The Sacred Purpose of the NewEarth Tanasi Gathering, June 19-21, Summer Solstice 2025- An Indigenous Perspective
An Indigenous Vision of Awakening, Renewal, and Unity
With all Perspectives Welcomed to Comment
From Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr., Híŋhaŋ Wíčasta and Deloria Tiospaye, Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋ and Chickasaw Nations, to all our Beloved Relatives of our Human Family who are joining us in person or virtually for the NewEarth Tanasi Gathering, Summer Solstice 2025
At the sacred threshold of the Summer Solstice, June 19–21, 2025, under the radiant presence of the Soltice Sun, the NewEarth Tanasi Consecration and Proclamation rises—not as a fleeting event, but as a living ceremony, a sacred act of remembrance and renewal for all humanity. It is a rekindling of the ancient fire, an offering laid upon the altar of Mother Earth, and a clarion call to the soul of the Human Family.
This gathering is not the product of convenience or circumstance. It is born from prophecy. It is the emergence of the Rainbow Warriors, spoken of by many nations—those not bound by bloodlines or borders, but drawn together by spirit, by sacred trust, by the maturity of the soul. These are the ones who remember who they are, why they have come, and what they must now do.
At its heart, the NewEarth Tanasi Gathering is guided by a timeless Indigenous teaching:
“Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we heal and develop ourselves, our relationships, and our world.”
Starting From Within
True transformation never begins from the outside in. It is not handed down from institutions, nor dictated by policy. The shift of the ages begins in the sanctuary of the human heart. Each being, each family, each community holds within it the seed of transformation—a sacred potential waiting to be watered by vision, healing, and love.
The old world, founded on conquest, division, and the illusion of separation, was built from the outside in. The NewEarth must rise from the inside out. Its foundations are not concrete and steel, but inner awakening, collective remembrance, and the sacred fire that burns in the heart of every soul.
This gathering honors the fact that human beings can transform their world, not through power or dominance, but by aligning with the vision of what is possible. Without vision, people lose their way. But with vision, rooted in the sacred, born of shared purpose, we are drawn, like rivers returning to the sea, toward our highest destiny.
Yet vision alone is not enough. We must heal. We must face the grief, the intergenerational trauma, the pain of colonization, separation, and spiritual amnesia. Healing is not optional. It is the very soil from which renewal must grow. Without healing, there is no peace. Without peace, there is no future.
Working in a Circle
We gather not in rows of hierarchy, but in the sacred geometry of the circle, a way of being where no one is above or below, where each voice, each prayer, each offering is equally valued. In the circle, the sacred center belongs to no one and all.
This circle reflects a universal truth: all things are connected. Spiritual healing is tied to economic justice. Ecological renewal is inextricably linked to cultural sovereignty. Social harmony cannot exist without acknowledging our ancestral past. We rise together, or we fall divided.
Disunity is the disease of our time. The Tanasi Gathering offers the medicine, a circle of remembrance and belonging. We are not strangers. We are not enemies. We are relatives, bound by the sacred hoop of life.
Unity is not a matter of wishful thinking; it is a sacred responsibility. It is not passive; it is participatory. Each set of hands, each prayer lifted, each truth spoken, is part of this weaving. True development is not something done to people, but something co-created with love, trust, and the clear light of conscience.
We come not just to speak of justice, but to embody it—in how we walk, how we listen, how we share, and how we protect the dignity of every living soul. Justice, in its most valid form, is the breath of unity and the heartbeat of peace.
In a Sacred Manner
We affirm the sacred truth: we are not only material beings—we are spirit made flesh. Our bones are dust, yes, but they are carried by a flame that was lit before time began. Any path that denies this sacred essence is incomplete. Any future that forgets this truth is doomed to crumble.
The NewEarth cannot be constructed solely with bricks and blueprints. It must be birthed in ceremony, nourished by prayer, guided by values that emerge not from greed or fear, but from the wisdom of the ancestors and the Original Instructions placed within the soul of every nation.
