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Grandmother Earth is bleeding to death

makere — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:35:17 +0000

What we can do now

Turtle speaks:

“Our Mother Earth is in urgent need of immediate love and support. Her core has been breached and she is bleeding. Unchecked sulphur, oil, and toxic gases in the Gulf of Mexico are giving way to widening fissures that threaten life as we know it, on all the lands and in all the waters we love.

~ It need not be so ~

The Ancient Ones are calling on humankind to go to the waters.”

For the sake of our dear mokopuna and generations of grandchildren to come,the time is critical. And so,
Dear human kind.. All Our Relations.. Let us answer the call of the ancestors and join our hearts in intention to curtail the hemorrhage, address the underlying grief and wrong-thinking, and send love to our beloved Grandmother Earth.

THE TIME IS NOW: July 25 through 30, astrological likelihood for further breakdown of old structures such as we have seen is ripe. However, on July 12 (New Zealand time) the sun sextiles Mars, and Venus and Regulus are aligned. We experience a solar eclipse crossing through the Pacific and directly over the emotional, naval center of the earth (Rapanui / Easter Island). We exit the tunnel, which began at the lunar eclipse and Grand Cross on June 26. This will be the opportune window to avert further injury and to begin restoration of our beautiful Mother.

~ We Are Water ~

All things are alive and connected through water. Water is a conscious conduit and instantaneous transmitter of intention. Our intention is that we not go again the way of Atlantis, but
to replenish and rejoin our Mother in truth, beauty and harmony.

We call for prayer-gatherings over local waterways.
This Sunday July 11th at dawn and at dusk in preparation for the great shadow eclipse, and again gathering on Monday the 12th at the actual time of the eclipse:
(7:35am NZ time.) Go to www.timeanddate.com/worldclock for your local time.
Those nearby are invited to come to Waikirikiri River at White Cliffs Domain, out of Christchurch, New Zealand at 7:30am, and again at 6pm, both days.

Please share this timely intention worldwide via e-chains and websites.

And individually.. beginning immediately, with every morning and evening star.. Let us send from our hearts, messages of deeply felt apology and love, through bright Venus to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Let us re-imagine, with our hearts, her waters once again crystalline and shimmering with life and light. We need not try to understand how this will be accomplished, but envision it so, with great love. United in purpose, the will of the highest good shall become manifest. Let it be so.

In gratitude, and in service to our beloved mother Papatuanuku / Gaia
Makere, Mareikura o Waitaha (Waitaha Grandmother); Juliette Peck; Loraine Web; Rua Pick; Michelle Croft; Diane Cutler; Remy Kiehn-Lindsey; Barry Mathers.

