Shipbo elder Rosa & her granddaughter Heydi by the sacred medicine tree in the Peruvian Amazon (photo courtesy of Roberta Marroquín)
During these unprecedented times, all of us at the Tribal Trust Foundation are thinking of you, our loved ones and communities. Like you, we are also concerned about, and are adapting to, the changes brought upon our lives by the global pandemic. It is natural for many of us to feel anxious at this time – but remember that we are all in this as one.
Thanks to you, the Tribal Trust Foundation is able to support indigenous people – wisdom keepers of all humanity – in locations around the world. We know their collective traditional wisdom, at threat of being lost in the “modern world,” hold solutions for our health and happiness. Indigenous people endured germ warfare and suffered greatly, but thankfully traditional knowledge and medicine played a role in their survival. We can apply their wisdom in our own lives. If we take this time to learn from indigenous people, together we will prevent further environmental destruction and pandemics,
like the one we are unfortunately experiencing now.
You are vital to the Tribal Trust legacy of indigenous conservation reciprocity. As we support indigenous people in preserving their ancient culture, we learn from them how to protect our environment and how to live in harmony with nature and each other. With your support and participation, we will make a difference in the world and increase our impact. Be sure to take a moment to look back at all we have done together on our new blog!
Please enjoy this special message from our friend and TTF Board Member – Art Cisneros. As a Chumash elder, fire keeper and ceremonialist, he helps guide those seeking a closer connection with Mother Earth.
You can view the full version here.
including instructions for keeping peace and harmony for everyone here.
The instructions are simple:
Listen to the Mother and follow the laws of Nature and the Universe.
Always ask permission and give tribute [gifts] in exchange for taking what you need.
Always give back an amount of energy equal to
or greater than what you receive
in order to keep the balance of energy necessary for peace & harmony.
This is the law of reciprocity.
Take care of the Elementals and remember:
whatever you do to the water, air, earth and fire – you do to yourself.
We are in an interactive, interdependent, symbiotic relationship
with our Mother and all life.
What befalls the Mother befalls the children.
Everything we think [intend], say [write] or do [action],
affects the whole – the One.
These words and more is what the Tribal Trust Foundation is all about. Supporting indigenous communities is the core tenet of our work. We hope you will continue to join us, and stay abreast of the important milestones ahead.
If you would like to make a contribution to help support indigenous communities during the pandemic, please consider donating here so we can help assist those most in need.
All of us wish you good health – be safe and stay well,
Tribal Trust Foundation