This is not philosophy. This is the foundation. Without it, we are like a tree without roots, shaken by every storm. But with it, we are unshakable.
We remember: the hurt of one is the hurt of all, just as the honor of one is the honor of all. Actual development does not exploit, exclude, or extinguish. If it does, it is not development, it is decay.
And so, the path forward must be culturally rooted, not imposed. It must rise from language, ceremony, land, and lineage, from each people’s sacred memory and sacred right to live, to speak, to sing their truth.
We Heal and Develop Ourselves, Our Relationships, and Our World
Tanasi’s 8th Fire is not ignited for spectacle. It is lit for learning, not the kind taught in institutions, but the kind that comes through the land, through dreams, through silence, and circles. We are learning beings. So long as we draw breath, we can grow.
We are not here to light a momentary spark. We are here to kindle a fire that will guide generations yet unborn. That means honoring sustainable paths, not extractive; sacred, not sacrificial.
We do not fight the shadows of the old world. We walk into the light of a new one. We choose to bless, to build, to embody.
Most of all, we come to be the change, not just to speak of it, not to wait for it, but to live it with courage, humility, and devotion.
We gather to make visible a world beyond war, beyond poverty, beyond isolation. A world where life is sacred, spirit is central, and the Human Family walks again in harmony with all of creation.
Based on my experience over the past 80 winters, including the in-depth, participatory research conducted by Four Worlds with Indigenous peoples since 1982, across the Americas and around Mother Earth, this is the world that the Union of the Condor, Hummingbird, Quetzal, and many others around Mother Earth are praying for. What is your vision for the NewEarth?
1. Basic Physical Needs
Adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, clean water, sanitary conditions, and medical services form the sacred ground upon which human dignity stands. These are not luxuries but the birthright of every child of Mother Earth. When these needs are unmet, the spirit is burdened, and the capacity for higher development—mental, emotional, and spiritual—is compromised. Food is not merely sustenance but a prayer answered. Water is not simply a liquid, but life itself —the blood of our Mother Earth. To clothe and house humanity in a manner consistent with their dignity is to affirm their sacredness. To provide healing and care is to act as the hands of the Creator.
2. Spirituality and a Sense of Purpose
Spirituality is the sacred fire at the center of the human being. It is not confined to rituals or beliefs but is the living relationship between the individual and the Great Mystery, Wakan Tanka. A clear sense of purpose is like the North Star—it provides direction through the storm.
When a person, a family, or a nation understands why they are here, their steps become steady, their hearts firm, and their lives meaningful. This sense of purpose arises from ceremony, from ancestral teachings, from walking with integrity, and from serving the sacred hoop of life. Without it, even wealth becomes a burden. With a sense of purpose, even poverty is transformed into a source of strength.
3. Life-Sustaining Values, Morals, and Ethics
Like the roots of a mighty tree, values and ethics nourish and stabilize the human soul. These are not imposed laws, but understandings born from long observation of life, from visions and teachings handed down through generations. They guide us on the narrow path between harmony and destruction. They tell us: which actions bring peace and which lead to suffering, which choices uplift the human spirit and which degrade it. These principles must be lived and taught, not only spoken. They are the compass by which individuals, families, and entire nations navigate the journey of life.
4. Safety and Security
To live without fear is a gift as essential as breath. Safety is more than physical protection; it is the deep knowing that one’s body, spirit, home, and voice are respected and protected. No child should flinch at the sound of footsteps, no woman or elder fear the night, no people worry that their lands, identities, or dignity may be taken without recourse. Safety is not merely the absence of danger; it is the presence of protection. Safety is the active presence of peace, accountability, compassion, and justice. A community that protects its members like a mother shields her child creates a circle of sacred trust.
5. Adequate Income and Sustainable Economies
Economic systems must nourish life, not exploit it. True prosperity flows like a river—nourishing all along its banks, not pooling into stagnant corners. When income is sufficient to meet needs, when wealth is earned without violating Mother Earth or exploiting others, and when economies are rooted in service, reciprocity, and long-term well-being, then we know we are aligned with sacred law. Money should serve human dignity, not be its master. A sustainable economy ensures not just survival but the flourishing of human creativity, cooperation, and care.
