By Lee Standing Bear Moore
THE PLACE OF PEACE
The Sacred Mountain and Valley of the Vapors
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The vapors that once blanketed the valley have vanished. The wondrous rainbows covering Manataka have not appeared since government bureaucrats decided to "preserve" the springs from pollution and the escape of radon gas. The so-called scientific preservation basis for covering the springs can be disproved by any high school freshman.
The pools of healing waters are hidden with garishly ornate bath houses for the rich.Over the years, the U.S. government has systematically attempted to wipe every trace of Indian culture away from Manataka. They deny this place is a sacred site and twist history with much authority to discourage our people from reclaiming our heritage. One Park historian recently wrote a report claiming Indians were afraid of the hot waters because they came from the devil. [The idea of 'devil' is foreign to American Indian beliefs.] The fact is, the land and waters are too commercially valuable. It is for greed, not preservation they hold hostage our Great Manataka.
The federal government has covered up the Story of Manataka for nearly 200 years. Government agents were especially aggressive in this effort just prior to and immediately after the Removals (Trail of Tears) when hundreds of ancient artifacts and religious objects were either sold, lost or destroyed. Regardless of this fact, NPS curatorial collection today still has over 414,000 objects, nearly 46% remain un-catalogued, stored in dilapidated, unsecured buildings.
Their lust to remove all traces of indigenous cultures has gone from frenzied greed, to sordid indifference, to outright denial that our ancestors were ever here. A more insidious tactic used in recent times is to craft promotional material about the park that state, "...People have used the hot spring water in therapeutic baths for two hundred years..." - as if no one was ever here before then.
Another example of the way the government attempts to bury the truth about this sacred site is the fact that it gives it false Indian names. Government bureaucrats placed two bronze plaques in the downtown area for tourists to read that give conflicting stories about the name of this ancient site. The first says Indians called the valley Nowasalon (Breath of Healing). This name only refers to the healing waters and not to the entire area. The second plaque says Indians called this site Tanico. This is also incorrect. Tanico was the main village of the Tula people who made their home along the Caddo River near what is known today as the town of Caddo Gap, located approximately 45 miles southwest of Hot Springs. Today, a large statue of an Indian stands in the middle of Caddo Gap declaring the area was known as "Tanico" by local Indians.
There are no plaques or statues designating this area as Manataka (The Place of Peace). Yet, the bureaucrats know this is its holy name.
Today, there are no monuments to the gentle people who were the ‘keepers�?of Manataka. There is barely a remembrance of the spiritual power the Great Manataka gave to the people. This sacred ground held great meaning for all native people and is part of their ancient lore.
Will Manataka always be held captive by government bureaucrats never to breath again? Will the Rainbow Woman who sleeps deep within the mountain awaken once more? Will the giant of American Indian spirit reawaken and its awesome strength be unleashed to give life back to the people of the land?
Today, there are many signs showing the great resiliency of native cultures. Our sons and daughters are returning to the old ways in search of peace in their daily lives. Everywhere you look there is renewed interest in native culture. It was foretold that this would be so.
It is our prayer the people of the land will return. We long for the day when the tribes of many nations will journey to these grounds again. They will not come as tourists looking for wondrous sights, but as brothers and sisters seeking healing and guidance while showing reverence and faith in the Great Spirit who dwells in this sacred place.
We yearn for the time when the tribes will come together, not to achieve some political or economic purpose, but to learn from each other and share the strengths of our cultures. We pray for the time when the leaders of our nations will once again hold hands in the Great Circle of Peace and give thanks to the Creator.
ANGER
Should the American Indian be angry about the past? Should we do to others what they have done to us? At Manataka, the answer is No. Why?
No, because we are sacred water given to us by the Creator of All That Is. We were born in water and our bodies are composed mostly of water. We must drink water to restore us. Water is necessary to life. But, sometimes the water comes in floods and washes away our homes and food. Waters of the flood takes away our homes and often brings disease. We are sad after the flood waters leave.
No, because we are the sacred wind given to us by the Creator of All That Is. Every cell in our bodies contains the wind. We must breath the wind every moment in order to live. But, sometimes the wind comes like a tornado and blows away our homes and kills our loved ones. We are sad after the tornado leaves.
The white European Judeo/Christian culture came to us like the wind and water. They flooded us with filth and greed and killed indigenous babies and grandmothers in the name of their religion. They came to us like the tornado bringing the whirlwind stench of war and the shame of false ways.
Should we hate the ignorant white invaders who came like a senseless flood and washed away the homes and sacred places of our ancestors? Should we hate those who flooded into our homes and stole the land? Do we hate their
children who continue to violate our sacred Mother Earth and reek terrible injustices upon us? Should we despise the government that came like a terrible tornado and killed our people and defiled our sacred places?
But dear friend, we as American Indians cannot be angry at the sacred waters and the wind because they are made by the Creator. We can only be sad.
In the same way, the white European Judeo/Christian and their government are also made by the Creator. And we cannot hate them for they too are made by the Creator.
TEARS
At Manataka, we shed no more tears for the past.
