MANATAKA AMERICAN INDIAN COUNCIL
Dedicated to Magdala
| Introduction | Hawaiian Rainbow Woman |
| Cree Rainbow Prophesy | Cherokee Rainbow Story |
| Hopi Rainbow Prophesy | Rainbow Tribe Poem |
| Sioux Rainbow Prophesy | Indalo Rainbow Symbol |
The Rainbow held special significance among the people of the land. Prophesies and stories of many nations, from the Hopi and Zuni in the Southwest to the Cherokee in the Southeast, from the Cree in the far north, the great Sioux nations of the plains, to the Mayan people of the far south, the Rainbow was a focal point of spiritual belief.
The
rainbow was a sign of the omnipotent grace of the Great
Mystery. It was by grace, freely given, unmerited favor and
love of the Creator that allowed our people to walk this earth
in respect for thousands of years barely leaving a footprint.
It was also a focal point and great sign of the Place of Peace,
Manataka. For the Creator chose Manataka to display this beautiful
phenomena of nature in a spectacular and unique way.
Read "The Story of
Manataka"
The
rainbows of Manataka were tended by the Rainbow Woman who kept a
watchful eye on the peace of the valley. She kept the secrets
of the Crystal Cave and presided over the Great Peace Council for
thousands of years.
The Rainbow
Woman and the beautiful rainbows of Manataka disappeared to live
deep within the sacred mountain when our Circle was broken by
invasion and destruction by a people who did not understand the
beauty and grace of our sacred places.
We are not angry about the extreme ill-treatment of our
people and the land at the hands of these greedy and fearful people
- because we understand the fulfillment of the rainbow prophesies is
coming to light and "..all things that were, will be again…"
Read "Standing
Bear Speaks"
The following
prophesies and stories will help you to understand the importance of
the Rainbows of Manataka and the meaning of the term, Rainbow
Warrior.
CREE PROPHECY
Warriors of the
Rainbow
Last
century an old wise woman of the Cree Indian nation, named "Eyes of
Fire", had a vision of the future. She prophesied that one
day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would
come a time, when the earth being ravaged and polluted, the
forests being destroyed, the birds would fall from the air, the
waters would be blackened, the fish being poisoned in the
streams, 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, making the earth green again. They would be mankind's 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 light 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 corners 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 solitude 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".
Lelanie Fuller Stone "The Cherokee Lady", relates the story that her grandmother told her when she was a young girl:
Do you know what a rainbow is ??
Yes, a beautiful bow of colors in the sky.
Do you know what
a warrior is ??
A warrior is a brave person.
One who has
courage instead of being afraid.
Now let me ask you a
question.
Do you love animals or hate animals?
Do you love
trees or hate trees?
Do you love people or hate people?
Do
you love the rainbow or hate the rainbow?
Well, if you love
animals and trees, people and
rainbows, then maybe you are a
"Warrior of the Rainbow"
"When the earth
is dying there shall arise a new tribe of all colours and all creeds.
This tribe shall be called The Warriors of the Rainbow
and it will put its faith in actions not words."
- Prophecy of the Native
American Hopi people
-
"There will come a
time when the earth is sick and the animals and plants begin to
die. Then the Indians will regain their spirit and gather people
of all nations, colors and beliefs to join together in the fight
to save the Earth:
The Rainbow Warriors."
- Ancient Native American
prophecy -
Rainbow
Tribe
The sun rose on a magical
new day...
Over the whole earth they came,
The people of every
colour,
Sister, Brother, Father, Mother
Traveling over many a
land
People of the Rainbow
Children of the Way,
with a
fresh glow
Finding their way
Star within...
More and more
joined,
a song for the soul...
A new way to live,
A new way
to see,
It happened this way...
And a new song,
It came
from within
If you can find the Star,
Within then you will
find...
What is... What was...
And what will be... you
see,
It happened this way...
from within,
The people of the
Way
The Rainbow Tribe...
