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The North American First Nation peoples have lived on the land for tens of thousands of years. Although each nation’s culture, traditions, and spiritual beliefs are unique, a unifying characteristic of North American First Nation peoples’ religion is their deep love, reverence, and gratitude to the Great Spirit, Mother Earth, and the Universe. They are taught that the Great Spirit created everything and provides all our needs. Mother Earth, the waters, and the Sun are living beings, the animal-people are our relatives, and there is kinship between all things. Thus, living simply, with humility and respect for nature, together with all living beings, is an important concept. “All of nature is in us, all of us is in nature.” It is a pleasure to present selections from the book “The Path on the Rainbow: An Anthology of Songs and Chants from the Indians of North America,” edited by George W. Cronyn. Today, we will focus on the Prayers for Rain by the Zia First Nation people of New Mexico. PRAYER FOR RAIN “White floating clouds, Clouds like the plains Come and water the Earth. Sun embrace the Earth That she may be fruitful. Moon, lion of the north, Bear of the west, Badger of the south, Wolf of the east, Eagle of the heavens, Shrew of the Earth, Elder war hero, Warriors of the six mountains of the world, Intercede with the cloud people for us, That they may water the Earth. Medicine bowl, cloud bowl, and water vase Give us your hearts, That the Earth may be watered. I make the ancient road of meal, That my song may pass over it— The ancient road. White shell bead woman Who lives where the Sun goes down, Mother Whirlwind, Father Sus’sistinnako, Mother Ya’ya, creator of good thoughts. Yellow woman of the north, Blue woman of the west, Red woman of the south, White woman of the east, Slightly yellow woman of the zenith, And dark woman of the nadir, I ask your intercession with the cloud people.” INVOCATION TO THE U’WANNAMI “[…] Great rain-makers, come out from all roads, carry the sands of our Earth mother of the place. Cover the Earth with her heart, that all seeds may develop, That my children may have all things to eat and be happy […]May all complete the road of life, may all grow old. May the children inhale more of the sacred breath of life. May all my children have corn that they may complete the road of life. Here sit down; here remain; we give you our best thoughts. Hasten over the meal road; we are jealous of you. We inhale the sacred breath through our prayer plumes.”
