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13 Indigenous Grandmothers
Feb. 7th, 2012 02:03 amToday, after months of waiting for the DVD to be purchased by our library, we watched For the Next 7 Generations: 13 Indigenous Grandmothers Weaving a World that Works. Ana dreaded it at first, because, after many documentaries discussing making change in the world, she expected to have to sit through an hour or more of horrific, shocking, or enraging material before getting to the uplifting part. Except, as we discovered in its slow, steady demonstration, there was no shock and awe. There was only awe. Thirteen indigenous grandmothers from the four corners of the world, many of whom had had visions of this event happening decades beforehand, gathered to create a council of elders to discuss what was most needed for the world, from them. This was unlike most documentaries. Instead of having a narrator direct the course and flow the film would take, presenting an agenda or an overarching theme, the narrator gave her introduction, then sat back and let the camera follow these women on their journey.
Every six months, they agreed to meet in a different location--the home of one of the other grandmothers. They traveled to New Mexico, the Amazon, Mexico, Dharamsala to visit with the Dalai Lama, Vatican City, and beyond. They shared their traditions with the other women, even practicing different forms of medicine when needed, giving prayers to the earth, the water, the herbs, and food. Their children and grandchildren welcomed their guests with song and dance, with sacred rituals. Their discussions at each location involved a host of interpreters whispering away in the background, but each speaker spoke slowly, to allow everyone a chance to hear and understand (and for the interpreters to translate), they gave consideration to each speaker, laughed at one another's jokes, and were patient with those who needed to gather their thoughts.
Their shared experiences of prophetic visions--either their own, or those of their teachers--left Ana and I in awe and wonder. Some of what was said about water captured my heart and set my tears flowing. Ana held my hand at that moment.
The only ugly point in the documentary originated from the Vatican police who came to aggressively end the prayer circle the grandmothers had set up in the courtyard. They had permits, but they were being harassed by armed young men shouting, "What you're doing is anti-Catholic, and it needs to cease immediately!" The cameras were shut off and the prayers were silenced until a representative from the permit board came to prove the women had the right to do what they did. What threat did they pose by sending up prayers for peace and an end to greed? Apparently, the men felt threatened.
While this doesn't have an overt agenda, and it doesn't follow the smooth, crisp beginning-middle-end pattern of modern documentaries, what is shown is something so beautiful, simple, and extraordinary all at once to make this worth the wait. Though there was no "end" and no follow-up from the narrator, it made it seem all the more hopeful that their work continues on. We only need reach out and ask to learn from them.
Every six months, they agreed to meet in a different location--the home of one of the other grandmothers. They traveled to New Mexico, the Amazon, Mexico, Dharamsala to visit with the Dalai Lama, Vatican City, and beyond. They shared their traditions with the other women, even practicing different forms of medicine when needed, giving prayers to the earth, the water, the herbs, and food. Their children and grandchildren welcomed their guests with song and dance, with sacred rituals. Their discussions at each location involved a host of interpreters whispering away in the background, but each speaker spoke slowly, to allow everyone a chance to hear and understand (and for the interpreters to translate), they gave consideration to each speaker, laughed at one another's jokes, and were patient with those who needed to gather their thoughts.
Their shared experiences of prophetic visions--either their own, or those of their teachers--left Ana and I in awe and wonder. Some of what was said about water captured my heart and set my tears flowing. Ana held my hand at that moment.
The only ugly point in the documentary originated from the Vatican police who came to aggressively end the prayer circle the grandmothers had set up in the courtyard. They had permits, but they were being harassed by armed young men shouting, "What you're doing is anti-Catholic, and it needs to cease immediately!" The cameras were shut off and the prayers were silenced until a representative from the permit board came to prove the women had the right to do what they did. What threat did they pose by sending up prayers for peace and an end to greed? Apparently, the men felt threatened.
While this doesn't have an overt agenda, and it doesn't follow the smooth, crisp beginning-middle-end pattern of modern documentaries, what is shown is something so beautiful, simple, and extraordinary all at once to make this worth the wait. Though there was no "end" and no follow-up from the narrator, it made it seem all the more hopeful that their work continues on. We only need reach out and ask to learn from them.