6. Adequate Power
Power, in our way, is not domination, but sacred responsibility. It is the ability to shape one’s life and environment through conscious, collective action. True power is exercised in a circle, where every voice is heard and every member has a role. When people participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives, when elders, women, youth, and those often silenced are honored, the circle is strong. Disempowerment is not just a social issue; it is a spiritual wound. Healing this requires restoring voice, agency, and the sacred right of self-determination.
7. Social Justice and Equity
Justice is the heartbeat of a healthy society. It is not just the fair distribution of resources, but also the righting of wrongs and the honoring of those who have been harmed. In our way, we understand that historical wounds must be acknowledged and healed, not ignored or denied. The scales must be held not by the powerful, but by the wise. Systems of redress and reconciliation must be established, not only to repair the past but to build a future where no one is left behind.
8. Cultural Integrity and Identity
Culture is the song of a people’s soul. Without it, we are like a tree cut from its roots. Cultural integrity means honoring the stories, ceremonies, languages, and lifeways that connect us to our ancestors and give shape to our identity. It means being able to live one's culture without shame, suppression, or fear. It means knowing that our way of life is sacred and viable, not as a relic of the past, but as a living, evolving expression of humanity. When cultural identity is strong, the human spirit stands tall, and our young ones walk proudly into the future.
9. Community Solidarity and Social Support
The lone tree may fall in the storm, but the forest endures. A community that is united in heart and purpose is a place of refuge, strength, and belonging. Solidarity is not merely agreement; it is the willingness to carry one another’s burdens, to celebrate together, and to mourn together. When one suffers, all feel it. When one rises, all are lifted. Social support systems—formal and informal—are the web that holds us together. Love, care, listening, and shared responsibility must be woven into the daily fabric of community life.
10. Strong Families and Healthy Child Development
The family is the first sacred lodge, the first place where the sacred fire of human potential is lit. When families are rooted in love, free from violence and addiction, and centered in spiritual understanding, children grow with strength and clarity. From the moment of conception, children deserve to be welcomed with joy, nurtured with care, and guided with wisdom. Strong families create strong nations. A child's development is not merely biological—it is spiritual, emotional, and cultural. The first teachers are the parents, and the first lessons are how to love, live, and serve.
11. Healthy Ecosystem and Sustainable Relationship with the Natural World
We do not inherit the Earth—we are born of her. She is not a resource to be used but a relative to be loved and respected. A healthy ecosystem is not optional; it is the source of all life. When we poison the land, we poison ourselves. When we desecrate the waters, we desecrate our future. Sustainable relationships with nature mean living in harmony, taking only what is needed, and giving back with gratitude. It means protecting the sacred web of life for generations yet unborn. The land does not belong to us—we belong to the land.
12. Critical Learning Opportunities
Learning is the continuous unfolding of our human potential. It does not end with formal schooling—it is a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth. Critical learning opportunities are those that awaken the mind, strengthen the heart, and equip us to meet the challenges of our time. Education must be rooted in relevance, guided by values, and directed toward the well-being of the whole. Whether through traditional teachings, modern knowledge, or community mentorship, learning must empower individuals to participate fully in life and to contribute meaningfully to the healing and transformation of our communities.
13. Adequate Human Services and Social Safety Net
Even the strongest may stumble. The presence of supportive services and a compassionate safety net is a mark of a just and caring society. These must not only be available but also dignified, culturally respectful, and centered on healing and empowerment, rather than dependency. When elders are honored, when those living with disabilities are included, when people with low incomes are lifted without shame, then we are walking the good road. Services should not just manage problems but support the flourishing of every human soul.