Why should we not shed tears for all that has been lost!?
Because our culture is not gone! It flourishes and grows stronger each year! Look around you. American Indian culture is spreading all over the world.
We should not cry for our ancestors because they are not gone. They are here with us now. Their spirits dwell within us. They are on our lips as we speak. They are upon our fingertips as we do the work to uphold our heritage. We honor them. We do not cry for them. We rejoice for them!
The Great Spirit �?Creator caused our circle to be broken. At Manataka we know the reason. It is for that reason we are here keeping the spirit alive.
Together, we can awaken the great forces of all native peoples by rekindling the fire of Manataka. The hot springs are still here. The medicinal herbs, quartz crystal, precious stones, and beauty are still here. And, the beautiful waters of Nowasalon flow abundantly.
Wakantanka niya waste pelo !
QUESTIONS
Why did the elders of many nations make regular pilgrimages to Manataka?
Was it to bathe in the healing waters? Was it to gather the healing herbs, healing stones or healing clay? Did the great beauty of Manataka compel the elders to travel great distances across raging rivers, through snow storms, sand storms, sometimes facing hunger on the trail, and sometimes losing one of their family along the way?
According to the National Park Service the reason the people of the land came was to bathe in the waters for their health. NPS also says they came to make peace with one another. ("...You know those savages were always warring against each other and for what other reason would this site be called 'The Place of Peace'?") Other NPS bureaucrats contradict these claims and say American Indian elders never considered Manataka a sacred place and few tribes ever came here. All these claims are false.
Do you know why the nations sent their elders to Manataka?
The answer to this most important question cannot be given in writing out of respect for our ancestors, our culture and the sanctity of the Story of Manataka. The answer may only be given eye-to-eye, heart-to heart to those who come to this special place of peace in the right way. The answer to this question will amaze you and fill the remainder of your days with deep respect and understanding of the American Indian way of life.
FOOTNOTE:
In 1996, for the first time in over 200 years, three elders of the Mayan, Cherokee, and Cheyenne people came on pilgrimage to Manataka.
In 1997 and 1998, three more spiritual elders prayed and performed ceremonies on the sacred mountain.
In 1999, four spiritual elders performed ancient ceremonies at Manataka.
In 2000, five holy men made pilgrimages. In April, the first public Gathering of Manataka was sponsored by the Manataka American Indian Council. The second Gathering was performed in September by Grand Chief Woableza LaBatte, a Lakota spiritual leader who heads the World Council of Spiritual Elders. Over 2,500 American Indians prayed at the Mountain.
In 2001, six spiritual elders prayed at Manataka, two more Gatherings were held and over 4,500 American Indians made pilgrimages.
In 2002, seven elders journeyed to the sacred mountain and two Gatherings were sponsored by MAIC. The last Gathering in November, 2002, Zintkala Oyate, Peter V. Catches-the-Enemy, a 34th generation Lakota spiritual leader of the Spotted Eagle Sundance officiated ceremonies. Nearly 7,000 people, of many faiths and races came to the sacred mountain to pray. The colors of the rainbow gather again!
Up to May, 2003, five elders had journeyed to Manataka to pray. In June, the annual Summer Gathering at Manataka will be led by Grand Chief Woableza and Omeakaehekatl, a Maya high priest and Day Keeper who will conduct ancient rites. The Painted Horse War Dance Society of Oklahoma will act as color guard and perform dance exhibitions. Chief Gray Wolf Henson (ret.), former chief of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians will led the Fire Ceremony.
By June of 2004, twelve spiritual elders came to Manataka to perform ancient ceremonies completing the requirements and setting the stage for a cleansing of Manataka to take place. The Saginaw Chippewa Warrior Society came with their families to join hands in the sacred circle at Manataka with other indigenous peoples.
In June 2005, members and guests were accosted and harassed by National Park Rangers who threatened our people with arrest if they came again to pray in the sacred circle. Many people were frightened away. During a later meeting with the Superintendent of the Park, she threatened elders and called them pagans and witches. Josie Fernandez threw pieces of paper on the table saying that we violated seven rules and forbade in future gatherings. The so-called evidence was trumped up and false allegations. No full hearing of the evidence was allowed.
In October 2005 during the Fall Gathering held at Bald Eagle Mountain Park, over 250 members and guests successfully evaded a National Park Service blockade set up at the entrance of Gulpha Gorge Campgrounds and ceremonies were performed in the sacred circle. Many more ceremonies were performed in the Circle in coming months after dark. Park Rangers continued to stop vehicles appearing to be Indian and issued strong threats.
In June 2006, MAIC Elders decided to return to Gulpha Gorge to perform ceremonies regardless of the threats and harassment of National Park Rangers. The Gathering was the smallest yet (due to Gestapo tactics of the NPS) but the Gathering was a beautiful event with Otto Riollano Davila of Puerto Rico delivering a spiritual message.
Today's Keepers of Manataka and members of MAIC are watching and waiting for other Gatherings in preparation of the Great Awakening and the Great Gathering at the Place of Peace. Will you join us?
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