Message from a Hopi Elder - a little hope???

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Thought with all the negative things going on in our world today, we could use a little Native American wisdom....

March 27 , 2001 Hopi Elder Chief Dan Evehema's Message to Mankind

I am very glad to have this time to send a message to you. We are celebrating a time in our history which is both filled with joy and sadness. I am very glad that our Hindu brothers have given us this opportunity to share these feelings with you because we know many of you are having the same troubles. We Hopi believe that the human race has passed through three different worlds and life ways since the beginning. At the end of each prior world, human life has been purified or punished by the Great Spirit "Massauu" due mainly to corruption, greed and turning away from the Great Spirit's teachings. The last great destruction was the flood which destroyed all but a few faithful ones who asked and received a permission from the Great Spirit to live with Him in this new land. The Great Spirit said, "It is up to you, if you are willing to live my poor, humble and simple life way. It is hard but if you agree to live according to my teachings and instructions, if you never lose faith in the life I shall give you, you may come and live with me." The Hopi and all who were saved from the great flood made a sacred covenant with the Great Spirit at that time. We Hopi made an oath that we will never turn away from Him. For us the Creators laws never change or break down. To the Hopi the Great Spirit is all powerful. He appeared to the first people as a man and talked with them in the beginning of this creation world. He taught us how to live, to worship, where to go and what food to carry, gave us seeds to plant and harvest. He gave us a set of sacred stone tablets into which He breathed all teachings in order to safeguard his land and life. In these stone tablets were made, instructions and prophecies and warnings. This was done with the help of a Spider woman and Her two grandsons. They were wise and powerful helpers of the Great Spirit. Before the Great Spirit went into hiding, He and Spider woman put before the leaders of the different groups of people many colors and sized of corn for them to choose their food in this world. The Hopi was the last to pick and then choose their food in this world. The Hopi then choose the smallest ear of corn. Then Massauu said, "You have shown me you are wise and humble for this reason you will be called Hopi (people of peace) and I will place in your authority all land and life to guard, protect and hold trust for Me until I return to you in later days for I am the First and the Last." This why when a Hopi is ordained into the higher religious order, the earth and all living things are placed upon his hands. He becomes a parent to all life on earth. He is entitled to advise and correct his children in whatever peaceful way he can. So we can never give up knowing that our message of peace will reach our children. Then it is together with the other spiritual leaders the destiny of our future children is placed. We are instructed to hold this world in balance within the land and the many universes with special prayers and ritual which continue to this day. It was to the Spider woman's two grandsons the sacred stone tablets were given. These two brothers were then instructed to carry them to a place the Great Spirit had instructed them. The older brother was to go immediately to the east, to the rising sun and upon reaching his destination was instructed to immediately start to look for his younger brother who shall remain in the land of the Great Spirit. The Older brothers mission when he returned was to help his younger brother (Hopi) bring obout peace, brotherhood and everlasting life on his return. Hopi, the younger brother, was instructed to cover all land and mark it well with footprints and sacred markings to claim this land for the Creator and peace on earth. We established our ceremonials and sacred shrines to hold this world in balance in accordance with our first promise to the Creator. This is how our migration story goes, until we meet the Creator at Old Oribe (place that solidifies) over 1000 years ago. It was at that meeting when he gave to us these prophecies to give to you now at this closing of the Fourth World of destruction and the beginning of the Fifth World of peace. He gave us many prophecies to pass on to you and all have come to pass. This is how we know the timing is now to reveal the last warnings and instructions to mankind. We were told to settle permanently here in Hopi land where we met the Great Spirit and wait for Older Brother who went east to return to us. When he returns to this land he will place his stone tablets side by side to show all the world that they are our true brothers. When the road in the sky has been fulfilled and when the inventing of something, in Hopi means, gourd of ashes, a gourd that when drops upon the earth will boil everything within a large space and nothing will grow for a very long time. When the leaders turned to evil ways instead of the Great Spirit we were told there would be many ways this life may be destroyed. If human kind does not heed our prophecy and return to ones original spiritual instructions. We were told of three helpers who were commissioned by the Great Spirit to help Hopi bring about the peaceful life on earth would appear to help us and we should not change our homes, our ceremonials, our hair, because the true helpers might not recognize us as the true Hopi. So we have been waiting all these years. It is known that our True White Brother, when he comes, will be all powerful and will wear a red cap or red cloak. He will be large in population, belong to no religion but his very own. He will bring with him the sacred stone tablets. With him there will be two great ones both very wise and powerful. One will have a symbol or sign of swastika which represents purity and is Female, a producer of life. The third one or the second one of the two helpers to our True White Brother will have a sign of a symbol of the sun. He, too, will be many people and very wise and powerful. We have in our sacred Kachina ceremonies a gourd rattle which is still in use today with these symbols of these powerful helpers of our True Brother. It is also prophesied that if these three fail to fulfill their mission then the one from the west will come like a big storm. He will be many, in numbers and unmerciful. When he comes he will cover the land like the red ants and over take this land in one day. If the three helpers chosen by the Creator fulfill their sacred mission and even if there are only one, two or three of the true Hopi remaining holding fast to the last ancient teaching and instructions the Great Spirit, Massauu will appear before all and our would will be saved. The three will lay our a new life plan which leads to everlasting life and peace. The earth will become new as it was from the beginning. Flowers will bloom again, wild games will return to barren lands and there will be abundance of food for all. Those who are saved