand strong now in alliance with Mother Earth.
We are all in this together. Today, we call on all Nations of the world to join us in the spirit of our Original Instructions to care for Mother Earth together, and find true peace.
It will require a peaceful journey back to the Earth, to find our direction for our survival.
As one of our great Lakota leaders of the past, Crazy Horse, said:
Upon suffering beyond suffering;
The Red Nation shall rise again.
It will be a blessing for a sick world
A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations
A world longing for light again!
I see a time, long after the skies have grown dark and dirty
And the Water has become bad-smelling
I see a time of seventh generation,
When all the colours of mankind
Will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life
And one whole Earth will become one Circle again.
COMMENT
Dearest Grandmothers-Grandfathers-Aunts & Uncles-Brothers & Sisters-Cousins: With GREAT GRATITUDE i receive your word-tones in the heart of my belly. They ring with TRUTH. As an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe, enrolled with the Mackinac Band(s) of Chippewa & Ottawa Indians, my belly-heart thrills with the depth you provide US ALL. Thank you! Thank you! THANK US!!!! With many Blessings to US ALL, and particularly to OUR EARTH MOTHER for attempting to sustain us beyond all reason. Joie Bourisseau
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/25/turtle-lodge-great-binding-law-statement-manitoba-elders-162881