The Sunbow 5 Walk originates in the vision of many of the traditional elders
who spoke at the Cry of the Earth conference at UN headquarters in Nov. 1993.
They are the elders who will guide the walk -- but not for Native issues,
rather for the Earth and all the people and creatures who share the earth.
The Sunbow 5 foundation was established to support the walkers, but does not
"make policy" or control the walk in any way. The people who actually walk
will do that out of consensus, and after listening to their whole circle.
The Foundation is helping out by setting up the Internet connections and Web
site -- all donated freely by a company in Dallas (Internet Marketing
Partners). This is a volunteer effort, and we are shorthanded and making
some start up mistakes and all that stuff. And we are looking for helpers
and advisors - we especially would like a Native advisor to help us monitor
and improve the Web site with suggestions and guidance. We have a volunteer
mailing list (e-mailinfo@sunbow5walk.com) that we are trying to model as a
circle. If you are interested or concerned, sign onto the list and monitor
what's going on. If you see something that feels off or wrong somehow,
please speak up. This is an experiment in cooperation among the 5 colors of
humanity.
The foundation itself has many native and non-native advisors, and we will
probably post their names at sometime, though folks felt it was important to
focus onthe Walk and the reasons for the walk first. There is so much to do
to get ready around basics -- food, water, shelter. The walk is a prayer
first -- and an effort to let people know about that prayer second, or third,
or somewhere else down the list.
Tom Dostou is the Director of the Foundation, and he is a human being. His
heritage is Chippewayan, Wananaki and Irish. He's been up and down and all
around the circle, just like most other human beings. He is trying to do
something peaceful and helpful with this walk. When he attended the Cry of
the Earth conference he was touched and uplifted, and made a committment for
peace. But he can speak for himself on that, so I will not try to form the
words for him.
I will try to respond to any other questions that come up, and if somebody
really needs to know something, or talk with Tom or anyone else, I'll try to
make the connection. But, frankly, I'm overwhelmed already, and praying for
this Sunbow Circle to widen. We are operating on a shoestring and a tin can,
but also with trust in Spirit. The Sunbow effort is not a hierarchy: we are
a circle and we are trying to work it out as best we can in these early
stages.
- Steven McFadden for Sunbow 5