Sacred Relationship

makere — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:03:33 +0000

A small band of Winnemem Wintu people of northern California came to our land to call their relations, the Nur/Salmon home. They sought permission from the Tangata Whenua (local tribal groups) of this area to do this, to come into our sacred land to perform their sacred ceremony. The humility of these people and the dignity and grace by which they conducted themselves was deeply moving.
Aroha atu, aroha mai is a Maori proverb which speaks of the fact that if one lives in a state of aroha, sharing, loving, giving then this will be returned many many times. And so during our time together there was much aroha flowing between our people and our very special manuhiri/visitors. Many whanau/families, hapu and iwi family and tribal groups, worked together to ensure our visitors, our relations, the Winnemem Wintu, were able to complete their ceremonies which were held over 4 days.
Their Creation stories tell of the creation of the trees, the animals, the birds, the insect, the fish and how when these beings were created, they knew what their purpose was for their time on Grandmother Earth and they immediately went about fulfilling their duties, their roles, their lives all of which was and still is to hold the balance of our beloved Grandmother Earth. However when humanity was created this was not the case. Humans were confused as to what their purpose was. They had no purpose and they had no voice. After much deliberation among the animal, bird, fish, tree and creatures great and small it was the Sacred Fish the Nur/Salmon that decided to gift humanity their voice. And so the relationship began, a dance of life, a dance of deep respect between the Nur and the Winnemem Wintu Nation. This was so for many many millenia.
With the advent of colonisation the people of the Winnemem Wintu Nation were unable to stand up for their relations the Nur.Their relationship was broken because this concept was not acknowledged or recognised in their role as guardians of their relations the Nur by the colonising people, agencies, governement. In the mid to late 1800′s the USA government gave salmon eggs from their river to the New Zealand government.The Salmon have survived in many rivers in New Zealand since.
There was a chance meeting at the United Nations between their Chief, Caleen Sisk-Franco and a New Zealand Human Rights representative also a woman, whereby Caleen was able to share this story which began the ball rolling and four years later they arrive to begin their ceremony on the full moon of March 2010 in the valley of the convergence of the great braided rivers of the Rakaia and the Wilberforce and Lake Coleridge.
The purpose was to firstly apologise to the Nur for their not speaking up for them when the eggs were taken in the 1800′s and to let them know that they always remembered them, they were never forgot and that they had come to call them home through their ancient ceremonial dances and songs.
During the four days at the site there were many sightings of the Salmon and the Eel in fact, both physically and spiritually and even the Black Bear was sighted, such was the sacredness of this epic event.When Caleen, their chief first went to the waters of the Rakaia, Tuna came to meet her and raised his head out of the water to her. Shortly afterwards Nur rose out of the water to herald their arrival. All present were humbled by this act of acknowledgement and honouring by these creatures of the waters.
Their stories tell that if the Salmon dies, the oceans will die. We have a similar story with Tuna the eel in that if the eels disappear the rivers will disappear also. So crucial are these magnificent creatures to the health of the domain of Tangaroa, to the life of the Waters. And Water is the Lifeblood of our Grandmother Earth.
The Winnemem Wintu people reminded us of our responsibility to stand up for our waterways, rivers, lakes and oceans. We need to ALL STAND TOGETHER on this. There is not a moment to lose. We need to do this for our Grandchildren. This is their legacy, they are the future kaitiaki of our beloved Grandmother Earth. We as grandparents and parents need to strive to ensure these gifts are intact and in the best possible health in order for this to happen. So much is at stake. We all need to act together for our Grandmother Earth to bring balance and harmony back to her. We can do this. Papatuanuku, Grandmother Earth needs to be our only focus.
Thank you brave and courageous people of the Winnemem Wintu for inspiring and motivating us into action, Winnemem Wintu, people of the Middle Water. Thank you for gracing our mountains, rivers, animals, birds, fish all creatures great and small, with your presence. They certainly acknowledged and honoured you. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.
Ka nui te aroha nunui ki a koutou ki ou koutou kaha ki te pupuri ki te kaupapa nunui, a Papatuanuku.
For further information about these people and their struggle for survival against overwhelming odds, please view their website: www.winnememwintu.us

Quality of the Books

makere — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:07:06 +0000

The decision to release some of the wisdoms and teachings of the Waitaha Nation was transformative. There was much discussion as to where it would be printed etc. Because this was the first time for these teachings to be shared there was much ceremony involved with each step of the production of the books. This involved all of the staff at the printers and binders. Many sleepless nights were involved with some people sleeping beside the machines for the first stages of the printing of Song of Waitaha.
The whole books are produced here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Such was the dedication to this project. This was the first time for these stories to be shared to this extent and therefore worthy of deep ceremonial proceedures to birth the books into the World of Light in written form. Even the font was especially designed for them. The paper is the only import and that is because New Zealand does not produce paper of the quality required for books. Japan was chosen because of the quality of the paper they are renowned to produce. This paper is reputedly to last 100 years without showing signs of discolouration or deteriotation. The same paper was used for the Whispers of Waitaha.
And so Song of Waitaha: Histories of a Nation and Whispers of Waitaha:Traditions of a Nation are books of great quality physically and were produced with deep respect through ceremonials and rituals which add to their unique authenticity. Wyatt and Wilson of Christchurch were the printers.

