9
th IILG Welcoming 2017
Dear Friends
Eighteen years ago we conceptualized hosting a spiritual gathering on our land. Many speakers have shared prophecies from Turtle Island and from many other lands with you. On December 15, 2012 my wife took a picture because she thought a solar flare was coming out of the sun. I looked at the picture and noticed an object in the sky. As I continued to look at the picture the message finally came into focus. My wife Gail verified this and said it was moving very quickly from east to west. Looking more closely, I noticed the white object formed the eye of a white buffalo image in the sky. This is the picture. The buffalo appears to be running westward with steam coming out of its nose. This picture was taken just before Cache Creek BC, one of the places where flooding is impacting the community. On December 21, 2012 the Mayan solar calendar came to a close. To mark that time in history we did a small ceremony on our land. We burnt four bundles composed of 7 sticks, one for each of the four directions totalling 28 sticks. We acknowledged the Creator above and our Mother below. We did this because it is important to acknowledge the sacredness of passing from one world age to the next. This was our way of thanking the Creator for the message. On December 21, 2012 we left the 4th world age of the White Buffalo and entered the 5th world age of Hálaw’. To me, this verifies the prophesies spoken about at the gatherings. It is important to pay attention, not just to our material needs but to our spiritual needs as well. If we continue down the path of gross materialism, the great purification of the earth will intensify until we pay attention to the Creator’s messages. This purification will involve two powerful forces: “Cycles Changing” and “Climate Change”. Cycles Changing is from the Creator and Climate Change is driven by humans. Thus, the International Indigenous Leadership Gathering is a forum to help all peoples transform and change our ways for our generations today and into the future. We can do this by creating a balance between wisdom and knowledge, two key components for a better future for all. These pictures below of a white eagle in the sky within the St’àt’imc Territory is confirmation of the white buffalo message. White usually signifies purification. I learnt from our late St’át’imc Elder Eddie Napoleon that one of the titles of our Creator is “Blue Creator Sky Nation Water”. He is the one that blessed this spot in 2009 for the gathering in 2017. I have sincerely enjoyed your presence in our homelands. On behalf of all the St’át’imc I thank you for our spiritual time together on our Mother Earth. Welcome to the 9th IILG. Unity in Diversity Kukwip7 Mike Leach Peq Haláw’ White Eagle