Four Worlds International Institute

Four Directions International

P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

The Swiss Foundation for Freedom and Human Rights

International Award for Freedom and Human Rights
Presented by Year 2000 Recipient Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr.
Bern, Switzerland November 11, 2000

FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE

My very respected friends and relatives of the human family, it is my hope and prayer
that you and your loved ones are in the very best of health and happiness.

I want to extend a heartfelt thanksgiving to the Swiss Foundation for Freedom and
Human Rights for the great honor you have bestowed not only upon myself, but also
upon the many dedicated friends and relatives that have guided, inspired, and supported
my work over the years, on behalf of Indigenous people and the human family. Your
award is deeply honored, respected, and appreciated.

In fact, may all of us who are gathered here together today, join forces to help bring about
a future in which all members of the human family, both individually and as different
communities and spiritual traditions, fully realize the deepest meaning of freedom and
human rights. A realization of freedom and human rights that will fully empower us too
manifest a world whose sacred hallmark is unity in diversity.

Some years ago, a beloved tribal grandmother asked me a deep and soul searching
question, a question fundamental to understanding the profound spiritual depths of
freedom and human rights. “Grandson,” she asked me, “what are the most sacred, the
most powerful, and the most holy of all ceremonies?” With some pride, I began to
recount some of the traditional tribal ceremonies that I had participated in over the years.
After I was finished describing the Sun Dance, the Sweat Lodge, Vision Questing, and
other ceremonies I had participated in, she said, “Grandson, those are all very sacred,
holy and powerful ceremonies, but the most sacred, the most holy, the most powerful of
all ceremonies is the birth of a child.” Then, she looked very deeply into my eyes and
soul and said, “Then who are you?”

The spiritual understanding and awareness that every human being is a sacred, divine
being with a higher spiritual purpose, is fundamental to understanding and manifesting
the deepest meaning of freedom and human rights. Not only do we need to honor and
respect our own sacred, divine self, but we must, also, learn to see and experience this
same spiritual reality in every other human being. As one of my very beloved spiritual
teachers always taught me, “ May we always see God, the Great Spirit, in one another.”

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

Earlier in my spiritual journey my Granfather, Frank White Buffalo Man, shared

with me another spiritual insight and understanding that relates, among other
things, of how we must also learn to respect, honor, love, support, and
understand each other as different nations, tribes, communities, peoples,
religions, and cultures of the human family and the spiritual qualities needed to
be victorious in manifesting freedom and human rights. He said, ―You know
grandson, the Great Spirit has given all people wisdom. To every living thing, he
has given something special. Some people receive their knowledge and
understanding through books. In your life grandson, you too must read and
study books, but remember to take with you on your journey only those things
that bring more unity within yourself and others, that bring goodness and
understanding and help us to serve one another in better ways.‖

―The Great Spirit,‖ he continued, ―also gave our Indigenous people and all other
people who live close to Mother Earth, both wisdom and knowledge through
dreams, visions, fasting, and prayer, and the ability to see the lessons the
Creator has put in every part of creation. Look at those trees standing over
there; the alder does not tell the pine tree to move over, the pine does not tell
the fir tree to move over, each tree stands together in unity, their mouths
pressed toward the same Mother Earth, refreshed by the same breeze, warmed
by the same sun, with their arms upraised in prayer and thanksgiving, protecting
one another. If we are to have peace and true freedom in the world,‖ he said,
―we too must learn to live like those trees. Look, grandson, at the beautiful
teachings the Creator has put in the little stream. Feel the water and see how
gently and lovingly it touches your hands. It travels through deserts, mountains,
and many places, but it never turns its back on anyone or anything. Even
though it gives life to all living things, it is very humble, for it always seeks the
very lowest spot. But it has great faith, power, and patience for even if a
mountain stands in it’s path, it keeps moving and moving until finally that
mountain is washed into the sea and is no more. These are spiritual gifts that
the Creator has given each one of us and if we are to be happy within ourselves
and with one another, and find true freedom, we too must develop these sacred
gifts,‖ he concluded.

We also know from our ancient tribal teachings that the sacred eagle of
humanity has two perfectly balanced and harmonious wings—one representing
woman, and one representing man. In our relationships as women and men,
brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, we must join together to eliminate all
forms of disrespect, mistreatment, prejudice, or lack of sharing in the
responsibility of raising the world’s children.

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

It is only through understanding, experiencing, developing and manifesting our spiritual

nature and capacities as human beings, in harmony and balance with our physical nature,
will we be able to fully understand the ancient spiritual truth that “the hurt of one, is the
hurt of all and the honor of one, is the honor of all.”