Water Healing Ceremony – Salish Seas, WA, USA

makere — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:33:53 +0000

The Salish Seas off the coasts of Washington State, USA., Vancouver Island and British Columbia, Canada are very polluted. It is of great concern to the First Nations Tribes of these areas because of their ancient and deep relationship to these waters. Together with many many caring groups of people who live in these areas and way beyond, the Lummi Nation has initiated this ceremony to happen on April 24, 2010. It is envisioned that there will be people in countires from around the Pacific Rim and in fact from all over the world who have a concern for the state of our life force, Sacred Water, who will join this effort and as one will send out our love for Grandmother Earth and the sacred element of Water and in doing so will contribute to the healing of these waters and indeed all waterways within the body of our Sacred Grandmother Earth. Dr. Masaru Emoto of Japan is to be present at the Ceremony. See www.oly-wa.us/salishsea for more details.

Whispers of Waitaha:Traditions of a Nation wins Silver Award

makere — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:21:16 +0000

Whispers of Waitaha: Traditions of a Nation won a Silver Award in the Nautilus Book Awards 2008. This is a prestigous American literary award created by Marilyn McGuire. Many well known authors like Deepak Chopra submit their books to this event Her motto is ‘Changing the world one book at a time’.

Makere Ruka Te Korako (co author of Whispers of Waitaha and Song of Waitaha); Marilyn McGuire (founder of Nautilus Book Awards); Shawnee (assistant)

I was blessed to be able to attend the Book Expo America held in Los Angelas in May 2008 where the winners in all the categories were invited to be present for book signing opportunities. It was a whirl wind event during which the message of Peace was able to be conveyed to a wide international audience. It was a pleasure to meet this quietly passionate woman Marilyn McGuire and to thank her for honouring the wisdoms of the Grandmothers of Waitaha.

Makere with Paddy and Kathy Ryan Pacific Island Books, U.S. distributors of our books.

Song of Waitaha 21 Years On…

makere — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:51:09 +0000

December 10 is a very significant date in this modern age in terms of the Waitaha Nation.

I will go back to the beginning. In the mid 1980’s a decision was made by a senior elder of the time here in Te Waipounamu. Because of the pain of the people and the lands he decided that the time had come for the philosophy of Waitaha to be brought back into the World of Light, Te Ao Marama, ‘to heal the people and to heal the land’ because Waitaha are a people of Peace and adhere to the philosophy of Rongomaraeroa, keeper of all things peaceful, truth and aroha, compassion.

He wanted some of the stories and wisdom of Waitaha to be brought out in written form .He then instructed 5 people to do this sacred work. He nominated the 5 people. Each person was given specific roles to play in the production of this book. There were people, a man and a woman whose geneology went back in to the Waitaha people. With their combined knowledge in the modern world and the old world of Waitaha they were key to this whole process because this work had to be carried out adhering to the strict protocols of ritual and ceremony. There was to be a scribe and this was Barry Brailsford. There was Derek Mitchell who had the knowledge of the technological world, he even created a special font for the book. He was a skilled photographer and a designer as well. Richard Nunn’s carried the sounds of the ancient musical instruments for the Trail of 1989 then Barbara Brailsford became involved as one of the five. She had a key role in the work for the book, Song of Waitaha. She was the person who held the group together with her skills as an organiser for the many journeys that had to be taken during the gathering of the information.

So this number 5 made up the group to bring this work forward. Before this could happen though the sacred and ancient trails of Peace, Rongomaraeroa had to be opened. It had been closed over 100 years before this by the ancestors. In the tradition of peace there was to be no blood shed on the trail. Sadly this happened and the decision was made to close the trail. This trail could not be walked in the traditional way again. The Rahui was put on the trail for that time although they knew that in the future it would be lifted to enable the return of the teachings for the World to learn again the way of peace to live by.

