The White Tree of Peace
an article by Joanne Tawfilis

Amidst the hustle bustle of the endless opening ceremonies of the endless world conferences about endless subjects and issues and all the diplomatic fanfare, I recently attended a powerful reception with Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The "regalia" and/or native dress of the many indigenous peoples was stunning, and held us all in awe, as did the music of countries and peoples that tingled its way through our blood with mesmerizing might.

As I viewed the Indigenous Art exhibition at the front of the entry of the UN lobby, I was drawn to the magic of a magnificent White Tree of Peace. Legend says that this tree symbolizes the Iroquois Nations gathered around a hole where the Peacemaker cast the weapons of war beneath the tree, and white roots of peace spread to the four directions where all on an earth could live in One Peaceful World, the United Nations of the human family.

The Iroquois "Great Law of Peace" became one of the sources for the United States Constitution in 1787. For more information see the website www.kahonwes.com/iroquois/document1.html.

What was different about this beaded tree standing there on its pedestal, was the fact that each of the fifty curled beaded branches were created by different villages from different location, including an intercultural exchange between the Iroquois of North America and several Kenyan tribal bead makers. The White Tree of Peace was then assembled together in a joyous union symbolizing "PEACE" and "We, the People," which also happens to be the motto of the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

There is much more to this legend, and far more spirituality beaded into the magnificent tree, and even though I personally found so much joy in seeing the tree and meeting its designer, I was saddened that this reception and celebration of culture could not be shared with the rest of the world outside the doors of the UN, for those who really need to begin to make peace with one another.

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The understanding of indigenous peoples
Can it help us cultivate a culture of peace?

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[see below for English version.]

Je pense en effet que dans nos sociétés dites ''développées'' nous avons égaré une partie de notre mémoire originelle, celle où nous avions gravé et dessiné  nos peintures rupestres, parmi les innombrables découvertes de notre apprentissage d'Homme.

Ceci, au profit de valeurs matérielles qui nous ont éloignés de plus en plus de la matrice naturelle de notre environnement.

Nous ne partageons plus les choses simples; notre symbolique préfère le profit.

En lisant le texte sur la Cérémonie Iroquoise de l'Arbre Blanc de la Paix et son commentaire, je me suis souvenue d'un texte magnifique qui bien que vieux de plus de 150 ans ( daté de 1854), a gardé toute son actualité.  Il s'agit de la réponse du Chef Seattle au Gouverneur Isaac Stevens qui offrait d'acheter une large zone du territoire indien, et promettait une réserve pour le peuple indien.

Cette page a été décrite comme une des plus profondes déclarations faites sur l'environnement.

"Comment peut-on vendre ou acheter le ciel, la chaleur de la terre ? Cela nous semble étrange. Si la fraîcheur de l'air et le murmure de l'eau ne nous appartiennent pas, comment peut-on les vendre ?

     Pour mon peuple, il n'y a pas un coin de cette terre qui ne soit sacré.  Une aiguille de pin qui scintille, un rivage sablonneux, une brume légère, tout est saint aux yeux et dans la mémoire de ceux de mon peuple. La sève qui monte dans l'arbre porte en elle la mémoire des Peaux-Rouges. Les morts des Blancs oublient leur pays natal quand ils s'en vont dans les étoiles.. . ...more.

This report was posted on May 19, 2007. The moderator is CPNN Administrator.

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