The People of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are probably best known through the films ‘ A Message from the Heart of the World’ and ‘Aluna’.
A pristine and original culture that lives close to nature, they have retreated from the advance of civilisation until they realised that it was absolutely necessary for the survival of humanity for them to communicate to the rest of the world a basic message; Change the way you live, or the balance of Nature will be broken.
Often called ‘The Elder Brother’, they see modern cultures and technological civilisation as ‘The Younger Brother’. Now, for the first time, they have sent their spiritual representatives to Australia to deliver their message.
I caught up with the ‘Elder Brothers’ by a Skype conversation with their facilliator, Nelson Caraballo, as they were visiting Uluru at the invitation of traditional keeper, Uncle Bob Randall. As Uncle Bob played guitar by the fire, I spoke with Nelson about their reflections on landing in Australia.
What is your mission in coming to Australia?
‘This is another step in a process that began years ago. This particular journey began as a response to the disaster at Fukushima. The message we are bringing is that we are living in a state of imbalance. It’s now time to take action, conscious action, to begin to restore balance to Mother Earth.’
The journey is actually the third part in a four part journey. The first leg took them to the ‘Four Corners’ region of the USA in late June/July of this year. There they met with the Native American keepers of that land and did ceremony and unified with them. Then, together with the representatives of the Diné people from the Four Corners, they went to Japan to raise awareness and do ceremony for the disaster at Fukushima. Most of the time in Japan was spent near the sacred center of Mount Fuji, where they met with local elders and representatives. The fourth, and final part of this journey will be to the volcano of Mount Etna in Italy.
‘Our guidance is telling us that we will reach Mount Etna by sometime around May of next year’. Nelson told us, ‘This whole journey is but a part of a much bigger process that is reaching out to raise awareness about the need for Earth restoration.’
‘Restore the Mother Earth’s rights to her Natural Constitution’
‘The essential message can be distilled down to the phrase ‘Restore the Mother Earth’s rights to her Natural Constitution’. We will speak more to this in the coming days. We will speak about this at UPLIFT. We will speak about what we mean exactly when we say “Natural Constitution”. The way that Modern Society is based on extraction of minerals and natural resources has to end. We have to think of the generations to come. We have to listen to the Original Peoples that have maintained a connection to nature and realise that we have become disconnected. It is time to reconnect with nature.’
Do you see this work as a Stabilisation Process for the Earth?
‘Yes. very much. By anchoring in at these four places we believe that we will be able to impact the collective consciousness. One aspect is the ceremonies that are being performed, but an even bigger component is the awareness we are raising in the collective consciousness. This is what must happen. We only chose Fukushima because it stands out, but this is not about one problem, but about the way we can transition our societies into a way of living in harmony with nature. It is not so much that the Elders want you to hear their voices, but that by listening to them, you may be able to hear the Voice of the Mother, the Voice of Spiritual Authority coming from the Earth.’
‘We are here in Australia as the result of a spiritual invitation that was actually sent several years ago. We are here at Uluru to consult with a culture that has a 60,000 year history, minimum! We need to listen to that in order to be able to function in nature for Earth restoration.’
The Mamos from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are travelling with representatives of the Diné, often known as the Navajo, from North America and with Otomi and Mexica representatives from Mexico. They will remain in Australia for UPLIFT Festival in Byron Bay (upliftconnect.com), who have been integral in funding the cost of travel for the latest part of this mission, where they will be sharing more of their message about restoring the ‘Natural Constitution’ of Mother Earth, as well as what they have learnt from their Sacred Journey with Uncle Bob Randall to Uluru.
You can watch the ‘Elder Brother’ give their message live via the UPLIFT Webcast.
Photo by Brendan Shoebridge.
The Elders are by name and Nation listed below:
• Mamo Miguel Arroyo – Wintukwa (Arhuaco): In function of the Spiritual Authority of Munvwameke and Numaka, Nabusimake. Mamo in charge of the spiritual work (healing) carried out in the initial phase in Four Corners area for the unification of the peoples and of the sacred sites. This work is complementary to the Spiritual Mandate for Unification and awareness of Life Originating Principles in collective consciousness on a global scale.
• Ñankwa Chaparro: Leader in the Wintukwa Nation, also in function of Spiritual Authority of Munvwameke and Numake, Nabusimake. Assistant and translator for Mamo Miguel. in 2011 was placed in charge by the spiritual authority of Tzchendukwa to return the sacred elements from all parts of the world in the gathering that took place in Menla in Phoenicia, NY. This process was the starting point for the Unification Process.
• Nelson Caraballo: In function of the Spirituall Authority of Munvwameke and acting on behest of the Mamos and Sagas to facilitate journeys, meetings and other actions relevant to the Unification Process for the awareness in collective consciousness of Life Originating Principles.
• Erica Ohliger: In funtion of the Mother and of Spiritual Authorities of the peoples of the North. Was brought to La Sierra in March of this year for authorization of the work being done and gave personal aburo (sacred element) being used for this specific work and journeys for healing of the waters and of sacred sites and peoples that steward them. In charge of coordinating work with peoples of the North in the Unification Process and other actions relative to this process.
• Anderson Hoskie, Navajo- Traditional Spiritual Leader and Wisdom Keeper who holds relationship with Tribal Council, working for and with troubled youth in processes to heal using traditional sacred ways. Representative of the peoples of the North that participated first stage of this work in Four Corners (Hopi, Navajo, Ute, Ancestral Puebloan).
• Mindahi Bastidas: Otomí Spiritual Leader in charge of coordinating travel logistics, translations for Elders in Mexico, present in Four Corners for intitial phase of this work. Vital in consultations that determined all the sites to be visited in this journey.
• Agustín Ranchero Márques/Abuela Guillermina (to be defined which): Elder present in initial phase of work done in Four Corners, leader of indigenous endeavors in Mexico of great value for the spiritual work done for healing of sites and their stewards in this country, as well as leader in restoring indigenous rights in Latin America.
• Armando Robles Contreras: Keeper of the Ancient Fire of the Mexica peoples in Mexico, leader in his community of ceremonies for healing of sites and the peoples, of great spiritual strength for ceremonies to be done in journey and for Unification Process.
