Culture and Coexistence into the Great Unknown
In this episode of EcoJustice Radio, we are graced with the profound wisdom of Oren Lyons, an Onondaga faith keeper and a towering figure in the realm of Indigenous sovereignty and environmental activism. This episode takes us to the roots of the great white pine tree spreading far and wide, symbolizing the peace and unity of the Haudenosaunee peoples.
Chief Oren Lyons, distinguished member of the United Nations Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival, lectures on what happened to the millions of indigenous people who lived in North and South America when they were “discovered” and the past and present challenges for the Peacemakers, recently featured on KPFK’s “American Indian Airwaves.” Listen to the first part of the speech below. We also included a short talk from the Sacred Land Film Project.
This prayer is a gift from the Haudenosaunee People (The Iroquois Nation), words of Thanksgiving with ancient roots dating back to when the Great Law of Peace was brought to the people by the Peace Maker, the Iroquois prophet, statesman, and lawgiver, who counseled an end to warring between the tribes.
In a blending of an Iroquois and Cree legend, with autumn approaching, four brothers had the same dream for four nights. They saw a vision of themselves tracking and killing the monster bear. Believing the dream to hold the truth, the brothers followed it into the sky.