Hello Beautiful People!
We have a great deal of pent up emotion that makes
us feel we are bursting at the seams. Do we dare release
all that we know at this time? The beautiful events that
occurred at the Place
of Peace over the past few months are indeed extraordinary and cry out
to be shared, but we are forced to keep silent until the moment
arrives. Prophesy will be fulfilled and the sacredness of this magnificent
place of the Unbroken Circle will emerge.
We hope you like the changes in the
new Smoke Signal News. For your convenience and reading pleasure,
we have done away with the excessively long newsletters
to be replaced with shorter, timely articles. We are here to
preserve and protect the sacred Manataka mountain. ~editor
The
Significance of 2012 to the Maya
As Explained by Carlos
Barrios, Mayan Ajq'ij
Carlos
Barrios was born into a Spanish family on El
Altiplano, the highlands of Guatemala. His home was
in Huehuetenango, also the dwelling place of the
Maya, Mam tribe. With other Maya and other
indigenous tradition keepers, the Mam carry part of
the 'old ways on Turtle Island (North America). They
are keepers of time, authorities on remarkable
calendars that are ancient, elegant and relevant.
Carlos Barrios is a historian, an anthropologist and
investigator. After studying with traditional elders
for 25 years since the age of 19, he has also became
a Mayan Ajq'ij, a ceremonial priest and spiritual
guide, Eagle Clan. Years ago, along with his
brother, Gerardo, Carlos initiated an investigation
into the different Mayan calendars. He studied with
many teachers. He says his brother Gerardo
interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to
widen their scope of knowledge.
"Anthropologists visit the temple sites," Barrios says, "and read the inscriptions and make up
stories about the Maya, but they do not read the
signs correctly. It's just their imagination. Other
people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya.
They say that the world will end in December
2012.The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world
will not end. It will be transformed."
Read
More...
The Great Basin is an area
which includes the high desert regions between the Sierra Nevada and the
Rocky Mountains. It is bounded on the north by the Columbia Plateau and on
the south by the Colorado Plateau. It includes southern Oregon and Idaho, a
small portion of southwestern Montana, western Wyoming, eastern California,
all of Nevada and Utah, a portion of northern Arizona, and most of western
Colorado. As with Indian people in other culture areas, there are many
places in the Great Basin-water sources, hot springs, isolated rock
formations, rock art sites, mountain peaks, and caves-which the Indian
nations of this area consider to be sacred.
Water sources are
traditionally seen as spiritual places and are often approached with
requests for the spirits associated with them. In making these requests,
Indian people traditionally leave offerings as a way of showing respect for
the spiritual nature of these places.
Rock art sites-places which
may include pictographs and/or petroglyphs-are often of great antiquity and
are seen as places of great spiritual power. For the Northern and Eastern
Shoshone, rock art was used to mark places of special spiritual power. Some
of these were places where vision quests were commonly conducted.
At Big Spring in the Big Lost
River Range of Idaho, the Shoshone have several pictographic panels which
designate this as a sacred site. The area includes a water fall and the
pictographs are selectively placed to focus on the sacred geography of the
place. Some of the pictographic figures seem to indicate contact with the
southwest, perhaps with the Hopi.
Read More...
Modern
science
has a
brought
great
wealth
of
understanding
to the
physics
of the
universe.
Comprehension
of the
laws of
nature
has
advanced
human
progress
in
countless
arenas
of human
endeavor.
However,
science
cannot
explain
why
these
laws
exist or
how the
laws of
nature
came
into
being.
Read More...
On January 19, 2012 a
Menominee Indian seventh grader named Miranda Washinawatok was benched and
suspended from a Catholic School in Shawano, Wisconsin, for speaking her Native
Menominee language with two other girls from the Menominee reservation.
Read More...
Old theories (like the Bering Strait theory-as the sole
entry point for ancient emigrants, must be laid to rest
when "one size" does not fit all or whenever a
preponderance of evidence proves new theories more
viable, probable or having a higher degree of likelihood
than not, such as the case involving true aboriginal
development and/or settlement of the Americas.
