by Giibwanisi (aka Richard Peters)

Another version of this article by Giibwanisi appeared on December 11, 2012 at Oshkimaadziig.org.

It seems that when faced with crisis, the entire nation of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island can put away their personal differences and rise together as one. The truth of the matter is that we are always in constant crises. One only needs to look at the many industries that are destroying our ways of life, such as the tar sands, forestry, mining and commercial fishing, or the area known as “chemical valley” in Sarnia, Ontario. These extractive industries form the backbone of Canada’s capitalist economy, which is destroying all life on the planet. These industries also fail to recognize the ecological disasters they are creating, where we the Indigenous Peoples who live in and around these industries are sick and dying from the aftermath. Furthermore, we do not get to partake in the “wealth” that is created from this ecological destruction, forced to live in poverty either on our reserves or assimilated in urban centers, leaving behind our ancestral lands and the ways of life that go with it.

A brief history lesson: The Two Row Wampum

The Two-Row Wampum Belt. Its principles are Peace, Co-Existence, and Non-Interference.

The true Law of the Land is the “Gushwenta” or the Two Row Wampum belt. This is the confederacy of peace that all nations on this land - including European nations like the Dutch in 1664, the French in 1701, and the British in 1763  - all adopted into. The basic principles of this Great Law are: Peace Co-existence and Non-interference, founded upon peace, righteousness and respect. The Two Row Wampum is a pure white belt with two rows of purple. There is a much deeper explanation of this belt, and how it can be applied to individuals, marriage, and how we function within the greater context of community on multiple levels.  For now, I’ll just explain the shortest version, which is our Nation to Nation agreement between Indigenous and Settler Nations.

The two purple rows represent two boats, each one depicting a nation’s vessel. The British are represented using a ship, and the Indigenous depicted using a canoe. The two vessels share the river in which they are set upon. They never do anything to the river that would affect the others vessel. They do not dam the river, nor do they do anything that can be construed as steering the others vessel. At the time when this covenant of Peace was adopted by the British in 1763, the Indigenous Peoples were a military force to be reckoned with. Chief Pontiac had just led a rebellion that burnt down 10 of 12 British forts.  This military show of force is what led the British to push for peace with the 1764 Silver Chain Covenant Belt at Fort Niagara, where the Indigenous nations accepted that peace and reciprocated by offering the 24 Nations Belt, and the Two Row Wampum Belt.

The way that I have come to understand this Great Law of Peace, is that we share the resources of the land in brotherhood and sisterhood. We are Nation-to-Nation allies and we come to each other's aid in times of distress and war (hence the reasons we fought alongside the British in the War of 1812.) But it is also fundamentally understood that we have different ways of life, and that we are entitled to these ways of life, as long as our ways of life do not interfere with the others. As evidenced by history, the British nation represented by Canada has not upheld their end of the peace agreement, and has been interfering with ours ever since.

Divide and Conquer: Undermining the Two Row Wampum

As the Idle No More campaign grows across Turtle Island, we must be careful about the direction the movement will lead. I myself took part in one such rally, and as powerful as it was, there is the potential for danger.  As we marched down University Avenue in the downtown core of Toronto, some of the chants were “Who’s land is it? Our land!” “Who’s Land is it? Our Land!” If one follows the Two Row Wampum, and is of the mind that we share this land, then those who have settled here have rights to the land as well.  But what sort of rights? Not the rights of the corporations to plunder the land and its resources to the point of no return.  No one has the right to extinguish the existence and nationhood of Indigenous Peoples.

When the British North America Act was enacted in 1867, and the numbered treaties that fell afterward, the Canadian Government gave to Canadian settlers most of the rights to the land and waters that Indigenous People had, thus creating a division amongst two nations that were once allies.

The corporations dominating Canada in the name of the settler nations are directly interfering with our distinct way of life, which is in direct conflict of the Two Row Wampum agreement. This would suggest that we are well within our sovereign rights to take back that land that we agreed to share - until the two nations can agree to co-exist with each other, in mutual harmony with the earth.

