Thursday, November 1, 2007

Feature: Doorways

Listening to Mother Earth’s Daughters

by Kristin V. Moorhead

http://www.peacexpeace.org/resources/PeaceTimes-070906.asp

Perhaps the single greatest paradox of US history is the contrast between the ideals this nation was founded on and its treatment of our first residents. In a written record dating back just over 500 years, the story has been one of bloodshed, broken promises, and ongoing discrimination. The most prominent contemporary evidence lies in misguided titles like the “Washington Redskins” and injudicious Columbus Day observances. But the tale of the American “Indian” is not the tale of a victim. In spite of stacked odds, legal, circumstantial, and otherwise, the story of this people has been one of tremendous perseverance. And with growing concern for the environment and the world as we once knew it, it is the wisdom of the ancients, women in particular, that may yet save us from our imminent destruction.

There is a Native American saying: “No nation is conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground.” If history has taught us anything, even in its biased review and selective storytelling, it is to never underestimate the power of a proud and organized people—in particular when women are at the helm. As members of some of the last matrilineal societies on earth, Native American women remind us through both their words and their actions that what befalls our mother Earth, befalls her daughter—the women who are the mothers of our nations. It is widely accepted among Indigenous communities that the voice of women is integral in the effective governing of a nation. UN Resolution 1325, which affirms the same principle, may be a tardy acquiescence to natural law—the law of the Great Mother.

Native Americans have honored peacebuilding practices since their history began. Yet the exclusion of most Indigenous nations from US and international law leaves their voices of reason largely absent from politics.

Maybe its because Billionnaires for Bush, find no profit in peace !~

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the post and agree whole heartedly with "that the voice of women is integral in the effective governing of a nation". What I don't understand is how the women who are in government can just sit back and allow the ideals of this nation to be a mockery. Yes, we have had our challenges and there is still much to do, but I believe we can do better in the places we reside now. There is hope, there are men and women (not just Native Americans), who have gone back to their ancient earth ways. Remember, All is One

Anonymous said...

Yo rtucker....
women and men in our government now are either self-serving or being threatened. during the inquistion, the church murdered the wise women and loving men, or enforced silence.
we are witnesses to the take over of america, again....
it happened once, to the indigenous people of this country, now it is happening again.
full circles.....