In fact, even the scientific world is echoing this sacred truth. With work on the
human genome now substantially complete, the clear result is, except for a few
superficial surface features, that we, the human family are all 99.9% the same.
We are all related! We are much more alike, than we are different!

Therefore, we also need to respect and honor all the different Spiritual Traditions
and Sacred Teachings of the human family, that help us to become more loving,
kind, forgiving, gentle, and just human beings. In fact, if we look deeply, we will
find that each of our Spiritual Traditions teach us to love and respect others and
their loved ones, as we would want others to love and respect ourselves and our
loved ones.

It is with this spirit of love, respect, truth, and understanding that we need to respect,
honor, and protect the Holy Places of all members of the human family.

When I traveled to the sacred lands of the great tribes of Israel and Palestine, I
prayed at the Wailing Wall, a Holy Place of Prayer of the great tribes of Israel for
so many centuries, and I felt the Spirit of the Creator. When I prayed at those
Holy Places held sacred by the great Christian tribes, I felt the Spirit of the
Creator and when I prayed at the Dome of the Rock Mosque on the Temple
Mount and other Holy Places held sacred by the great tribes of Islam, I felt the
Spirit of the Creator. I equally felt the Spirit of Creator at the Buddhist and
Hindu Holy Places that I made a spiritual pilgrimage to in both Thailand and
India, just as I always feel the Spirit of the Creator at the Holy Places held sacred
by Indigenous Peoples around the world. Even more important is the full
realization that every Holy Place, every Sacred Site, on Mother Earth, is simply a
reflection of that divine Holy Place that resides in the sacredness of every human
heart and soul.

I look forward with great hope and expectation to the day when all of humanities’ Holy
Places will be considered to be part of the infinite spiritual heritage and divine treasury of
all members of the human family and will be governed accordingly, as Holy Places of
international peace and unity, and not the source of war, hatred, revenge, or conflict.

For until we fully understand and experience that all members of the human family are
intimately related and that our greatest honor, privilege, responsibility, and meaning is to

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

love, serve, understand, and respect our own sacred divinity and the sacredness of all life,
there will be no ultimate justice, freedom, and human rights.

Only when our hearts experience the divine reality that there is only one race, the human
race, and that Mother Earth is the common spiritual heritage of all living beings, will we
then be able to develop the economic, educational, social and political systems that are
life preserving, life sustaining, and everlasting. Then and only then, will we be able to
completely eliminate the growing extremes of wealth and poverty that is being supported
and fueled by the spirit destroying sickness of unbridled materialism and consumerism.
For a truly spiritually enlightened humanity would never tolerate a world where 80% of
our beloved family members live in substandard housing, where 70% of our beloved
family members are unable to read and write, where 50% of our beloved family members
suffer from malnutrition and survive on less than $2.00 [U.S. dollars] a day, an
unbalanced world where only 6% of humanity possesses 60% of the world’s wealth. A
world where our beloved Mother Earth and her many life forms is on the verge of
complete destruction in the name of economic progress and selfish consumption by a
small minority of the human family.

It is with this spiritual vision and understanding that the Indigenous people that
we serve and work with are beginning to rise up in fulfillment of our sacred
prophesies. Sacred prophesies that foretold that after a long spiritual
wintertime, a time of great suffering and spiritual testing, there would come, as
sure as the sun rises, a great spiritual springtime that would unfold, slowly but
steadily, with ever-increasing beauty and healing in every direction. These
ancient prophesies also foretold that as our Indigenous people heal themselves
and their communities, that we will have a greater and greater role to play in
the positive unfolding of this dynamic change we are all experiencing. A world
encompassing change that will eventually transform the spiritual understanding
and consciousness of every human being, tribe, and nation on Mother Earth.

To achieve this great, promised future before us, we must learn to walk the
spiritual path with practical feet and fully translate our dreams and visions into
living examples and models of what this change will actually look like. By
walking the path, we make the path visible.

It was for this very purpose in December 1982, on the high plains of Alberta,
forty wise, respected, and dedicated elders, spiritual leaders, and community
members from different tribal societies across North America came together for
four days and nights of in-depth purposeful consultation. Our common purpose
was to develop a model of human and community development, inspired and
guided by organizing principles, values, strategies, and processes of sustainable

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

change, healing, and development, all deeply rooted in the natural laws that are
at the inmost heart and core of tribal cultures throughout Mother Earth, that
would enable us to free ourselves from the hurt and oppression of the past and
present.