will share everything equally and they all will recognize Great Spirit and speak one language. We are now faced with great problems, not only here but throughout the land. Ancient cultures are being annihilated. Our people's lands are being taken from them, leaving them no place to call their own. Why is this happening? It is happening because many have given up or manipulated their original spiritual teachings. The way of life which the Great Spirit has given to all its people of the world, whatever your original instructions are not being honored. It is because of this great sickness-called greed, which infects every land and country that simple people are losing what they have kept for thousands of years. Now we are at the very end of our trail. Many people no longer recognize the true path of the Great Spirit. They have, in fact, no respect for the Great Spirit or for our precious Mother Earth, who gives us all life. We are instructed in our ancient prophecy that this would occur. We were told that someone would try to go up to the moon: that they would bring something back from the moon; and that after that, nature would show signs of losing its balance. Now we see that coming about. All over the world there are now many signs that nature is no longer in balance. Floods, drought, earthquakes, and great storms are occurring and causing much suffering. We do not want this to occur in our country and we pray to the Great Spirit to save us from such things. But there are now signs that this very same thing might happen very soon on our own land. Now we must look upon each other as brothers and sisters. There is no more time for divisions between people. Today I call upon all of us, from right here at home, Hotevilla, where we to are guilty of gossiping and causing divisions even among our own families; out to the entire world where thievery, war and lying goes on every day. These divisions will not be our salvation. Wars only bring more wars never peace. Only by joining together in a Spiritual Peace with love in our hearts for one another, love in our hearts for the Great Spirit and Mother Earth, shall we be saved from the terrible Purification Day which is just ahead. There are many of you in this world who are honest people. We know you spiritually for we are the "Men's Society Grandfathers" who have been charged to pray for you and all life on earth never forgetting anything or any one in our ceremonials. Our prayer is to have a good happy life, plenty of soft gentle rain for abundant crops. We pray for balance on earth to live in peace and leave a beautiful world to the children yet to come. We know you have good hearts but good hearts are not enough to help us out with these great problems. In the past some of you have tried to help us Hopis, and we will always be thankful for you efforts. But now we need your help in the worst way. We want the people of the world to know the truth of our situation. This land which people call the Land of the Freedom celebrates many days reminding people of the world of these things. Yet in well over 200 years the original Americans have not seen a free day. We are suffering the final insult. Our people are now losing the one thing which give life and meaning of life-our ceremonial land, which is being taken away from us. Hotevilla is the last holy consecrated, undisturbed traditional Native American sacred shrine to the Creator. As the prophecy says, this sacred shrine must keep its spiritual pathways open. This village is the spiritual vortex for the Hopi to guide the many awakening Native Americans and other true hearts home to their own unique culture. Hotevilla was established by the last remaining spiritual elders to maintain peace and balance on this continent from the tip of South America up to Alaska. Many of our friends say Hotevilla is a sacred shrine, a national and world treasure and must be preserved. We need your help. Where is the freedom which you all fight for and sacrifice your children for? Is it only the Indian people who have lost or are all Americans losing the very thing which you original came here to find? We don't share the freedom of the press because what gets into the papers is what the government wants people to believe, not what is really happening. We have no freedom of speech, because we are persecuted by our own people for speaking our beliefs. We are at the final stages now and there is a last force that is about to take away our remaining homeland. We are still being denied many things including the rite to be Hopis and to make our living in accordance with our religious teachings. The Hopi leaders have warned leaders in the White House and the leaders in the Glass House but they do not listen. So as our prophecy says then it must be up to the people with good pure hearts that will not be afraid to help us to fulfill our destiny in peace for this world. We now stand at a cross road whether to lead ourselves in everlasting life or total destruction. We believe that human beings spiritual power through prayer is so strong it decides life on earth. So many people have come to Hopiland to meet with us. Some of you we have met on your lands. Many times people have asked how they can help us. Now I hope and pray that your help will come. If you have a way to spread the truth, through the newspapers, radio, books, thought meeting with powerful people, tell the truth! Tell them what you know to be true. Tell them what you have seen here; what you have heard us say; what you have seen with your own eyes. In this way, if we do fall, let it be said that we tried, right up to the end, to hold fast to the path of peace as we were originally instructed to do by the Great Spirit. Should you really succeed, we will all realize our mistakes of the past and return to the true path-living in harmony as brothers and sisters, sharing our mother, the earth with all other living creatures. In this way we could bring about a new world. A world which would be led by the great Spirit and our mother will provide plenty and happiness for all. God bless you, each one of you and know our prayers for peace meet yours as the sun rises and sets. May the Great Spirit guide you safely into the path of love, peace freedom and God on this Earth Mother. May the holy ancestors of love and light keep you safe in your land and homes. Pray for God to give you something important to do in this great work which lies ahead of us all to bring peace on earth. We the Hopi still hold the sacred stone tablets and now await the coming of our True White Brother and others seriously ready to work for the Creator's peace on earth. Be well, my children, and think good thoughts of peace and togetherness. Peace for all life on earth and peace with one another in our homes, families and countries. We are not so different in the Creator's eyes. The same great Father Sun shines his love on each of us daily just as Mother Earth prepares the sustance for our table, do they not? We are one after all. Chief Dan Evehema, (105) Spiritual leader, Eldest Elder Greeswood / Roadrunner Clan Society Father / Snake Priest / Kachina Father. From Hotevilla, Arizona, Hopi Sovereign Nation.