And so on December 10, 1988 a party of 12 began this journey. For everyone of the 12 who walked there was a kaumatua fasting and in deep prayer. The 12 was made up of 4 women and 8 men, there were 5 Maori and 7 European, 5 rangatahi, young people and 7 adults.

People were chosen for various reasons, blood ties to the land through whakapapa, skills for working in the outdoors, knowledge of the tikanga of the trails and the ability to conduct and lead ceremony and ritual for the trail, leadership skills in the outdoors and people skills to hold the group together in this very significant event.

The journey took 7 days and we were tested to the maximum spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally. It awakened the memory of old knowledge to the ones who carried blood ties to these sacred trails. Some knew parts of the trails intimately even though they had never been there before, some were able to predict things that would happen, some knew of pending danger, one knew what we had to find along the way and where these places were, one was able to read the star maps; one was totally fearless when it came to climbing cliffs and negotiating difficult waterways, others knew intuitively when to come alongside and offer support. All were brave and so very courageous, especially the young woman who almost lost her life one terrible day. The night of that day when we were safely ensconced in the nice warm hut, she announced that if a helicopter flies by she was going to hitch a ride. The next morning a helicopter did arrive literally out of the blue and she didn’t want to leave the group, she stayed on for the rest of the journey.

And so we were to find 7 gateways along this trail. They were described to us from the memory of a 6 year old. And every one of these gates was exactly as was recalled by this man.

So our tasks were many. One was to find these 7 gateways along the way, there was one for every day as it turned out.

Another task was to get the whale over the pass, another was to identify the constellation that was to be in the heavens directly above the sacred lake, the daily task of identifying the gateway and approaching it in the traditional ceremonial way of our ancestors and to enact the ceremony and rituals as was the way of the old ones, was enacted every day, another was to listen for the specific birds associated to the trails and to watch for them.

All of these tasks were met. Much fun and singing rang out over the trail during that week. There were many challenges as well but challenges met with courage and strength of heart, mind and spirit and body.

Our ancestors were with us and showed themselves to us in different ways, sometimes a glimpse of them out of the corner of one’s eye, sometimes the sound of music and laughter, sometimes in dreams, always with much love. And so seven days after we set out we arrived at the base camp on the eastern side of the trail and received a beautiful warm welcome from the people who held the mauri of the kaupapa of the trail, that is the lifting of and the opening of the Trails in the name of Rongomaraeroa.

It is with much gratitude that I salute those who took part but first it is with sadness that I farewell the spirit of one of the rangatahi, noreira e Puke, haere haere haere atu ra e tama, toku poutokomana maku o tera huarahi tapu, e rere koe I runga I tou hoki atu ki ou tupuna maha kua whetu rangitia, noreira toku tama, haere, haere, haere atu ra.

To Jo De Sierre, Derek Mitchell, Richard Nunns, Barry Braislford, Peter Brailsford, Gordon Brailsford, Katrina Ruka, Pere Ruka, Caroline Mitchell and Petariki Ngarimu I acknowledge your courage and commitment to this trail, the love and the light and laughter we shared, the special little meals each of you contributed, the acknowledgement of the gifts you all brought to the Trail and the way you conducted yourselves throughout with dignity, grace and integrity.

Ka nui toku aroha ki a koutou katoa. And so with the Trail completed the five who were called together by a senior kaumatua of the time, Te Pani Manawatu, were able to begin work on the book.

This work involved visiting sites of significance to Waitaha ancestors, to enact ceremony at these sites and after which the stories were released. This involved the people born of the tikanga and whakapapa (traditions and genealogy of Waitaha) and the scribe and the gentleman who was chosen because of his skills as a designer, technician in the IT world and photographer, and of course all of these journeys were co coordinated by yet another member of the five.

The five worked together on all aspects of the production of the book. Visiting the sites and recording took 2 years, it took another 2 years for the scribe and the designer to weave it together into it’s form as it is now, then it took another 2 years for the proof reading, publishing and printing of the book so that it was launched at Onetahua Marae, Golden Bay on December 10, 1994 exactly 6 years after we set foot on the Trail in 1988. And so this year marks the 21st year since that auspicious date.