From this humble beginning – perfectly synchronized with a full eclipse of the
moon, and empowered, guided and sustained by an ever-deepening
understanding of the natural laws, prophecies, spiritual values, wisdom and
prayers formally shared with us over the past nineteen years by the many tribal
elders, who have so patiently and faithfully assisted our humble efforts – we
have steadfastly continued our healing journey into the new millennium towards
the promised time of unity and prosperity for Indigenous peoples and the human
family long foretold by our ancient prophesies.

In the Western Hemisphere this emerging network of unity is called the ―Reunion
of the Condor and Eagle‖, the joining together of Indigenous tribes and nations
of South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean in a comprehensive
trade and social development network that is destined, according to our ancient
prophesies, to eventually embrace Indigenous tribes, peoples, and nations
everywhere.

At the heart of the formal process of the Reunion of the Condor and Eagle, are
Sixteen Principles for Building a Sustainable World that emerged from a formal
consultation process over the past eighteen years with hundreds of Indigenous
elders and spiritual leaders from across North America and internationally. These
Sixteen principles form the spiritual foundation for the first International
Indigenous Trade and Social Development Agreements that have been signed
with other Indigenous peoples in the Commonwealth of Dominica and the United
States of Mexico. We are also in discussions with other Indigenous peoples of the
Americas to initiate similar agreements that will further expand our Indigenous
trade and social development network in greater and greater circles of unity.

Fundamental to the success of these initiatives is the healing of the oppression,

abuse, hurt, and injustice of the past and present. Without question, any human
being, tribe, community, or nation is as sick as it’s darkest secrets. and fully If
we do not face up to resolve the abuse, oppression and injustice of the past,
from all perspectives, these destructive patterns will continue to destroy our
future. We need to fully understand that only abused people, abuse people, only
oppressed people, oppress people and only hurt people, hurt people.

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

Therefore, only by healing our own abuse, oppression and hurt can we be
assured that we will not continue the same abusive, oppressive and hurtful
patterns of behavior that we ourselves, have suffered from.

This means we must stop blaming others for the conditions in which we find
ourselves. We must also completely dedicate ourselves to developing the human
and spiritual capacities to transform that which is oppressing us. For as long as
we continue to blame others for our current condition, we will continue to give
away our own sacred power to grow and develop, and ultimately overcome that
which oppresses us. It is a sacred truth that we will only be able to overcome
that which oppresses us when our spiritual values, consciousness, and strength
become even greater than that of the oppressor.

To achieve this promised future the moral, spiritual, and material support of the
great tribes and nations of Europe is vitally needed by the Indigenous peoples of
the Western Hemisphere. This support will help empower Indigenous people;
this support will enable us to have the freedom, independence, support, and
capacity to consult with and negotiate new social, cultural, economic, and
political relationships with the larger and physically more powerful Nation States
that surround us in the Western Hemisphere. As an elder once told me,
―Grandson, it is very difficult to negotiate with somebody who is giving you the
money to negotiate with them.‖

Finally, I want to thank the government of my beloved Canada for their heartfelt
support of our international work on behalf of Indigenous peoples. Although we
have very critical domestic issues that we need to resolve together, like the
heartbreaking legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and the resolution of
long standing Indigenous land claims, Canada is a world leader in promoting
international Indigenous to Indigenous trade and social development initiatives.

I have complete faith in the guiding spiritual principles of our elders, along with
the courage and dedication to utilize their wisdom that we will be completely
victorious on the path to a peaceful and equitable future. When we enhance the
capacity of our Indigenous brothers and sisters we will find that we have the
power and ability to carefully and lovingly remove any barriers that have limited
the development of our full potential as human beings and communities. The
greater the challenge in our path, the greater the opportunity for our growth and
ultimate victory. We can always become more than we have ever been.

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net

 Four Worlds International Institute
Four Directions International
P.O. Box 75028.
White Rock, BC V4B 5L3
Phil Lane, Jr. Chairman
Yankton Sioux & Chickasaw nations

Therefore, it is my deepest prayer that with every new sunrise, we can recognize
more and more that the most sacred and holy of all the wonderful ceremonies

and gifts that the Creator has given us is the birth of a child, and that everything
we can do to provide our children and communities with the best possible future
is a sacred gift, privilege, and responsibility.

Is not the moment long, long overdue, through the unfailing power and love of
our good Creator, for us to free ourselves completely from the hurt of both the
past and present, so we may truly soar with the freedom of majestic condors
and eagles to the promised greatness of our sacred destiny and future as
honored members of the human family.

FWII | Tele: (604)542-8991 | Fax: (604) 542-8994 | E-Mail: 4worlds@uleth.ca | www.fwii.net