Read More...
I recently lost my grandmother
and mother within 5 days of each other shortly before
Christmas. Granny was just short of 99 years old and mom was
86. Granny was very ready to cross over and mom was a
surprise, although she had Alzheimer’s.
Read More...
Along
about the year 1990, or thereabouts, The Ugly Otter was living in New Mexico
near Albuquerque. He knew a young couple, Richard and Mary Jo, who had a son
about 9 years old, and a daughter about 6 or 7 years old.
Read More...
The
early morning sky slips fingers of light through the old cotton wood
trees, bits of this pale light filtering through the small window
over my bed. The soft sounds of morning drifted up to my ears as I
wiped away the webs of the dream time and entered the day time.
Conscious of my
feet on the cool wood floors that smelled of pine oil, I walked to
the window. Through the first morning light, I see the grasses of
the prairie waving like fingers in the soft morning breeze.
Read More...
As we hike the trails of Manataka Mountain
today, we find no monuments to the gentle people who were once the keepers of
Manataka (Place of Peace). Only the Grandfathers now tell the story of the
Rainbow Woman who blessed and guarded the Valley and the healing waters of
Nówâ-sa-lon,
the hot springs.... Read More...
Several
important stories of Manataka speak of the great feminine
spirit, IxChel, Mother God, Holy Mother of the Mountain, the Rainbow Woman of
Manataka.... Read More...
By Lee
Standing
Bear
Moore
and the
Spirit
of
Takatoka
In Part I of the
Conscious Being we
defined
consciousness and
explored its various
forms and concepts.
We talked about how
consciousness is
expanding and ways
that cosmic changes
in the universe are
affecting our
consciousness.
On the negative
side, we briefly
discussed how
religions,
corporations and
governments are
playing a role in
jamming conscious
behavior. For
balance and
perspective, we
presented
arguments against
the idea of mass consciousness.
Finally, we opened the
veil to
understand how
things were set in
motion long ago to
bring humans to a
closer and infinite
mass consciousness
that will bring
about a magnificent
Awakening.
The people of
Manataka and the
sacred site of
Manataka will play a
significant role
helping to inform
millions of people
worldwide who yearn
to discover how
these events will be
presented and ways
they will affect our
human lives and
spirits.
The
sacred Place of
Peace is a
haven, an island of
sanctuary amid a
world of confusion
and conflict.
By the grace of the
Great Mystery and
through the power of
the holy spirit, the
Valley of the Vapors
will provide clean
air, pure water from
the womb of the
Mother, food from
the forest and
shelter for the
thousands who will
find their way here
during the time of
transition.
The Warriors of the
Rainbows of Manataka
will help us to
create a new
consciousness, a new
world where love and
cooperation are
paramount.
Shawn
Mikula, a
neuroscientist at
John Hopkins
University once
said, "...The vast
majority of
mankind is
trapped
within
perceptual
prisons...
and we as a
species
must escape..."
We agree that man
creates many prisons
of the heart and
mind and it is
imperative for the
survival of mankind
that we find a way
out. Creating
mass consciousness
is a new frontier
that will permit us
to release the
chains of egocentric
thought and
transition to a more
beautiful and pure
place of peace.
How we transition is
important to the
survival of the
human spirit
It is impossible to
know for certain the moment in time
when human
consciousness
will experience an
awareness of itself.
The gradual change into
a collective state
of transcendence
began long ago, but
the moment when the
Awakening occurs is
beyond our
comprehension.
Read More...
"People think
other things are more important than prayer, but they are mistaken."
-- Thomas Yellowtail, Crow Nation
An Elder once
said the most important thing you can do in the course of a day is to pray. If
we get up late or oversleep, which is more important? Rush to work without
praying or pray first and then go to work? The Elders say it's more important to
pray. If we get angry, should we act on our anger or should we pray first? The
Elders say it's more important to pray first. If, during the day, we face
indecision, what should we do? PRAY. If, during the day, we become irritated or
we experience fear, what should we do first? PRAY. The Warrior who prays first
will lead a different life from those who pray last.
