ADDENDUM: A follow-up to the previous post, "The Prophesy of the Seven Fires".
"Manaajitwaawin Gii-maazhi-doodaading ishkweyaang, maanoo noongom da-nisidotaading miinawaa da-wiidookodaading."
"From roots of segregation and oppression, let understanding and integration grow and blossom into the beauty of diversity.
"It was prophesized that the time would come when the voice of indigenous peoples would rise again after five hundred years of silence and oppression, to light a path to an eternal fire of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood amongst all nations."
Grandfather William Commanda
Keeper of the Seven Fires Wampum Belt of the Anishnaabe (Algonquin) Peoples
William Commanda, or Ojigkwanong, to give him his Algonquin name, was born on 11 November 1913, on the Maniwaki First Nations Reserve in Quebec, about 100 miles north of Ottawa. He served as Band Chief from 1951 to 1970, and still lives on the 150 square miles reserve where he carries the honorary title of 'Chief' and is recognized as an Elder by aboriginal peoples around the world.
He has welcomed prime ministers to his home and has held conversations with the Dalai Llama and Nelson Mandela.
96 year-old William Commanda explains the meaning of the Seven Fires Wampum Belt
The Seven Fires Prophecy of the Anishnaabe is spiritually encoded in the Wampum Belt. The belt is sewn with thousands of tiny, polished, cylindrical purple and white sea shell beads woven together with leather strips. This Wampum Belt has been handed down among the Algonquin for hundreds of years. It has seven Diamonds which represent the Seven Fires.
Grandfather Commanda and other Traditional Leaders believe that we have entered the time of the Seventh Fire, which is the time of decision between the two roads of materialism and of spirituality. If the light skinned race chooses the right road, then the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth and final Fire, an internal Fire of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood.
Annishinaabe Elder William Commanda smudges the Seven Fires Belt
See and hear William Commanda speak of the Seven Fires Belt at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKgdXCzSgGk&NR=1
A Circle of All Nations – A Vision of Peace
The Vision Of North American Algonquin Elder William Commanda, Keeper of the Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum Belt
These Difficult Times We Live In Were Foreseen By Spiritual Visionaries Across The World.
My Ancestors Warned Us About This Time And The Choices We Would Have To Make, In The Seven Fires Prophecy, Which Was Inscribed In Sacred Wampum Shell In The Late 1400s.
The Prophecy Holds A Vision For A Future Where We:
- Honor Our Relationship And Responsibility To Mother Earth And All Creation
- Celebrate Our Individual Gifts And Diversity, And Still
- Recognize and Respect Our Place Within A Circle Of All Nations
The Steps To This Future Are Few:
- First We Look Within, So We Know Ourselves First And Best. We Recognize, Acknowledge And Forgive Ourselves Our Shortcomings And Any Failure To Achieve Our Best Potential
- We Forgive Others For Any Hardship And Pain They May Have Caused Us And Our Communities. We Trust That This Energy Will Transform Them Spiritually
- We Recognize That Our Thoughts, Words And Actions Affect Ourselves, Mother Earth And All Creation. And We Embrace Peace Mindfully
- We Listen To Our Minds But We Trust Our Hearts Above All
It is Of Crucial Importance That The People Of The World:
- Respond Immediately To The Plight Of The Many Oppressed By Exploitation, Social Injustice, Racism And
- Animate The Human Capacity For Forgiveness, Compassion, Love And Reconciliation; And
- Create A Global Synergy To Ensure The Improvement Of The Lives Of All
This Path Will Lead Us To Love, Sharing, Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Healing, Reconciliation, Equality And Justice.
We Shall Then Light The Eighth Fire Together And Become...A Circle of All Nations – A Culture of Peace.
Gigaagiigidotamaagoom, maada'ooyok gaa-miinigooyeg. You are speakers for us now, share what you have learned.
Mikwendam, Gidinawemidimin. Remember, We Are All Related.
Naagaj,
Omakakii
6 comments:
First We Look Within, So We Know Ourselves First And Best. We Recognize, Acknowledge And Forgive Ourselves Our Shortcomings And Any Failure To Achieve Our Best Potential
We Forgive Others For Any Hardship And Pain They May Have Caused Us And Our Communities. We Trust That This Energy Will Transform Them Spiritually
We Recognize That Our Thoughts, Words And Actions Affect Ourselves, Mother Earth And All Creation. And We Embrace Peace Mindfully
We Listen To Our Minds But We Trust Our Hearts Above All
Incredible theology, that would do justice to any religion. At one point they say, "From the roots of segregation and oppression," another astute and painful observation, that their roots of interaction with the white man's religion, has placed them at this tragic starting point.
Oppression comes in many costumes, but is perhaps at its worst when it comes in the disguise of salvation.
The Great Spirit speaks in silence.
I needed this today-thank you! I was unable to get into your most recent bloggings. It gives me hope to think us white folk might collectively abandon the material gods in favor of the human race. You have a gift Michael and I'm glad we've crossed paths. Hugs CW
I really like the photo of the Elder smudging the Seven Fires Belt. A question for you, what is the purpose behind "smudging"?
Rachelle, thank you for the question, it is a good subject for a future post. Tobacco, sage, cedar and sweet grass. Essentially, cleansing or purification and related to prayer. Highly symbolic, it contains the four elements.
I appreciate Frank's comments. We, all of us, are really called to our highest level of being when it comes to forgiving hardhips and pain caused to ourselves and our communities. This does not mean forget as this acts as a sort of bedrock of pain in anyone who has been discriminated against to grows spiritually toward forgiveness. And christianity and color of skin is only one of the perpetrators of discrimination. We only have to watch what is going on in the world to know that discrimination is a deadly force thus sending the energy back in forgiveness to transform and change rather than sending bombs and creating war is one tall order for those of us who would scoff at creating these sensitivities within. For it starts within and radiates out. We are what we think. Thank you for this blog, very thought provoking.
Great read, Miigwech keep up your great work, You inspire me. Susan Prentice Hallett
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