"Warriors of the Rainbow"

There was an old lady, from the "Cree" tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the fish would die in the streams, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, 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. 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 right 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 comers 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 solitudes 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".

This is the story of the "Warriors of the Rainbow" and this is my reason for protecting the culture, heritage, and knowledge of my ancestors. I know that the day "Eyes of Fire" spoke of - will come! I want my children and grandchildren to be prepared to accept this task. The task of being one of the........"Warriors of the Rainbow".

Note: This is just one version of the prophesy, most every Nation has their own version. But they all tell the same story.

Trickster
Coyote was walking with his friend Iktome. By their path stood Iya
the rock. Now Iya was not just any old rock. Iya was special. This was
the kind of rock that tells a story. Power Iya had. Coyote said, "Hmmm,
this is a pretty good-looking rock. I think it has power." He took off the
heavy blanket he was wearing and placed it on the rock. "Here, Iya, " he
said. "Take this as a present my friend rock. Take my blanket to keep you
from freezing for you must feel cold." "Wow," said Iktome. "A giveaway!
You are for sure in a giving mood today my friend." "Huh," Coyote replied.
"It's nothing. I am always giving things away.
Iya looks real nice in my blanket."
Iktome said, "His blanket now." The two friends moved along.
Soon a cold rain began to fall. The rain turned to hail.
The hail turned to slush.
Coyote and Iktome ran into a cave to seek shelter.
The cave was cold and wet. Iktome was fine for he had his thick buffalo robe.
Coyote had only his shirt. By now he was shivering.
He was freezing and his teeth were chattering. "Kola, friend of
mine," said Coyote to Iktome. "Go back and get me my thick blanket. I
need it and that rock has no use for it. He's been getting along for ages
without a blanket. Hurry. I am freezing." Iktome went back to Iya and
said, " Can I have that blanket back. Please?" The rock said, "No, I like
it. What is given is given."
Iktome went back and told Coyote, " He won't give it back." Coyote
said, "Why that old, no good, ungrateful rock! He didn't pay for the
blanket. Did he work for it? Huh, I'll go get it myself."
Iktome replied," Friend, Tunka, Iya, the rock....there's a lot of power there!
Maybe you should let him keep it."
Coyote snorted, "Are you crazy? This is an expensive blanket of
many colors and great thickness. I'll go talk to him." So, Coyote went
back and confronted Iya. "Hey, rock!" he said. "What's the meaning of
this? What you need a blanket for ? Give it back to me right now!"
"No, " said the rock, "what is given is given."
"You are a bad rock!" Coyote retorted. "Don't you care that I'm
freezing? I'll catch a cold!" Coyote jerked the blanket from Iya and put it
on himself. "So there," Coyote said. "That's the end of that."
"By no means the end," said the rock.
Coyote went back to the cave. The rain and hail had stopped and the
sun was shining. Coyote and Iktome sat out front of the cave sunning
themselves. They ate pemmican and fry bread with wojapi. After they
finished eating, they hauled out their pipes and had a smoke. All of a
sudden Iktome said, "What's that noise?" Coyote said he didn't hear
anything. Iktome said, "A crashing noise. A rumble very far off!" Coyote
then replied, "Yes friend, I hear it now."
"Friend Coyote," Iktome cried, "it is getting stronger and nearer. It is
like thunder or an earthquake!" To that, Coyote said, "It is rather strong
and loud. .hmm, I wonder what it can be?" Iktome said, "I have a pretty
good idea friend." It was then they saw the great rock. It was Iya. Iya
was rolling and thundering, ready to crash in on them! "Friend, let's run,
Iya means to kill us!" So, the two ran as fast as they could while the rock
rolled after them coming closer and closer.
They ran to the river absolutely sure that the rock could not swim.
They were positive they would be safe. So, they swam the river. But Iya,
the great rock, swam the river also. Iya swam as if he had been made of
wood. "Into the woods," cried Coyote. He was sure that Iya could not get
through the forest of trees. They ran among the trees and Iya rolled right
along behind them. The trees shivered and splintered. Little splinters and
chunks flew left and right. Coyote and Iktoma came out into the flats.
"Uh-oh," said Iktome, the Spider Man. "Coyote, this is really not my
quarrel. I forgot, I have some stuff I have to attend to. So long, my
friend." Iktome rolled himself into a tiny ball and became a spider. He
disappeared into a hole in the ground.
Coyote ran on and on as the rock thundered at his heels. Then, Iya
rolled right over Coyote and flattened him. Iya took the blanket and rolled
back to his place saying, "So there." A waischu rancher was riding along
and saw Coyote lying there, flat as could be. "What a nice rug!"
exclaimed the rancher. He picked Coyote up and took the rug home.
The rancher put Coyote right in front of the fireplace. Now, whenever
Coyote is killed, he can make himself come to life again. But this time it
took him the whole night to puff himself back up into his usual shape.
In the morning, the rancher's wife said to her husband,
"Your rug is running away."