Great
Spirit, teach me to pray first!
DID YOU KNOW?
How Did Indians Get Their Name?
Every public school in the
United States teaches children that in 1492 Christopher Columbus called
the people he found in the New World, "Indians" because he thought he
had discovered India. We now know this is a lie first told by the
Catholic Church and continued by the white Eurocentric establishment
ever since. How do we know it is a lie?
Evidence 1: In 1492
there was no country in the world called India -- it was called Hindustan.
There was no Indian Ocean -- it was called the Eastern Sea. There were no
people called Indians -- they were called Hindus.
Evidence 2: Columbus and
his brother butchered and enslaved thousands of Taino people and caused their
near extinction. Prior to his jubilant return to Spain, Columbus called them "Los
Populos Indios" -- The People of God. In 1493, the Catholic church
issued a papal bull that ordained and gave license to the monarchs of Europe to
invade and subjugate indigenous people. The English word "Indian" is clearly a
poor translation of the word "Indios" meaning God in Portuguese.
Department of Justice Request for Tribal
Input
Department of Justice is considering
adopting a policy that would memorialize its practice of enforcing
federal wildlife laws in a manner that facilitates the ability of
members of federally recognized tribes to use eagle feathers and other
bird feathers and parts for cultural and religious purposes and is
considering developing a joint federal and tribal training program on
enforcement of wildlife and other environmental laws.
Where is the Future? Greed in
America Old Song for Indians …
By Jose Barreiro
Social
agreement, like a treaty—or even as the trustworthy word of an
honest human being—must be kept. Once broken, dissonance ensues,
and conflict is sure to follow.
The American Dream, the sense that
although flawed (as with everything that exists) the working
people of our country have a chance at a decent living wage and
the opportunity to educate and launch their children into
prosperous futures, appears broken.
What the general public has sensed,
that the economic system “as a whole” has been intensely managed
in favor of a very small percentage of Americans, is now more
keenly examined. The upward transfer of wealth, the continued
impoverishment of the working population, the middle class and
the poor—the story of greed and deception as practiced in
so-called high finance—is out.
Read More...
FEATURE STORY
Time for the United States to
Apologize
By Tex Hall, Chairman of the Mandan,
Hidatsa & Arikara Nation
When
Columbus got lost in America, he found healthy, thriving native peoples.
Within 100 years, the civilizations he first met were decimated. In North
America, north of Mexico, the pre-Columbian population has been estimated at
18 million people. By the time of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, there
were barely 250,000 Native Americans left alive.
The United States Constitution recognizes our Native Nations as sovereigns,
and our Native peoples as self-governing. In 1825, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and
Arikara Tribes first signed Treaties with United States promising protection
and creating a trust relationship. In 1851 our leaders traveled 800 miles
and joined with 10,000 other Indian leaders at Fort Laramie to take part in
the largest treaty council ever held. The 1851 Treaty recognized the right
to peace and protection in our homelands. In 1866 our tribes negotiated
further promises of farming, ranching and engineering assistance, education,
health care, along with a promise that “perpetual peace, friendship, and
amity shall hereafter exist” between the United States and our Tribes. But
our lands, which encompassed 12 million acres in the 1851 Treaty, were
reduced to eight million acres by President Grant’s 1870 Executive Order,
and to under one million acres by President Hayes in 1880.
Read
More...
FEATURE STORY
Crazy Horse Monument 65-Years in the
Making, and Counting
The
numbers are staggering. Sixty-five years in the making, the
Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest sculpture on the planet
when it’s completed, all though no one can say when that will
be. Slated to stand at 563 feet tall and 641 feet long, with the
nose alone reaching 27-feet in length, this controversial
monument has been under construction since 1947 in Crazy Horse
Memorial in Crazy Horse, South Dakota.
