PEACE & DIGNITY JOURNEYS
Peace and Dignity Journeys emerged from the first Continental Encounter of Indigenous Pueblos and Nations in Quito, Ecuador (1990). At Quito a mandate for the unification of all Indigenous Peoples from throughout the continent was declared under the sacred principle of the Eagle and the Condor. The prophesy of the Eagle and the Condor is the foundation of the peace and Dignity Journeys. Every four years since 1992, spiritual runners from Indigenous Nations have carried the sacred staffs of the Eagle and the Condor to thousands of Indigenous communities throughout the western hemisphere in route to the ancient ceremonial center at Teotihuacan, Mexico. The 2004 Journeys will be expanded with more routes and Indigenous Nations visited. Northern and Southern routes will unite within the Kuna Nation in Panama, Central America.
Peace and Dignity Journeys are spiritual runs that embody the prophecy of the Eagle and Condor. This prophecy mandates that at this time all Indigenous Peoples in the Western Hemisphere shall be reunited in a spiritual way in order to heal our nations so we can begin to work towards a better future for our children and generations to come. Through the Journeys, participant runners and supporters work to accomplish this goal by helping each other reconnect to their respective spiritual practices and traditions; by helping each other relearn our role in the world as Indigenous Peoples; and by reminding each other of our responsibilities to Mother Earth, Father Sky, our communities, and ourselves.
Peace and Dignity Journeys occur every four years and start with Indigenous runners on opposite ends of the continents (Chickaloon, Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina). They run for six months through hundreds of Indigenous communities where they participate in their respective spiritual practices and traditions; spark dialogue on the issue of peace and dignity for Indigenous Peoples; model their responsibility to Mother Earth, Father Sky, communities, and themselves; and receive the community’s prayers. These prayers and conversations are then carried to proceeding communities until the runners reach the center of the hemisphere. When the runners meet at the Kuna Nation in Panama City, Panama, it will symbolize all Indigenous Peoples joining together in a spiritual way to manifest the prophecy of the Eagle and Condor.