-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 30, 2001

Answers

sue what can we do to help the hopi and our selves.gail akins

-- myra gail akins (dakins@cottoninternet.net), March 30, 2001.

sue what can we do to help the hopi and ourselves.gail akins

-- myra gail akins (dakins@cottoninternet.net), March 30, 2001.

Myra, I think you have it backwards. The Hopi are a non=christian furiously independent people and have been for centuries. They are offering their beliefs and way to US such that we may survive.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), March 31, 2001.

Sounds like he makes just enough allusions to Biblical teaching to make his message appeal to a large audience. I'm sure some of us could pick apart his message and back up it up with scripture but the fact is, just because it's sounds like Christian teaching, doesn't mean that it is. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, you know what he used? Scripture. The Hopi are not a Christian people. I know many may not agree with me and that's your choice, I'm just stating where I stand, and it's not on Native American "wisdom".

BTW, does anyone have an address where we can email and ask how long the Hopi will continue to rob golden eagles from their nests to slaughter them in their ceremonies? They have all but wiped them out on the reservations and now they want to take them from park land.

-- LaDena Johnson (kjohnson@wcnet.net), March 31, 2001.


LaDena,

As a born again Christian myself, I still find your response to this thread unkind. The lack of respect found among Christians for anyone not of their faith is clearly evident in the history of this country. The eagles and Hopi were both here long before us and I find no excuse for our lack of respect for them and their ancient tradition. I thought about not responding to this, but I believe it is very important that people on this forum realize that not all Christians have such attitudes.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 31, 2001.



Diane, I think LaDena has the ability to discern good from evil. Hopi is a false prophet and these days we will hear and see more and more of them. There is nothing wrong with warning the unlearned, we need more and more christians to speak out against evil. You need to read the Foxes book of Martyrs. Diane, read and study Gods Word and you will grown in truth. Love in Christ,

-- Judy (inhishand65@yahoo.com), March 31, 2001.

Diane, don't worry. They are christians and will burn in their own hell for their intolerance.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), March 31, 2001.