The New York Times reported
on the monument to the Sioux warrior this past Saturday,
tracking the efforts from the beginning, when sculptor Korczack
Ziolkowski boldly promised this monumental effort would be
completed in 30-years. Today, his 85-year old widow, Ruth, leads
the continued push to complete her late husband’s work with the
help of her 10 children and grandchildren. Although far from
completed, it is the number one tourist attraction in the state.
Read More...
FEATURE STORY
Native Americans in a Postmodern World
By
Duane Champagne
The
worldview of most people in the contemporary world is still modernist.
Modernism is an evolutionary vision that the market economy will grow,
governments will become more democratic, culture will decline in
importance, and people will become more similar and equal.
In many ways modernism was a product of
Western culture and Christianity. Instead of the second coming of Jesus
to save the world, a secular version prophesied that human salvation
will come by economic development, more political freedom, and greater
rationality and universal humanism. Economic and political progress
promised liberation and freedom from want in the future at the end of
history. Modernism was a worldview that supported nation states, where
all citizens shared political equality and, if not the same culture, at
least the right to practice a culture, while participating within
national culture. Read More...
Women's Time Outside the Circle is NOT Traditional
Dear Manataka,
Hello. I am a Yupik Grandmother from
Alaska married to an Ojibwe from Wikwemikong. I was very
surprised and disappointed when I first learned about women
standing outside of the circle when on their time. This practice
was new to me and I felt so sad for the women who follow this
"tradition". I believe that this tradition was introduced after
the European culture became dominate and when Christianity was
introduced to the Native people. Many women do not agree with me
on this because they learned this tradition from a medicine man.
There is one traditional man who took the time to interview as
many Elders both men and women, and the Elders say that there
never was such a teaching about the women who had to step
outside of the circle who were on their time. I strongly believe
that the Grandmothers of all American native cultures should
stand up and speak against this discrimination against women.
Quyanah, Miigwetch, Thank you. ~Winnie Pita Wanakwat
Read 12 More Letters
VIDEO CLIPS
A Matter of Honor: 125 Years of Living with the Legacy of the Dawes
Allotment Act
A magnificent collection of American
Indian poems, prayers and wisdom by a new member of Manataka,
Reverend Tom Haley, pastor of the Rock Creek Christian Church in Hot
Springs National Park, Arkansas. Rev. Haley is a graduate of
Hendrix College and Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist
University. He has written a number of books including
God and Son, Inc
(2012),
The Laughing Jesus: and His Other
Faces(2012);
Along the Path: Meditations and
Reflections on Life(2012);
Haley's Comments(1991);
Prayers with Wings(1985); and
Anchors in the Storm(1983). He and his wife,
Amanda, have three adult children and three grandchildren.
His newest book shares the beautiful depth and breadth of American
Indian wisdom.
Listen To The Wind is only
$10.00 and proceeds from this book go to the Manataka American
Indian Council.
Buy Now!
The World of
Chief Seattle
How Can One Sell
the Air?
By Warren
Jefferson
Chief Seattle
gave his now famous speech in 1854 during
treaty negotiations with the U.S.
government, which was intent on forcing the
Native people of Washington's Puget Sound
onto reservations. This book puts Chief
Seattle's life into the context of his time
and gives a brief history of the region and
its many tribes with particular emphasis on
Chief Seattle's tribe, the Suquamish.
Includes the complete speech and many rare,
turn-of-the-century photographs of village
life. 52 black and white photographs.
Published
November
2000 by Book Publishing Company
(TN).
Paperback, 128 pages, 10.9 ounces.
ISBN: 9781570670954 Price: $13.95
Gray
strips of light seeped around the old green window shade.
Dust floated in the air and danced across the floor. I lay
here wondering what time it was but did not want to get up
to see. The light shuffle of my Aunt Rose's feet in the
kitchen as she put on the coffee sound down the hall way.
For such a big tall women she walked softly.
Soon
the sweet smell of freshly made coffee filled the room.