14. Meaningful Work and Service to Others
Work is more than labor. Work done in service is a prayer. When we engage in work that uplifts others, aligns with our purpose, and sustains our families, it becomes sacred. Every person has gifts to offer. A society must create pathways for those gifts to be discovered, nurtured, and shared. True fulfillment arises not from material accumulation but from contributing to the greater good. Service is the highest form of work. When we serve others, we serve the Creator. A life of purpose, aligned with the needs of the people and Mother Earth, is the foundation of true wealth.
Honoring the US Constitution
THE SIXTEEN INDIGENOUS GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR CO-CREATING A SUSTAINABLE, HARMONIOUS AND PROSPEROUS WORLD
PREAMBLE
We speak as one, guided by the sacred teachings and spiritual traditions of the Four Directions, which uplift, guide, protect, warn, inspire, and challenge the entire human family to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the life of all who dwell on Mother Earth. We hereby dedicate our lives and energies to healing and developing ourselves, the web of relationships that make up our world, and the way we live in harmony with Mother Earth.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Preamble’s emphasis on unity, harmony, and collective well-being aligns with the U.S. Constitution’s Preamble, which seeks to “form a more perfect Union” and promote the “general Welfare.” The Constitution’s framework for governance supports the creation of a stable society where individuals and communities can thrive, aligning with the Indigenous principle of living in harmony with one another and the environment. The First Amendment’s protection of free exercise of religion also supports the inclusion of diverse spiritual traditions, such as those referenced here.
STARTING FROM WITHIN
Human Beings Can Transform Their World
The web of our relationships with others and the natural world, which has given rise to our problems as a human family, can be transformed.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: This principle reflects the Constitution’s underlying belief in the people’s capacity for self-governance and improvement, as seen in the amendment process (Article V), which allows society to evolve and address challenges. The Constitution empowers individuals and communities to shape their future through democratic participation, aligning with the idea of transformative relationships.
Development Comes From Within
The process of human and community development unfolds from within each person, relationship, family organization, community, or nation.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s emphasis on individual rights (e.g., the Bill of Rights) supports personal agency and self-determination, enabling personal growth and development from within. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers to the states and people, fostering local and community-driven growth, which parallels this principle’s focus on internal development.
No Vision, No Development
A vision of who we can become and what a sustainable world would be like works as a powerful magnet, drawing us to our potential.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s Preamble articulates a vision for a just and prosperous society, aiming to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” This forward-looking framework inspires collective progress, much like the principle’s call for a guiding vision to drive development.
Healing Is A Necessary Part Of Development
Healing the past, closing up old wounds, and learning healthy habits of thought and action to replace dysfunctional thinking and disruptive patterns of human relations is necessary for sustainable development.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s amendment process, particularly the post-Civil War amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th), reflects a commitment to healing past injustices, such as slavery, by establishing equal protection and citizenship rights. This aligns with the principle’s focus on healing as a foundation for progress.
WORKING IN A CIRCLE
Interconnectedness
Everything is connected to everything else; therefore, any aspect of our healing and development is related to all the others (personal, social, cultural, political, economic, etc.). When we work on any one part, the whole circle is affected.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s structure, with its checks and balances (Articles I-III), recognizes the interconnectedness of government branches and societal functions. The document’s holistic approach ensures that changes in one area (e.g., legislation) have a ripple effect on the whole, promoting stability and interconnected progress.
No Unity, No Development
Unity means oneness. Without unity, the common oneness that makes (seemingly) separate human beings into a ‘community’ is impossible. Disunity is the primary disease of a community.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s Preamble emphasizes forming “a more perfect Union,” highlighting unity as essential for national progress. The document’s creation resolved divisions among states, fostering a unified framework for governance that supports this principle’s emphasis on unity.
No Participation, No Development
Participation actively engages people's minds, hearts, and energy in the healing and development process.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution enables participation through democratic mechanisms, such as voting (reinforced by the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments), as well as freedom of speech and assembly (as protected by the First Amendment). These provisions ensure citizens can actively engage in shaping their society, aligning with this principle.