Global Mother’s Day Event

makere — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:53:09 +0000

Grace for the Planet… Wherever you are on Mother’s Day 2009, please share a simple intention with Mother Earth. We are sending positive thoughts and intention for healing the water throughout the planet as an act of respect and love for the Mother.

This time of the year down here in the South Pacific Ocean is the changing of the seasons and is when Winter likes to make it’s presence known and so it was the eve of Mother’s Day 10 May 2009. I woke in the early hours of the morning to the Mother of all storms. I lay in bed thinking oh no my grandchildren are going to catch pneumonia in this storm if it continues. We were to gather between 7 and 8a.m. for the arranged ceremony at ‘sunrise’. And so I quietly asked for some relenting of the storm between that hour. We rose at 6 a.m., the storm was lashing the hills around us with snow flurries as well. But as we drove down the hill to the beach the storm abated and when we arrived, all was calm and quite mild. The storm could be seen raging in a huge circle over the city in the distance and out across the plains to the mountains, not that we could see them. About 30 people gathered together. We formed a circle and began with karakia and song. The process for the prayer was explained along with the intention and we were to go to the water and place our intention to heal the waters of the world and in turn bring balance and healing to Papatuanuku our Earth Mother. As we went to the sea one of the participants, a man, came to me with tears streaming down his face as he handed me this cylindrical object. He explained that while I was explaining the process for the ceremony he noticed this object being brought in on the Tide and that as he watched it come in it was deposited at my feet. We both wept at the beauty of this offering from Tangaroa the Water Entity of our people and culture. We all gathered back into the circle. I placed the ‘crucible’ in the centre of the circle along with a piece of pounamu and as we began our closing karakia and song, a tiny white feather drifted down from the heavens and landed alongside the gift from Tangaroa. It was such a precious moment, one of connection, oneness and unity. I was so grateful for my grandchildren being present to witness this and participate in this event. I was the last to leave the beach and as I was climbing up the bank to the roadway, Tawhirimatea, the weather entity, started to blow in a blustery way, as if to say, come one hurry up, have held my breathe for an hour to allow this ceremony to happen, time is up, be off with you!!

And later that day we all gathered for the World Premier of Earth Whisperers, Papatuanuku in Sumner, Christchurch. Check out www.wickcandle.co.nz for more information of this film/documentary produced by renowned film maker, Kathleen Gallagher of Christchurch.

Tena koe, greetings,

This project evolved out of a conversation I had with my friend and sister Icasiana Barrs. I worked on behalf of the Waitaha Grandmothers with Icasiana of Samadhi Life. We wanted to honour our Beloved Earth Mother in a good way.

Mothers Day is perfect is it not? The concepts for the above event revolve around the Waitaha philosophy of the power and sounds of words in karakia (chant, prayer, mantra, meditation). When this is recited in, over, around or across water, the intention of the karakia travels instantly to where it is directed to go. For those who cannot get to a waterway simply recite your prayer and intention over a bowl of water in your home. Know that all water is connected.

This is an opportunity for us to show our aroha, love and compassion and gratitude for our Earth Mother and as well include healing for all her waterways. We ask that you begin your karakia at dawn with the words Peace to the Universe, love to the Universe, truth to the Universe, joy to the Universe, Peace to the Universe. Some of you know this as the waiata/song AIO ki te Aorangi so sing it if you wish to, that would be just as perfect. And then place your intention of healing Her waterways.

A suggested timeframe could be for 30 minutes to an hour. Imagine the rolling impact around the world this will have for our Beloved Mother Earth. We ask that you share news of this event with all of your friends and relations please.

We look forward to meeting you all in spirit at dawn on Mothers Day.

Aroha mai, aroha atu (love is reciprocal, what goes out is returned)
Makere

Imagine this becoming a daily event. It is that simple, that it is possible, is it not? Think about it, honouring our beloved Mother Earth on a regular basis.