My
Aunt came quietly into the room waking my two cousins
Mandy and Alma, or Shorty as we called her, by gently
shaking the bed. I was already awake and sitting up when
she got to my cot. She gave my arm a pat and then turned
to leave the room.
"Hurry", she said softly, "or
you will miss the wagon". We tumbled out of our beds not
stopping to make them. Pulling on long lose skirts and
cotton blouses running a brush through our hair was all we
had time for that morning. These long skirts were necessary
for picking fruit. We would tuck the side up in our waist
band to form a pouch for gathering the fruit. After filling
the pouch we would go to our boxes and gently let the fruit
fall gently into the boxes.
Aunt
Rose and Uncle Johnny were not really my Aunt and Uncle but
were long time friends of my mothers family. As was common
in those days we just called them Aunt and Uncle.
We
walked quietly, passing through the warm kitchen, and
slipped into our sandals at the door.
My
Aunt handed each of us a brown paper bag and a wax paper
wrapped biscuit dripping with butter and jam.
Read More...
PRAYER
BASKET
On the Passing of a Native
Patriot: Onondaga Clanmother Audrey Shenandoah
When
Onondaga Nation Clanmother Audrey Shenandoah-Gonwaiani passed into
the spirit world on March 15 not only her family and community
mourned but the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy was cast into
sorrow. For the past four decades she was a steady, reliable and
dignified presence at Onondaga, ever ready to speak on behalf of the
people while welcoming visitors to the capital and central fire of
the world's first united nations.
As a
clanmother (Iakoiane in the Mohawk dialect of the Iroquois language)
Gonwaiani accepted the responsibilities as not only a clan leader
but as a caretaker for the culture of her nation. She was selected
as clan leader after being closely observed by her people. They saw
in her compassion, dedication, humility, knowledge, patience and a
deep respect for the traditions and customs which define
Haudenosaunee life. She was articulate in the Onondaga language, a
skill which she shared with the Onondaga children for decades as a
teacher at the Nation's school. Widely admired for her sense of
humour and her unique ability to speak on behalf of her people
before international forums, Gonwaiani became one of the most
admired Native leaders of the past century.
Read More...
7-year old Ryan Hit By
USPS
I got a call at 3:45 a.m.
our time today that our grandson who lives in Georgia was struck by
a mail carrier vehicle and dragged 150 feet. He was flown to
Egleston Children's Emergency Hospital in Atlanta. He is in surgery
now. My wife Jo is on her way driving up there at this time. Please
our grandson Ian Ryan (7) in your prayers as well as Jo's safe trip
up there.
~Rev.
Fred Wilcoxson, Manataka Elder
Disclaimer,
Trademark and Copyright Information
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or
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the material for research
and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title
17 U. S. C. section 107. Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine
of international copyright law.
Carlos
Barrios was born into a Spanish family on El
Altiplano, the highlands of Guatemala. His home was
in Huehuetenango, also the dwelling place of the
Maya, Mam tribe. With other Maya and other
indigenous tradition keepers, the Mam carry part of
the 'old ways on Turtle Island (North America). They
are keepers of time, authorities on remarkable
calendars that are ancient, elegant and relevant.
The
worldview of most people in the contemporary world is still modernist.
Modernism is an evolutionary vision that the market economy will grow,
governments will become more democratic, culture will decline in
importance, and people will become more similar and equal.
Gray
strips of light seeped around the old green window shade.
Dust floated in the air and danced across the floor. I lay
here wondering what time it was but did not want to get up
to see. The light shuffle of my Aunt Rose's feet in the
kitchen as she put on the coffee sound down the hall way.
For such a big tall women she walked softly. 
PRAYER
BASKET 
When
Onondaga Nation Clanmother Audrey Shenandoah-Gonwaiani passed into
the spirit world on March 15 not only her family and community
mourned but the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy was cast into
sorrow. For the past four decades she was a steady, reliable and
dignified presence at Onondaga, ever ready to speak on behalf of the
people while welcoming visitors to the capital and central fire of
the world's first united nations.