When I first
heard of Thomas Banyanca, a beloved Hopi Elder, I
was attracted to his name. Years later I heard him
speak to a small group in the mountain town where
I lived. He sat on a folding chair with us gathered
around him, looking as though he had just stepped
out of a corn field in the Hopi Nation. His jeans,
flannel shirt, old boots, and rough hands together
showed us how closely he worked with the Earth. He
spoke in a robust, friendly way but I didn’t
appreciate his message at the time as much as I do
today.
In his grounded
and humble manner Thomas shared a message of clear
intent and great import – words that he had
been authorized to speak on behalf of the Elders of
the Hopi Nation. My adopted Sioux brother recently
sent me some words that Thomas Banyanca had spoken
to his family in 1970. They were the same words that
he had spoken to me and my neighbors a decade later:
We are
the Ones We've Been Waiting For
We have been telling
the people that this is the Eleventh Hour. Now you
must go back and tell people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are
you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in the right relation?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your truth. Create your community.
Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself
for the leader. This could be a good time.
There is a river
flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that
there are those who will be afraid. They will try
to hold onto the shore. They will feel they are being
torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river
has its destination. The Elders say we must let go
of the shore and push off and into the river.
Keep your eyes
open and your head above water. See who is in there
with you and Celebrate.
At this time in
history, we are to take nothing personally. Least
of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual
growth and journey come to a halt.
The time of the
lone wolf is over, Gather yourselves!
Banish the word
struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that you do
now must be done in a sacred manner and in Celebration.
We are the ones
we've been waiting for.
- The
Elders, Hopi Nation, Oraibi, Arizona
What river is now
flowing fast? Where is it? What does it have to do
with you?
Love,
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