Justice
Every person (regardless of gender, race, age, culture, or religion) must be accorded equal opportunity to participate in healing and development and to receive a fair share of the benefits.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause explicitly supports this principle by mandating equal treatment under the law, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have access to opportunities and protections, fostering justice and fairness.
IN A SACRED MANNER
Spirit
Human beings are both material and spiritual. Therefore, it is inconceivable that the human community could become whole and sustainable without balancing our material lives with the requirements of our spiritual nature.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom acknowledges the importance of spiritual life, allowing individuals to freely practice their beliefs. This supports the principle’s recognition of spirituality as integral to human wholeness, without establishing a state religion.
Morals And Ethics
Sustainable human and community development requires a moral foundation centered on the wisdom of the heart. When this foundation is lost, morals and ethical principles decline, and development stops.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s framework, including the rule of law and protections such as due process (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments), is grounded in ethical principles of fairness and justice. These moral underpinnings support sustainable governance, aligning with this principle.
The Hurt Of One Is The Hurt Of All: The Honor Of One Is The Honor Of All
The fundamental fact of our oneness as a human family means that development for some at the expense of others' well-being is neither acceptable nor sustainable.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s commitment to the “general Welfare” (Preamble) and equal protection (14th Amendment) reflects the idea that harm to one group affects the whole nation. Promoting collective well-being ensures that no one’s rights are unjustly diminished, supporting this principle.
Authentic Development Is Culturally Based
Healing and development must be rooted in the wisdom, knowledge, and living traditions of the people's culture.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The First Amendment’s protections of free speech, religion, and assembly allow communities to preserve and express their cultural traditions, fostering authentic development. The Constitution’s flexibility accommodates diverse cultural identities within a unified national framework.
WE HEAL AND DEVELOP OURSELVES, OUR RELATIONSHIPS, AND OUR WORLD
Learning
Humans are learning beings. We begin learning while we are still in our mothers' wombs, and unless something happens to close off our minds and paralyze our capacities, we keep learning throughout our entire lives. Learning is at the core of healing and development.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution supports learning by protecting freedom of speech and press (First Amendment), enabling the free exchange of ideas and knowledge. This fosters an environment where individuals and communities can grow through continuous learning, aligning with this principle.
Sustainability
To sustain something means to enable it to continue for an extended period of time. Authentic development does not use up or undermine what it needs to continue.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s enduring framework, designed to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” (Preamble), emphasizes long-term sustainability. Its adaptability through amendments ensures governance remains viable, supporting sustainable development.
Move To The Positive
Solving the critical problems in our lives and communities is best approached by visualizing and moving into the positive alternative we wish to create, building on our strengths rather than wasting energy fighting the negative.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution’s forward-looking vision, as seen in its Preamble and amendment process, encourages positive progress toward justice and liberty. By establishing a framework for constructive governance, it supports building on strengths to address challenges, aligning with this principle.
Be The Change You Want To See
The most effective strategies for change always involve positive role modeling and creating living examples of the solutions we propose. By walking the path, we make the path visible.
Relation to the U.S. Constitution: The Constitution empowers citizens to model change through participation in governance (e.g., voting, free speech) and civic engagement. The First Amendment’s protections enable individuals to demonstrate solutions publicly, making the “path visible” through action, as this principle advocates.
These connections demonstrate how the Indigenous Guiding Principles resonate with the U.S. Constitution’s values of unity, justice, individual rights, and sustainable governance, while offering a complementary perspective rooted in holistic and spiritual wisdom.
The NewEarth Tanasi Gathering and the Union Principles of Consultation
A Sacred Integration of Prophecy, Purpose, and the Way Forward
The NewEarth Tanasi Gathering, held at the sacred moment of the Summer Solstice, is not only a ceremony of renewal—it is also a living embodiment of the Indigenous Prophecies of the Union of the Condor, Hummingbird, Quetzal, and Eagle.
These four sacred winged ones, honored across the Indigenous Americas, carry within them the spiritual DNA of ancient prophecy and collective destiny. They remind us that the healing of the Human Family will rise from the South and the North, from the East, like NewEarth Tanasi, and the West, when we walk in unity, speak with purpose, and consult in a sacred way.