Without a fundamental understanding and education of the Two Row Wampum and the roles and responsibilities of both Indigenous and Settler nations, we could see arise greater conflict and strife between Indigenous Peoples and settler Canada. This is an outcome we must all work to prevent.

Anishinabek Seven Fires Prophecy and Lighting the Eighth Fire

According to Anishinabek prophecy, we recognize that we are in age of the Seventh Fire. According to this prophecy, we have two roads to choose from at this time, and that is it. There are no alternatives. We can continue supporting this destructive world of capitalism, imperialism and individualism, in which we end life for all Earth’s people. Or we can return to our natural ways in balance with the Earth. It is all or nothing.

The Eighth Fire Prophecy says that if all nations - Black, Red, White, Yellow - can all collectively agree to live as equals, in harmony with each other and the rest of creation, we can continue on for many more years. The Eighth Fire Prophecy cannot be lit, if we cannot agree on this simple solution. Which brings us back to the Two Row Wampum Belt. Peace must be restored, and all nations must agree.

The Sleeping Giant and 'Idle No More'

Nanaboozhoo, the original man is said to have gone to sleep. The Anishinabek people no longer considered him useful and viewed him more of a clown or a trickster. He was hurt and ashamed, and went to sleep on top of a silver mine to protect it from being excavated. In our teachings, it is said that he may wake up once again, when the Anishinabek need him. Well, the time for need is far overdue. We are at the precipice of disaster. And only a return to our original ways can arguably save us. I was fortunate to listen to Jacob Wawatie and Louise Wawatie of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation talk about the Sleeping Giant, and the Eighth Fire. They suggested, that the kindling of the Eighth Fire already lies in each in every one of us. But it is up to us, to work together, and to unite all the peoples of all the directions to light that Eighth and final fire. They also said, that the Sleeping Giant is the spirit of the Anishinabe, and only when we can rise together as one, can we say the Sleeping Giant is awakened.

What the Idle No More Campaign has successfully done, is to stir some interest, and to get the people to march, and rally all across Turtle Island. Could this be the awakening of the Sleeping Giant? If so, then we must be wary of what direction we lead this Giant, and if we are to successfully rouse the Giant, we must ensure that this Giant never goes back to sleep. There is lots of work to be done.

Let's Unite the Oppressed Peoples of All Nations

As we partake in our marches, rallies and protests in the coming weeks and months ahead, we must consider why we are doing this; and what exactly it is that we hope to achieve.

Are we merely doing this to protect the few rights and privileges doled out for the few and governed by the Indian Act? Are we doing this because we are tired of living in poverty and we would like a larger share of the economic provisions? Are we doing this because we don’t want to be assimilated? Are we doing this to protect our inherent ways of life? Why aren’t we doing this to unite all nations and recognize commonalities within the struggle of all four colours?

We have been divided as Indigenous nations and from the settler nations for far too long. It is time to revitalize the Two Wampum and restore our nation-to-nation agreements from the grassroots. It is the people who will make the change. Not the selected leaders.

The extinguishment of our treaty rights seems to be the main attraction of the recent protest, bringing us together. The four colours have been divided for quite sometime, and that separation hinders the ignition of the Eighth Fire. The recent growth in revolutionary struggles and uprisings across the globe - especially Europe and the Middle East  - has made it obvious that capitalism has failed all four colors; and all peoples of the earth suffer from the greed and destruction caused by the few.

Wouldn’t it be amazing, that if this momentum were to successfully unite all  nations on Turtle Island, awaken the Sleeping Giant, and light the Eighth Fire all in one fell swoop? It could potentially be the catalyst that would change the outlook of the entire planet.

Some people would argue that I’m dreaming too big. But thats the amount of love that I have for all of Creation.

The eleventh hour is here. We are in the age of the Seventh Fire prophecy. Which road are you going to choose?

Canada, Environment, Indigenous