We have lived in a dominated, white, modern culture and society for hundreds of years. The patriarchal model of colonialism has brought us mostly destruction or suppression. It is an aggressive energy that is unbalanced and based in fear. There has been very little respect for the feminine energies of the female gender and the Earth Mother. We need to join the Environmental Movement to stand up for the safety and respect for our Earth Mother. Women need to stand up to their rightful place beside the masculine to claim their respect. No need to continually condemn the masculine. Women instead, need to speak up by standing up with confidence and power in our institutions and governments to bring our world back to balance. Balanced men need to stand up and speak up for the sacred feminine. Together, we can change the world.
In days of long ago, an indigenous tribe developed a certain survival pattern that was useful and helpful. The old people taught the young or new people. The old gave to the young, the story of their people. They also gave the story of their dreams, hopes and aspirations. The robes that they wore defined them as mystics. The leaders of the tribe dressed as male and female to balance the energy that they were carrying. They were to represent androgynous beings. They had the vision of the Thunderbird, therefore was a medicine priest or priestess. The Thunderbird is the same in other cultures as the Phoenix bird, in other parts of the world. This was the symbol of the of the spiritual government of the group, the race, the nation or the tribe. In battle, either side were not to injure the Holy Ones who were indicated by the robes that they were wearing. They were considered equally sacred on both sides. Other tribes used their own sacred symbol of leadership.
The indigenous peoples had their initiation rites or mystery rites that had various tests, initiations and obligations before given leadership. It was kept on a birch bark board where it was recorded. The Great Peace with the colonialists was part of the League of Six Nations, then becoming seven nations. They viewed the earth as one Long House where every one lives together in it and everyone is responsible for peace.They did not believe that they were giving their land away in signed Treaties, instead believed that the land was to be "shared".
The Teachings of the White Cloth of Peace was like a governing senate. Each tribe or division of a nation had its own representative as a lawmaker. Women did not attend the legislature proceedings but they alone voted each representative. Women held the power. No man could be a representative unless he was elected by the women. The women voted that no representative could vote for anything relating to his own tribe. Every representative could vote on anther tribe's issues, except his own. When the door was open, everyone could have a say, but there was never to be any unkind language. They could not say what was wrong with the other, but only what should be right or necessary.
Many tribes recognized that some of their people were of combined genders, or cross gender. For Native Americans, there was no set of rules that men and women had to abide by in order to be considered a “normal” member of their tribe. In fact, people who had both female and male characteristics were viewed as gifted by nature, and therefore, able to see both sides of everything. They were called "two-spirited" members of their tribes.
Indigenous tribes were balanced in power between masculine and feminine. Women were respected. Even their family clans were matriarchal, not like the patriarchal colonists. They knew that energy was to be in balance with themselves, the earth, government, roles and spiritual values.
Today, many indigenous peoples impart teachings only in pairs, if they are not two-spirited. They sit together as a pair, balanced and equal as feminine and masculine together. This creates a more powerful teaching.