In this sacred context, consultation is not a bureaucratic process. It is a spiritual discipline. It is a ceremony. It is a fire around which we gather to listen, speak, reflect, and co-create. It is how prophecy becomes action.
The Purpose of Consultation, as held by the Union of the Condor, Hummingbird, Quetzal, and Eagle, is to:
Build commitment, trust, and unity among all participants
Identify shared opportunities and transform challenges into opportunities for growth and development.
Determine the best path forward with clarity, humility, and collective strength.
These are not simply strategic aims. They are sacred responsibilities. At Tanasi, as we rekindle the ancient fire and walk into the sunrise of a NewEarth, we remember that nothing sustainable is built without deep, honest, and respectful consultation.
The Principles for Success offered by the Union are not just guidelines—they are the heartbeats of the Circle. At Tanasi, each principle is woven into our gathering like the threads of a sacred basket:
Respect and Honor Diversity
At Tanasi, each participant arrives as a sacred being, carrying stories, languages, and medicines. There is no hierarchy of value, only a circle of shared dignity. The diversity of nations, traditions, and perspectives is not a challenge—it is our greatest strength.
Value All Contributions
Every voice is sacred. No insight is dismissed. The fire in the center burns brightest when all offer their light. At Tanasi, we listen deeply, not just with our ears, but with our hearts as well.
Freedom of Expression
Within the circle, fear has no seat. Each soul may speak their truth freely, for we know that Spirit often whispers through the unexpected.
Welcoming and Accepting Wisdom
To accept the truth from another’s lips as our own is a mark of spiritual maturity. At Tanasi, we do not cling to ego—we embrace collective wisdom, knowing that our unity depends on it.
Stay Rooted in Purpose
While the path may meander, the purpose is clear: healing, renewal, and unity for the Human Family and Mother Earth. At Tanasi, we hold that purpose like a sacred staff—always present, always guiding.
Share in the Vision
The Gathering is not about individual success, but about the collective birth of a new way. At Tanasi, we are midwives of this Vision—each of us holding part of the dream, and together bringing it to life.
Expect Truth to Emerge
We honor that it is often through the gentle clash of diverse opinions that clarity is revealed. This is not conflict—it is sacred friction, like stones sharpening one another for a greater task.
Detach from Personal Opinions
At Tanasi, we do not come to defend positions. We come to discover the truth. When we release attachment, we create space for what wants to be born, not from one mind, but from the shared spirit of the circle.
Speak with Courtesy and Care
Every word spoken is like smoke rising from the fire—it carries spirit. At Tanasi, our voices are soft with humility, strong with conviction, and always offered in kindness.
Promote Unity Through Openness
The Gathering is not a performance. It is a homecoming. Openness is the key to reconnecting with each other and with ourselves. It is how we remember that we belong—not in fragments, but as one sacred whole.
At Tanasi, these principles are not side teachings; they are the foundation of the gathering. They are the living backbone of the Rainbow Warrior prophecy. They shape how we sit together, how we make decisions, how we honor each other, and how we give birth to a future where the eagle of the North and the condor of the South fly in the same sky.
This is what the NewEarth is seeking:
A way of being where consultation is sacred, where leadership is service, and where decisions arise not from domination or urgency, but from listening—deep listening—to Spirit, to Earth, to each other.
And so, the sacred fire of Tanasi is also the fire of this Union. It is the place where the wisdom of the Elders meets the dreams of the young. It is where the heart of Indigenous nations beats in rhythm with the call of all humanity.
Together, in this sacred gathering, let us walk the way of consultation. Let us remember how to listen. How to build. How to rise.
Let Tanasi be more than just a gathering; let it be a turning point, a prophecy fulfilled, and a promise kept.
Mitakuye Oyasin—All My Relations.
With Warm Love, Greetings, and a Big Hug
Laka, Deksi, Ate, Tahansi, and Brother Phil
