Meet the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, introduced by Janet Weber, Assistant to the Grandmother's Council. Janet has been affiliated with the Center for Sacred Studies since the mid-1990s, and is an Interfaith Minister. Her work is in support of native elders and teachings of the Sacred Hoop. DESCRIPTION OF THE GRANDMOTHER'S COUNCIL [Compiled by Interfaith Minister Janet Weber, The Center for Sacred Studies] This unique council of indigenous women elders, some who are in their 80s, are from Arctic Alaska, the Amazon/Brazil, Tibet, Nepal, Gabon, tribes in Oregon, Mexico, New Zealand, Lapland, as well as Hopi, Lakota, Arapaho, and Mayan peoples. The Grandmothers Council is heralding the return of the Sacred Feminine on the planet—as foretold in many prophecies. The Grandmothers serve as healers, shamans and spiritual leaders in their communities as well as internationally. The Council was initiated by a visionary woman named Jyoti (Jeanne Prevatt, Ph.D.), who serves as Director of the Center for Sacred Studies in California. The Grandmothers first met in Upstate New York 2004 at the Global Women's Gathering, with Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Wilma Mankiller, Tenzing Palmo and others. Every 6 months the Grandmothers meet at another homeland offering prayer ceremonies from their traditions, then holding council on the environment, youth, education, women's wisdom and empowerment, prophecy, protection of ceremony, medicine plants, etc. Past meetings include in Mexico, Brazil, N. Mexico; plus Dharamsala, India with the Dalai Lama in fall 2006, and the Black Hills, South Dakota in June 2007, homeland of the Lakota people. In 2007, the Grandmothers gathered at the Bioneers Conference in San Francisco, California, and in 2008, the Grandmothers gathered in Gabon, West Africa, Spain, France and Italy. Most recently, they again gathered at Omega Institute in Upstate New York in August 2009, in Portland, Oregon in September 2009, and again in Sedona, Arizona in December 2009. The Grandmothers share their wisdom, dreams and concerns and are moving ahead with declarations and networking with other organizations locally and globally. In December 2009, Emmy Award winning Producer/Director Carole Hart, one of the original writers for Sesame Street, released the powerfully spiritual feature-length film For the Next Seven Generations. The opening premiere held in New York City was hosted by Donna Karan and the film is now being screened at local festivals and in communities across the countries. Visit the site http://www.forthenext7generations.com to find a screening near you—join a grassroots global effort to promote the film and the Grandmothers who are "weaving a world that works." LINKS: International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers http://www.grandmothers.com The Center for Sacred Studies, California http://www.sacredstudies.org Global Women's Gathering: http://www.sacredstudies.org/gwg.html Film documentary about the Grandmothers For the Next Seven Generations The Grandmothers Speak: http://www.forthenext7generations.com Contact point for the Youth Forum of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers: http://www.nativevillage.org MUSIC CREDITS: Stray Dog © 2007 Adam Snyder from album This Town Will Get Its Due, http://www.myspace.com/adamsnyder For more information about the Grandmother's Council, contact Janet Weber at: spirithoop@aol.com

• published: 12 Mar 2008
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