Elder's Meditation of the Day February 22

Elder's Meditation of the Day February 22
"In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Everything on our Earth is alive. Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird, every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on.

Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes. Today let me be alive.

Elder's Meditation of the Day February 22

Elder's Meditation of the Day February 22
"In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Everything on our Earth is alive. Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird, every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on.

Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes. Today let me be alive.

Prayers & Idle No More

Call out for Sacred Fires, March 20 » http://bit.ly/ZljVI0

Idle No More preparing for next stages -

"We call upon our women, men, two-spirited people, keepers of ceremonies, lodge-keepers, carriers of pipes (as well as bundles and drums), spiritual leaders, communities, elders, youth and everyone to begin by lighting Sacred Fires at sunrise on March 20th.Throughout March 20th, our request for ceremonies is intended to:

Strengthen the Movement;
Acknowledge and Honour the spiritual foundation of our Nations and the Movement;
Nourish the fire of our commitment to our Nations, Sovereignty, Treaties, and the Land;
Re-Forge/Heal partnerships, relationships, and reconnect our young people and communities to their names and clans, responsibilities, teachings, elders, and
ceremonies;
Feast Clans, Sacred Items, Bundles, and to seek direction from Ceremonies;
Raise the voice of the Spirit of the Drum;
Draw upon Spirit to help challenge Canada’s violations to Treaty, Land, and Sovereignty;
Acknowledge that Women are taking the lead by honouring and empowering women as we honour and empower Mother Earth.
This is also intended to embed a spiritual and cultural foundation for the March 21st Idle No More Day of Action taking place the next day, the March 22nd world-wide Water Day, and in all days ahead as we continue with our momentum – together." - NNL Staff, Thunder Bay. ᐰ

Elder's Meditation of the Day February 21

Elder's Meditation of the Day February 21
"Every thing or living being that exists in this world, be it trees, flowers, birds, grasses, rocks, soil of the earth, or human beings, has its unique manner of existence - its essence, its spirit that makes it what it is. That is what is meant by connectedness."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Scientists are finally realizing what the Elders have taught for thousands of years - everything is connected. Because everything is interconnected, whatever you do to any one thing, you do to everything. If you poison any part of the earth, the poison eventually affects everything else. If you poison the plants, the birds will eat the plants, which poisons the birds. The birds are eaten by humans which poisons the humans. The humans will have babies who could be deformed because the plants were poisoned. We must learn to live in harmony with the earth. We must learn to think good things. Every good thought is felt by everything, which causes everything to be happy.

Creator, let my thoughts only be good thoughts.

The Prophecy of the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle is Unfolding, as Promised !

The Prophecy of the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle is Unfolding, as Promised !

Prior to the arrival of the first European explorers an Indigenous kinship network based in spiritual and cultural relationships and protocols existed for centuries across the Western Hemisphere. Through this network of many networks, this Hoop of Many Hoops, Indigenous Peoples shared knowledge, capacity and resources for mutual aid, trade and development. This ancient network, based in life-preserving and life enhancing spiritual values and principles, known by many Indigenous Peoples across the Hemisphere as the Union of the Condor and Eagle, was broken apart by European colonization and the subsequent decimation of Indigenous Nations and Peoples across the Americas.

The prophecy of the Reunion of the Condor and the Eagle is retold by many Indigenous Nations and Peoples. The Q'ero People’s of Peru prophecies, for instance, say that when the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South fly together, the Peoples of Mother Earth will awaken. They say that the Eagles of the North cannot be free without the Condors of the South.

All of these ancient prophecies predict, after a long and bitter spiritual wintertime, that the “Reunion of the Condor (Indigenous Peoples of the South), and the Eagle, (Indigenous Peoples of the North),” will be realized. It is promised that when the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle is fully realized, a great era of peace, well-being and prosperity will follow for all members of the Human Family.

The Reunion of the Condor and Eagle is intimately connected to other Indigenous prophecies across the Americas. These include the Time of the Eighth Council Fire, the Hopi Prophecies, the Slaying and Return of the White Buffalo, the Mayan 2012 Prophecy and the Emergence of the Fifth Sun, the Return of Quetzalcoatl, the Prophecies of Chilam-Balam, the Prophecies of Sweet Medicine, and the fulfillment of Black Elk’s Daybreak Star Prophesy.

So strong is the belief in this prophecy among some Indigenous Peoples, that the Otomi Peoples in the State of Mexico have built a vast ceremonial amphitheatre dedicated to the “Reunion of the Condor and the Eagle.” The focal point of this amazing construction is a gigantic stone carving of a Condor and an Eagle joined in a loving embrace. It was built largely by the volunteer labour of thousands of materially poor Indigenous Peoples out of love and faith in this prophecy.

It was at this location that the first Reunion of the Condor and Eagle, International Indigenous Trade and Social Development Agreement and Unity Pact was signed on May 5, 1999, between grassroots Indigenous leaders of more than 100,000 Indigenous Peoples from Mexico and representatives of First Nations from Canada and the U.S.A. The Movement of the Condor and the Eagle continues to gain strength and momentum through the dedicated action of many different Indigenous networks and their allies across the Americas despite on-going opposition from adverse political and economic forces, especially natural resource extraction interests.

This opposition is easy to understand. Collectively the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas have the social capital, land base, natural resources, including water, petroleum, natural gas, timber, rare minerals and gems, fishing and hunting rights and those rights and resources that are still to be justly acquired, that once the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle is fully realized, Indigenous Peoples and their allies will become a decisive and major economic and spiritual force not only in the Americas, but around the world. Indigenous Peoples will then be in a position to mandate the wise and harmonious ways Mother Earth's gifts should be safely and sustainability developed, as well as, when development is not appropriate, no matter how much profit is to be made.

Following the end of the long-count of the Mayan Calendar, December 21, 2012 and the beginning of the 5th Sun, the rising of Indigenous Peoples and their Allies is destined to accelerate everywhere on Mother Earth. Indigenous women are destined to play a great role in this global transformation process!

artist Steven Paul Judd

This piece of art was created by artist Steven Paul Judd. We were forwarded the artwork. Though Steven is not affiliated with Native Swagg, we would like to thank him for representing the highest standard of the definition of NAtive Swagg through his art. We will gladly make an album for him in the photos section and please contact him for further information about his artwork. — withSteven Paul Judd.

Chief Dan George