- Author Unknown
THE INDALO SYMBOL
A gift of Nyako Nakar, Spain
HISTORY of INDALO
SPAIN
The Indalo is a prehistoric symbol found in the "Cave of the Signboard" (La Cueva de Los Letreros) located in the northern province of Almeria, Spain. The Cave of the Signboards is located in area known as Maimón, in the town of Vélez Blanco known for it's picturesque cliffs and rock shelters. The province of Almeria is known as the paradise of La Paz (Peace) and beauty.
The Indalo pictograph shows a human with arms stretched above his head holding the arc of a rainbow. Other pictures show men, women, goats, deer and symbols covering the walls of this ancient cave. The pictures show activities of the ancient people who occupied this area of southeastern coastal area of Spain around 4,500 B.C.
(source: University of Leuven, Belgium)
The Cave of the Signboard was designated a National Historical Monument in 1924 and more recently nominated as Patrimonio de la Humanidad (Patrimonium of Humanity).
Though the Indalo was first 'officially' discovered in Spain sometime before 1868 by Antonio Góngora y Martinez, the people of Mojácar have used the ancient Indalo symbol for hundreds of years. Travelers through the area called the symbol "Mojaquero Man", because it was painted in white lime on houses of the town. The people thought the Indalo symbol is a sign of good luck.
Some archaeologists say the Indalo symbol is a representation of a prehistoric God. Others say the pictograph that holds the rainbow between open arms is representative of God's promise to humans that the world would not be destroyed by water (Génesis 9-13). We favor a third more plausible interpretation which says the symbol is a message of the star people and represents the Creator's grace.
The pictograph was named in memory San Indalecio, and means Indal eccius (Messenger of the Gods) in the Ibero language.
In the present village of Mojácar, people paint the symbol with red ocher on houses and over doorways to protect them from storms, lightening and the 'evil eye', while spiritual workers, Los Taumaturgos (miracle-workers), tell people the symbol has a good energy field surrounding the symbol and it will extend life.
Other indigenous civilizations, such as Hawaiian Islanders and American Indians, assigned similar meanings to the same type of symbols as the Indalgo drawing.
ANCIENT HAWAIIAN PETROGLYPHS
The
"Anuenue Wahine"
(Rainbow Woman) is found in several locations and many styles. The open torso
suggests the womb and birth canal. The arch over her head represents a
rainbow which means she is an honored and respected woman. She is also known as
the wise woman or the woman who sees all.
Even though the kapu system rigidly divided the roles of men and women, many
women held active positions in the ali'i and many were highly respected kahuna.
Rock carvings found throughout the Hawaiian Islands represent the lifestyles and belief systems of its ancient island occupants.
The
"Anuenue Kane"
(Rainbow Man) is one of the best known among the all the Hawaiian petroglyphs.
Found
at Nuuanu, Oahu, the "Rainbow Man" depicts a man with rainbow resting
on his shoulders. The symbol represents each person's responsibility
to 'shoulder' the task of protecting Mother Earth, the land "Ania."
The arc of the rainbow also means the person is honorable and respected.
Today, Hawaiian craft people frequently use the symbol of the Rainbow Woman and Rainbow Man in their work found in market places throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
AMERICAN INDIAN ANCIENT PROPHESY
A day will come when the animals, winged ones and those who swim will begin to disappear. The eagle, bear, wolf and buffalo will be scarce because people will become greedy and will not love each other. The sky will become black and the trees and plants will die. The beautiful rainbow will disappear because people will not remember to keep the Mother Earth sacred and will destroy its beauty.
Children
of the Rainbow Warriors will come before all destroyed and they will love the
trees and the animals. They will love and respect each other and they will
help people to live in peace with all creation. The rainbow in the sky will
return as a sign of the Creator's grace.
ZUNI LEGEND OF THE RAINBOW WARRIOR
This is a symbol known to the Zuni Indians as Rainbow Man. It was found on a Zuni war shield, a symbol of protection.
This are many similarities in this version of the Rainbow Man. The outstretched arms, stance of the legs, and the "Bow of Sky Rainbow above.
Credits
Some information and pictures from Circle of Light/Eternal Moment Manual, ©2003 Jean Vanhove.
