Friday, April 30, 2010

Indigenous People speak of Climate Change

In prior posts I spoke of meeting Chief Orin Lions among others at the Parliament of the World's Religions while we were in Australia. I was sent this post by another American Indigenous person, Phil Lane Jr. Who's web site is "The Four Worlds International Institute."

Dr. Lions is a professor of American Studies, an author, and member of the Council of the The Onondaga People and faith keeper of the Turtle Clan.

Wikipedia has this to say.
Onondaga (Onöñda'gega' or the People of the Hills) The Onondaga are one of the original five constituent nations of theIroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy. Their traditional homeland is in and around Onondaga, New York. . Known as Gana'dagwëni:io'geh to the other Iroquois tribes, this name allows people to know the difference when talking about Onondaga in Six Nations, Ontario or near Syracuse, New York. Being centrally located, they were considered the "Keepers of the Fire" (Kayečisnakweˀnì•yuˀ[1] in Tuscarora) in the figurative longhouse. The Cayuga and Seneca had territory to their west and the Oneida and Mohawk to their east. For this reason, the League of the Iroquois historically met at the Iroquois government's capital at Onondaga, as indeed the traditional chiefs do today.

Here Chief Lions is speaking of climate change. It is a powerful and moving testimonial. Please take a few minutes to listen to it.
In her service and yours,
R Watcher