Aggie was one of 13 women from indigenous cultures from around the world who were invited to the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers in October, 2004. Since then, she has been very active in following up on this first meeting.

For more information, see the sources in the "Links" section of this website, and the article in the second issue of World Pulse Magazine, p.37. www.worldpulsemagazine.com

Here's an update the Center for Sacred Studies, September 19, 2005.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello dear friends and supporters of the Grandmothers,

We hope this finds all of you in good health and spirits. In this time

of purification, things are really shaking up and falling apart so

that new life can emerge. We are experiencing this on all levels, as

we are sure you all are. Fortunately the grandmothers herald a new

growth of compassion and kindness.

We know that many of you were wanting a response from us much sooner,

and we apologize for that. The interest in the 13 grandmothers has

been enormous and many changes are afoot. We are doing our best to

keep up with this, update our web sites and contact everyone by email.

Many of you may know by now that their council meeting in Dharamsala

has been moved forward to October, 2006. Please check out the update

letter below for details.

With much love and gratitude for the prayer that you carry in your

hearts,

Ann and Jyoti

Jyoti

Spiritual Director

Ann Rosencranz

Program Director

Center for Sacred Studies

info@grandmotherscouncil.com

sacredstudies.org grandmotherscouncil.com forthenext7generations.com

209-532-9048

PO Box 745

Sonora CA 95370

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THIRTEEN INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS

MISSION

"We, the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers

represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our

Mother Earth, all Her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next

seven generations to come. We are deeply concerned with the

unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth and the destruction of

indigenous ways of life. We believe the teachings of our ancestors

will light our way through an uncertain future. We look to further our

vision through the realization of projects that protect our diverse

cultures: lands, medicines, language and ceremonial ways of prayer and

through projects that educate and nurture our children."

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

2004 Fall- First Council Gathering, Menla Mountain Retreat, New York

On October 11, 2004, 13 Indigenous Grandmothers from all over the

world--the Arctic Circle, North, South and Central America, Africa,

and Asia, arrived in the Tibet House mountain retreat in upstate New

York. Within a few days of convening, the grandmothers agreed to form

a global alliance; to work together to serve both their common goals

and their specific local concerns. The first council gathering was a

time of hope and inspiration. The grandmothers are both women of

prayer and women of action. Their traditional ways link them with the

forces of the earth. Their solidarity with one another creates a web

to rebalance the injustices wrought from an imbalanced world; a world

disconnected from the fundamental laws of nature and the original

teachings based on a respect for all of life.

2005 Spring—Second Council Gathering, Pojoaque Pueblo, New Mexico

The Grandmother Council convened in May for their second council,

hosted by the Mayan Grandmother, Flordemayo. They solidified their

alliance, created a mission statement, voiced prayers at sacred Pueblo

sites and approved projects to further their vision:

* Development of a web site to disseminate their teachings to adults

and children.

* Development of a pilot project for the establishment of a network of

local grandmother councils with the Cheyenne grandmother, Margaret

Behan.

* Development of a pilot project to apply permaculture methods to

protect their local waters.

* Review of trailer for the film about them entitled "For the Next

Seven Generations,"

* Review of copies of their biographical material written for the

Shambala book about them.

At the end of their week together, the grandmother council decided to

gather regularly, to travel the world to each other’s homeplaces

cultivating their unified prayer for peace.

TIMELINE

2006 Spring--Third Council Gathering, Oaxaca, Mexico

The next step for the council is to continue their mission for global

peace in Mexico. Julieta Casimiro, the Mazatec Grandmother, has

invited the Council for the fourth council gathering at her homeplace

in the Sierra Madres.

2006 Fall-Fourth Council Gathering, Dharamsala, India

In October the Grandmother Council will reunite in the exiled home of

the Tibetans, hosted by the Tibetan grandmother Tsering Dolma

Gyaltong. Their intention is to have a private audience with H.H. the

Dalai Lama, to strengthen their prayer for global peace and to

acknowledge their solidarity with the Tibetan people to reclaim their

homeland.

2007 Spring- Fifth Council Gathering, Black Hills, South Dakota The

Grandmothers will gather as a council for the fifth time in the home

of the Oglala Lakota grandmothers. At this time the council will be

celebrating the 80th Birthday of Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance in a

Native American prayer service.

2007 Fall- Sixth Council Gathering, Gabon, Africa

The sixth council gathering will be held in the African rainforest

surrounding Libreville, Gabon, at the temple of Bernadette Rebienot.

CENTER FOR SACRED STUDIES

The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers has

requested to come under the umbrella of the non-profit organization,

the Center for Sacred Studies (CSS). The Center for Sacred Studies is

a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to sustaining

indigenous ways of life through cross-cultural spiritual practices,

ministry and education, and a commitment to peace and unity for all

peoples.

This global prayer for peace calls on all of us to gather hands and

hearts across borders. Many have volunteered their time, inspiration

and funds for the realization of this unity. In order to fulfill the

vision of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous

Grandmothers, the Center for Sacred Studies is continuing to seek

support of all kinds. Thank you for joining in with us. We stand

united in this prayer, and we are grateful.

grandmotherscouncil.com

sacredstudies.org

forthenext7generations.com

Center for Sacred Studies

P.O. Box 745 Sonora, CA 95370

info@grandmotherscouncil.com

Jyoti, Spiritual Director

Ann Rosencranz, Program Director