We Are All Related…Ageless Wisdom For Our Times

Women from all walks of life, indigenous and non-indigenous, journeyed from across the US and all corners of the globe, some through great hardship and at great expense. They came from South Africa, Gabon, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii. One grandmother, who resides deep in the heart of the Amazonian rain forest, travelled six days by boat to reach an airport for a US-bound flight.

In all, several hundred women and a few men gathered at the Pojoaque Pueblo in Santa Fe, New Mexico on October 24-27 for the 20th Anniversary of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers Gathering entitled “We Are All Related: Unearthing the Roots of Our Shared Humanity.” I was honored to be one of the attendees.

The Grandmothers Council was founded in 2004 by thirteen indigenous female elders from around the world. Today six remain, ranging in age from 75 to 99 years old. At their initial meeting, the Grandmothers decided they would not replace those who passed. Yet the legacies of the deceased live on through their daughters, sons, and grandchildren who continue their work.

These spiritual activists are committed to defending and protecting this planet from the onslaught of corporate greed and exploitation that continues to destroy cultural and biodiversity, to be a “voice for the voiceless” in all life forms. Their ancient teachings span diverse cultures and faiths. They work both locally and globally, having met with religious world leaders like the Dalai Lama and Pope and with the United Nations.

The spacious ballroom at The Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, with its dimly lit crystal chandeliers, held the sacred circle at room center. A sacred fire, lit and blessed by the Grandmothers, was brought to a round pit at the heart of the circle. Rows of chairs, placed in four groups corresponding to the four directions, surrounded the fire.

The Grandmothers and guest speakers spoke slowly and thoughtfully. They spoke from the heart, always beginning with prayer. Compassion and kindness emanating from the Grandmothers permeated the gathering. Their timeless wisdom, both spoken and unspoken, is so needed by our world that I felt compelled to share some of that wisdom with those who will listen.

The genuine humility of the Grandmothers impressed me most. All felt unworthy of this calling to do the work of the Grandmothers Council, and all are women of profound faith and prayer. They have all overcome many hardships. Their strength and resilience have led them to become leaders and healers within their communities, where they are working to preserve language and culture, get their land back, and promote food sovereignty.

The Grandmothers conveyed a strong message to put prayer first, before anything, and to have faith in those prayers. Have gratitude in every moment, for spirit is in everything.  No matter what is happening in your life or in the world, do not anguish, for spirit is always with you.

Grandmother Abby, a “guest” grandmother from Cochiti Pueblo, taught that the heart must lead the way in all things. The mind is in service to the heart, not the other way around. Everything starts in the heart. Heart and spirit are one. Open your heart; keep it open because you don’t know when energies will show up to help you. Lastly, “When you love, you take care of it.”

Grandmother Mona of the Hopi, Tewa, and Havasupai peoples counseled that prayer is the first step, and prayer must be put into action. She told us that we each have a responsibility to serve humanity. What gifts and talents will you contribute? Be all that you were created to be.

Nathan Blindman, son of Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance, advised that “one cannot be a warrior without compassion.” He encouraged us to “talk in a way that is good…show unconditional love…love and respect all life, yourself, and all that is required of you in the future.  For everything we do now is for the future.”

One last message from the Grandmothers comes as questions for you. What is your relationship to Mother Earth? She is speaking to us through melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, stronger storms, wildfires, floods. When will we listen to her? When will we learn to live in peace, harmony, and balance with Mother Earth and one another? Will we learn?

For more information about the Council, visit www.grandmotherswisdom.org.

Newly released in October, 2024, Grandmothers’ Wisdom: Living Portrayals from the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers is a vibrant tribute to the lives of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, an unprecedented global alliance of elders who came together in 2004 to protect our planet in crisis and envision a future for the next seven generations.

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