Convening Discussions

March 11^th – 13^th, 2008

The Convening of Indigenous Peoples for the Healing of Mother Earth brought forward the Original Teachings as kept by our Wisdom Keepers and Culture Bearers. The gathering facilitated discussions among Indigenous peoples on environmental health issues facing their communities and what it is that human beings can do to help Mother Earth to restore herself and our families and communities back to health, harmony, and balance.

The format for discussions at the Convening was carefully considered by Indigenous Elders and conference organizers during the planning sessions.

All discussions unfolded in the space of a circular seating arrangement that was specially chosen for its symbolism. The circle is a feminine form and represents the Cosmic Womb – the birth of all things.  The circular configuration allowed all to sit as equals, with Elders placed in the centre as the guides for the discussion and sharing.

In addition to creating a space that brought all participants together as equals, the circle symbolized the restoration of feminine balance to Mother Earth, bringing this healing into the discussions that unfolded.

Delegates and Elders participated in the discussions by making brief presentations on issues and activities/actions affecting their communities. These presentations allowed participants to raise their particular environmental health concerns, and to share the wisdom and Original Teachings for the caretaking of Mother Earth. The discussions provided a forum for participants to educate and inform each other from a spiritual base and to develop solutions that will help promote the appropriate use of Indigenous information and property.  Each morning or afternoon of discussion was focused on a different element (water, air, earth or fire) and the challenges and solutions that relate specifically to that element.

Click here to see an in-depth meeting summary.

Intent for Discussions

As per its structure, Indigenous Elders stated in planning sessions that the conference must:

• Encompass a holistic perspective

• Hear from all voices and listen with open hearts

• Embrace a spiritual foundation

• Consider that Indigenous communities need to take responsibility for healing themselves

• Return to the family model and planning for future generations

• Consider different levels of action needed-the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional.

There must be a holistic perspective. Indigenous people face threats to their communities, languages and environment, so solutions also need to reflect a holistic perspective – especially one that links the health and well-being of individual, family, community, and Mother Earth.

We need to hear from all voices and listen with open hearts. Several of the Elders expressed that survival depends on working in harmony – a spirit that flows and travels together. This means, in the traditional ways of indigenous peoples, listening with an open heart, being respectful, being considerate of the desire of others to speak, and speaking one’s truth with an understanding that the truth of others is equally valid as any other.

There must be a spiritual foundation. A spiritual foundation must reflect that the Indigenous ways of life is expressed in more than words – never taking too much, always giving back. In addition, Elders noted that the spiritual sickness of disconnection is the cause of the symptoms that is hurting our communities. Unless we address these root causes by getting back to the original teachings of truth, harmony, respect, reverence, humility, balance, rites, rituals, ceremony, and reciprocity, we cannot hope to fix the other problems.

Indigenous communities need to take responsibility for healing themselves. Many Indigenous communities are troubled and suffer spiritual sicknesses that result in dysfunctions of individuals, families, and communities and the departure from our cultural ways and teachings.   For the world to thrive again, Indigenous people must take care of and cleanse their own homes in their own ways – by returning to their Original Teachings and Natural Laws.

We need to return to the family model and planning for future generations. There is an inherent desire that all people have to live, love and learn so that they can leave a legacy for future generations. The family has an important role in advancing this legacy – different family members play different roles in passing on spiritual and social strengths. The inherent sacredness and gifts of Mother, Father, Elder, and Child must be acknowledged.  We have the personal family, the community family, and the world family. We, like all living things, are profoundly connected.  What affects one, affects the other for seven generations.