Thank you Judy, I will read them all again and maybe this time I will find where Jesus was disrespectful of anyone except hypocrites and pharasees.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 31, 2001.

Back to the issue of the Hopi's stealing eagle babies from the nest: This is horrifyingly true. See the most recent issue of the Audobon Society magazine. They literally kidnap, torment, and butcher baby golden eagles. This knowledge has deeply affected my formerly naive view of the Hopi people, if not Native Americans in general.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), March 31, 2001.

I copied this from a story about gathering eaglets. Forgot to copy the URL of the article.

While eagles are sacred to all native people, Navajos and Hopis view them differently. To Hopis, they are brothers to be brought home, raised, fed fresh-killed meat daily and ultimately sacrificed for Home Dance, when the kachinas (Hopi gods) return to their home on the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff in July.

The downy feathers of young eagles are taken to be made into pahos, or prayer feathers. Light as a wisp of smoke, or of breath, these fine feathers carry Hopi prayers to the spirit world and are essential to every aspect of Hopi religion, every ceremony. Longer feathers become the clothes of the kachina dancers. The bird is buried in an eagle cemetery with all the reverence accorded to any member of the family.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), April 01, 2001.



Here we go again---Conservative Christians acting as though they have a corner on morality and merely because a people don't call themselves Christian, and even many that do for that matter, they're called "false". What a buncha CRAP!!!

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 01, 2001.

According to the Audobon article, the eaglets are taken from the nest, tied to the roof of a house or other building, and given baby toys to play with. They are kept this way for weeks, until the ritual slaughter. Also according to this article, the supposed "reverence" that Native Americans have for eagles is not necessarily true. The article gave many examples of Indians who object to any regulation of their right to hunt these birds. And they do so to collect the feathers, to sell, not for sustenance or any other more legitimate reason. They are actually exploiting this misconception that we have of Indians as nature-lovers, and their supposed spiritual connection with the earth and animals. Guess Native Americans are inclined to kill things for fun or for money just like white folks are.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 01, 2001.

Thank you Sue for your contribution to adding another view of what is going on in the world. LaDena and Judy, thanks for reminding us just how distastful bigots are. (A person of strong conviction or prejudice, especially in matters of religion, race, or politics, who is intolerant of those who differ with her.) sort of reminds me of adolescents who are so insecure they have to insist they are right. Shannon, I understand the distaste for the eagle thing but to judge a spiritual path citing one instance seems rather limited.I recently heard a christtian say how after hearing something about hindus bathing children in cow urine or some such custom, well he heard all he wanted about that religion. Well how about the age old christian tradition of sexual mutilation of their male children? Now in my opinion there is a sicko custom and the practice should be punished by lengthy jail sentences. Inspite of this, to throw out the ten commandments and the golden rule etc. well , isn't that like the baby and the bathwater thing ?

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), April 01, 2001.

In answer to all who posted here (hope I don't miss anybody!!)

The Hopi do not ask for help, as such. I posted this because it is a beautiful message of hope.

What the people ask for is that everyone JUST GET ALONG... let differences spark conversation and learning, but not hatred and bigotry. They ask for peace. All we can do to help THAT cause is to be peaceful ourselves.

I am not a very peaceful person. I stand up for what I believe, and fight what I feel is wrong. So, perhaps I am guilty. But, I also believe that it is better to stand for what you believe in than to hide your head in the sand allowing others to think they have an ally when they don't (or vice versa)!!!

As for the post about the Golden Eagles... You support the government that used DDT causing the near extinction of those and other birds of prey species and also destroyed most native ways of life. No native tribe has taken so much from this earth - eagles or otherwise - as has the white population. Indians do not waste like whites - even today. When you can (HONESTLY)say that you do not waste ANY resource, you can complain. Until then its just so many words.

As a 15 year falconer with a license to breed and release goldens and other eagles, I take offense at your obvious bigotry and ignorance.

By the way.... who says Christians have the only road to God???? Mainly just Christians, methinks.... He didn't quote your scriptures. He quoted his own teachings. Sorry it sounds so much like yours - better check those plagerism laws again... Then remember that almost all pre-Christian religions taught basically the same thing as your Bible. Including, but not limited to Virgin births and resurrections.

Finally - thank you jz.... you are much more eloquent and tolerant than I!!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 02, 2001.


