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John Burrows Executive Director Center For World Indigenous Studies ()-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=() ||/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|| ||=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-|| || || || The Fourth World Documentation Project runs entirely on grants || || and private donations. If you find this information service || || useful to you in any way, please consider making a donation to || || help keep it running. CWIS is a non-profit [U.S. 501(c)(3)] || || organization. All donations are completely tax deductible. || || Donations may be made to: || || || || The Center For World Indigenous Studies || || ATTN: FWDP || || P.O. 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Box 4000 Sardis, British Columbia V0X 1Y0 THE STATEMENT OF WHAT THE ELDERS SAID TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AUGUST 29, 1982 "Brothers and sisters the natural law is the final and absolute authority governing "Etinohah" - the earth we call our mother. This law is absolute, with retribution in direct ration to violations. This law has no mercy: it will exact what is necessary to maintain the balance of life. This law is timeless and cannot be measured by the standards of mankind. All life is subject, absolutely, to this authority. Water is our bodies, water is life. Fresh water is maintained by the thundering grandfathers, who bring rain to renew the springs, streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. We are nourished by our mother -- the earth -- from whom all life springs. We must understand our dependence on her and protect her with our love, respect and ceremonies. The faces of our future generations are looking up to us from the earth: and we step with great care not to disturb our grandchildren. We are part of the great cycle of life, with four seasons and endless renewal as long as we abide by this absolute law. When we disturb this cycle by interfering with the elements, changing or destroying species of life, the effects may be immediate or they may fall upon our children who will suffer and pay for our ignorance and our greed. The natural law says that the earth belongs to our children -- seven generations into the future -- and we are the caretakers who must understand, respect and protect "Etinohah" for all life. The natural law is that all life is equal in the great creation: and we the human beings are charged with the responsibility (each in our generation) to work for the continuation of life. We the human beings, have been given the original instructions on how to live in harmony with the natural law. It now seems that the natural world people are the ones who have kept to this law. The Elder circle of indigenous people of the Great Turtle Island, charged with keeping the first law of life (spirituality), are concerned that the validity of this law no longer is recognized in today's life. We are concerned that the basic principles of the law are no longer being passed on to the next generation. This could be fatal to life as we know it. The natural law will prevail regardless of man-made laws, tribunals and governments. People in nations who understand the natural law are self-governing, following the principles of love and respect that ensure freedom and peace. We come together because we are alarmed by the destruction of vital life structures. Our faith is intertwined with one another: what affects one will affect all. Water is primary to life: corn is next. Poison water will poison all life: lack of water causes droughts, deserts and death. The nations that sit in the great council of the United Nations must relearn the natural law and govern themselves accordingly, or face the consequences of their actions. There are people in nations among you who understand this message: and ask you to stand with us and support our songs and ceremonies in defense of "Etinohah" (our mother the earth). We are, respectfully, a traditional circle of Elders." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To have a current Center For World Indigenous Studies Publication Catalogue sent to you via e-mail, send a request to jburrows@halcyon.com http://www.halcyon.com/FWDP/cwiscat.html Center For World Indigenous Studies P.O. Box 2574 Olympia, WA U.S.A. 98507-2574 FAX: 360-956-1087 OCR Provided by Caere Corporation's OmniPage Professional