Meeting of the Ways

From the 1927
Grand Council of American Indians

"The white people, who are trying to
make us over into their image, they
want us to be what they call
"assimilated," bringing the Indians
into the mainstream and destroying
our own way of life and our own
cultural patterns. They believe we
should be contented like those
whose concept of happiness is
materialistic and greedy, which is
very different from our way.
We want freedom from the white
man rather than to be integrated.
We don't want any part of the
establishment, we want to be free to
raise our children in our religion, in
our ways, to be able to hunt and fish
and live in peace. We don't want
power, we don't want to be
congressmen, or bankers....we want
to be ourselves. We want to have
our heritage, because we are the
owners of this land and because we
belong here.
The white man says, there is
freedom and justice for all. We have
had "freedom and justice," and that
is why we have been almost
exterminated.
We shall not forget this."

"Congress shall make no law ...
abridging the freedom of speech..."

Prophecy
"Warriors of the Rainbow"
There was an old lady, from the "Cree"
tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who
prophesied that one day, because of the
white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there
would come a time, when the fish would
die in the streams, the birds would fall
from the air, the waters would be
blackened, and the trees would no longer
be, mankind as we would know it would
all but cease to exist.
There would come a time when the
"keepers of the legend, stories, culture
rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient
Tribal Customs" would be needed to
restore us to health. They would be
mankinds’ key to survival, they were the
"Warriors of the Rainbow". There would
come a day of awakening when all the
peoples of all the tribes would form a New
World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and
recognition of the Great Spirit.

The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would
spread these messages and teach all
peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They
would teach them how to live the "Way of
the Great Spirit". They would tell them of
how the world today has turned away
from the Great Spirit and that is why our
Earth is "Sick".

The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would
show the peoples that this "Ancient
Being" (the Great Spirit), is full of love and
understanding, and teach them how to
make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again.
These Warriors would give the people
principles or rules to follow to make their
path right with the world. These principles
would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The
Warriors of the Rainbow would teach the
people of the ancient practices of Unity,
Love and Understanding. They would
teach of Harmony among people in all
four comers of the Earth.

Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach
the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit
with love that flows like the beautiful
mountain stream, and flows along the
path to the ocean of life. Once again, they
would be able to feel joy in solitude and in
councils. They would be free of petty
jealousies and love all mankind as their
brothers, regardless of color, race or
religion. They would feel happiness enter
their hearts, and become as one with the
entire human race. Their hearts would be
pure and radiate warmth, understanding
and respect for all mankind, Nature, and
the Great Spirit. They would once again fill
their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with
the purest of thoughts. They would seek
the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great
Spirit! They would find strength and
beauty in prayer and the solitudes of life.

Their children would once again be able
to run free and enjoy the treasures of
Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the
fears of toxins and destruction, wrought
by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed.
The rivers would again run clear, the
forests be abundant and beautiful, the
animals and birds would be replenished.
The powers of the plants and animals
would again be respected and
conservation of all that is beautiful would
become a way of life.

The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These
practices would again become a part of their daily lives.

The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could
speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions
spoke the loudest. Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom, and courage and those who
showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs.
They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained. Like the
thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that
their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them
that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.

The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains
of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated,
unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. They will find willing hearts and minds that will
follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more.

The day will come, it is not far away. The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the
people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage. Those that have kept the rituals,
stories, legends, and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have
preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth, and mankind. It
will be with this knowledge that we shall find our "Key to our Survival".

This is the story of the "Warriors of the Rainbow" and this is my reason for protecting the culture,
heritage, and knowledge of my ancestors. I know that the day "Eyes of Fire" spoke of - will come! I
want my children and grandchildren to be prepared to accept this task.The task of being one of
the........"Warriors of the Rainbow".