Who says Christians have the only road to God???? JESUS DID!!! In John 14:6 JESUS SAID I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME....Not my words, these are Gods words.

-- Judy Livengood (inhishand65@yahoo.com), April 03, 2001.


Sue, there are Christians being killed everyday in Hindu countries. Look it up on the internet...and you have the nerve to get upset about Christians speaking out about the Lord? And were talking children and babies are being killed in burning Christian homes and churches... being slaughtered...Your Hindu brothers are not kind. They are killing my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. And these so called Christians think we should through are arms around people like this and except it...Well in Revelation it talks about in the last days they will be thinking THEY are doing Gods service by killing Christians...

-- Judy Livengood (inhishand65@yahoo.com), April 03, 2001.

In John 14:6 it states I am the way the truth and the life .No man cometh to the father ,but by me.It doesn't state I'm am Jesus,no man cometh to the father but by me.God was speaking through Jesus,who has been idolized by christians.A humble man who washed the feet of his disciples in an attempt to keep the people in his time worshiping God the source of Jesus work.All he did was from the father and he tried to make clear to the ones who worshipped him that God deserves the credit. So man cometh to the father by truth and life.He who is not totaly truthful is rewarded by half truths.He who has the courage to speak and live in the truth no matter how much peer presure,no matter if your whole community ,family and friends turn against you, no matter if all the christians in the world say you preach the devils work and will go to hell ,no matter if it gets you imprisoned or killed,will cometh to the father.Most people have an immage of how they want people to see them.Especialy when they first me a new person.It's usually different then how they really are.This is not truth.Most people (christians included) act certain ways in public,but act differently when just alone with their family.The truth and life is the path to God,And the man we call Jesus which is not his true name,he was called by a Hebrew name that for some reason was changed,was the only one in recorded history that was brave enough to speak total truth.Although the Hopi message was nice,it's half truth at the best.He who doesn't know the truth cannot be shown it and will not reconize it.He who knows it ,there's no reason to try to show that person,they already know.Follow your hearts and live life in the truth.Warning: it is much easier to walk on water then to spend the rest of your life living and speaking the truth.

-- Steve (a12goat@cs.com), April 03, 2001.

Steve, you must walk on water a lot.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), April 03, 2001.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Matthew 7:2)

"But go and learn what this means: `I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'" (Matthew 9:13)

"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be for- given." (Luke 6:36-38)

-- je (jemdall@excite.com), April 03, 2001.


Geee, how did this resonably positive post sprial itself into a discussion of religious perspective? Take the positive you can find in life and get on with it.

AFWIW, remember the Bible as we know it was codified by good King James. HE as King (by divine right, I might add...) decided what was to be included in the Bible that has ended up as the current edition. So go figure - what makes this/his version RIGHT?

Just a thought

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), April 03, 2001.


Thanks, j - and don't forget the 400 +/- years of editing done in the ecclesiastical conferences.... 9 years to figure out if Christ owned a donkey??????? (!!)

Lots of good points on both sides of the arguement. Not going to change a thing. I don't need to forgive anybody here, because no one has hurt me in anyway.

For those Audubon folks - I get that mag too... The only difference between a Hopi and a falconer is that they ritually slaughter an eagle once per YEAR.

Most falconers throughout the ages have ALSO been white (and Christian)... Monks among them. Even in 90% of state laws regarding falconry, you must take a bird FROM THE WILD, raise it, etc. etc. Birds are tied.

The comment regarding feeding freshly killed meat are a total joke. OF COURSE!!!! ALL BIRDS OF PREY EAT FRESHLY KILLED MEAT. Sorry... thems the facts of life. Deal.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 04, 2001.


Sue, thank you for sharing Chief Dan Evehema's words. Sometimes when you listen with an open heart and discerning ears, Truth can be found in many places.

Just a quick note re: the religious aspect for fellow Christians. I attended Minnesota Bible College and have studied for years. Please consider re-reading this thread with no sense of condemnation. Part of a mature spiritual relationship is being open to wisdom and wisdom is an evolving 'thing'. It's not static. It continues to grow so long as it's nourished.

I'm glad as 'Countrysiders' we ALL have the oppurtunity to nourish wisdom as we seek to live whole lives within the Circle of Life.

Thanks again, Sue!

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), April 05, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