Friends, hear this.
Always be generous in heart.
If you have something to give, give it forever.

Another Story From Grey Wolf

LIVING IN SHADOWS

Some people are raised in a family where there is a super achiever. Every thing that one does is compared to the way this super achiever would do it. They are always told "Why can’t you be like your brother, sister, uncle, father, et al?" This comparison is not only made by family members, but also by the community at large. When one attempts something, and it doesn’t succeed, they are often told "If you had done it like your brother, uncle, etc. does, it would have turned out right".


Then there are those who live in a family where there is a very dominant parent. In this family each person is expected to act in a manner dictated by the dominant parent. They are told what they are to think, how they are to act, what they are to pursue in respect of a vocation, who they can associate with, who they are to marry, where they are to live, and the list goes on and on. The problem becomes even more intensified if the super achiever is also the dominant parent.


In each of these cases the affected person is constantly living in the shadow of the more dominant, super achieving, relative. The super achiever stands head and shoulders above all others in the estimation of the family and the community. They usually have the respect of many people and are seen to be examples for others to follow


How does this constant comparison to the super achieving/dominant person affect the development of the affected sibling or offspring? Are the constant reminders of what is expected in the way of achievement the best way to help our children grow and reach their potential? How do we as parents, or siblings, affect the development and growth of our family members? Are the super achievers, and dominant personalities necessarily the best role models for our children?


To find a graphic illustration of the answers to these questions, go outside and take a walk in your yard or, better still, in an undeveloped bush land. Carefully observe what is around you. Open your eyes and heart so that you are seeing things as they are, not just what appears to be before you. Once again our standing people have lessons to teach us in respect of these questions.


As I have mentioned before, my back yard is almost completely surrounded by trees and shrubs. At the far end grows a mighty Elm tree. This tree is by far the tallest and it spreads its branches over a very wide area. It is the first thing that catches our attention when we go outside and we marvel at its size, spread of branches, and the beauty of it’s appearance. When we draw closer however, we note that nothing seems to grow directly under the spread of this canopy of leaves, or those plants and shrubs that do grow are small or very spindly.


The Black Cherry growing nearby, but under the edge of the branches, is bent away from the Elm. All of branches of the Cherry tree grow on one side, away from the Elm, and the tree is distorted and malformed. While the grass in the majority of the lawn is lush and green, that growing under the spread of the Elm is rather sparse and never achieves the height of the grass that grows elsewhere in the yard. On the other side of this Elm grows another, younger Elm, probably an offspring of the first. It too grows partially under the canopy of the larger one. It too has the majority of it’s branches growing on the side away from it’s parent and it too is distorted and malformed.


What is happening here? Why does the large Elm flourish and stand so much taller than those around it? Why are the trees, shrubs and grasses growing nearby stunted and malformed? Obviously, the answer is that they are all growing in the shadow of the Elm. It was probably the first that started to grow in that location and soon assumed a position of dominance. Being exposed to much sunlight and plenty of nourishment it grew and fully developed, achieving it’s potential as an Elm tree.


Each of the trees and shrubs growing nearby, but under the influence of the canopy of the Elm, are deprived of much of the sunlight and moisture they normally require for their full development. In order to survive, they send their branches out on one side, away from the Elm, so they can at least gain some nourishment and achieve some growth and development. Sadly, while they are surviving, they will never achieve the magnificence of their species growing in areas not dominated by another.


Are the lessons being taught here not exactly the conditions that exist in a family dominated by a demanding parent or super achieving sibling? If we are constantly living in the shadow of another, can we grow and develop in a manner that guarantees attainment of our full potential? If we as parents demand that our offspring live completely under our influence, can they ever attain their full development and maturity as individuals, or will they simply be distorted and malformed copies of ourselves?


The answer, I believe, is quite simple. We give our offspring life, early protection and guidance, but we must encourage them to move apart from us, to stand alone where they can develop and fully reach their own potential whatever it may be. They cannot attain their full stature living in our shadow or the shadow of another.


In the forest, the dominant tree eventually dies and falls to the ground, letting in more sunlight and allowing more rain to fall where it once stood. Now all of the other shrubs, trees and grasses begin to grow under a semblance of normalcy. Sadly, while they attempt to send out new growth to repair the imbalance in their structural development, this goal is never fully realized, and the resulting tree bears the scars and malformation induced by the dominance of the fallen tree.


As I see it, this is exactly the same situation that exists in our families once the dominant super achieving person dies. We attempt to live our own lives, and repair the ravages brought about as a result of living in the shadow of another, and while we may make some progress in restoring our balance, we will never fully achieve this goal. Is this the gift that we wish to pass on to our offspring?


Walk in harmony and brotherhood and may Creator grant you peace.


GreyWolf

The Medicine Wheel

The Standing People

The Stone People

Power Animals

Cherokee Story Teller