The Time of the Prophecies Is At Hand, interview with Grandmother Sara Smith

We are in a very critical, critical, dangerous time. From the prophecies and from the teachings, the time is at hand. We cannot continue the way we have been, to base all our future on a collapsing foundation. I think what has happened is another great symbol — one that can cause us to awaken.—Grandmother Sara Smith

Grandmother Sara is a member of the Turtle Clan, a wife, mother, and grandmother living at the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. Her traditions are passed by word of mouth, through stories and teachings from the elders. This week, the Spirit of Ma'at talked with Grandmother Sara about the current crisis, its relationship to prophecy, and what we can do now — each one of us — to heal our world.

Diane: What went through your mind and your heart when you heard about the tragedy.

Grandmother Sara: I was stuck in a traffic jam when the program was interrupted by a news bulletin saying that a plane had crashed into the first tower of the World Trade Center and to stay tuned. Shortly after, I heard about the second plane crashing into the second tower. The first thing I thought was that it must be an advertisement for a movie — it was disbelief. My other thought was that the financial institute was crashing, but then I realized it was the World Trade Center. And then I immediately started to think of the prophecies of our people.

When our ancestors talked, they always said that things would ''collapse.'' That things could easily and instantaneously collapse and that we should be on a firm foundation. They also said we would be witness to this type of thing.

As I stayed tuned, the next thing the announcer said was that this was a major catastrophe during the ''President Bush time.'' And then I got chills over that — because our people also had said that the time would come when we would be in the ''bush.'' They often referred to our reserve as ''the bush.''

Diane: Your ''reserve'' meaning. . .?

Grandmother Sara: The Six Nations of the Grand River.

One time, my teacher asked me, ''Sara, why do you think they called our reserve ''the bush''?

And I said ''I don't really know, other than it was the poorest land that we could possibly have. But I really don't know.''

The terminology and the way that they spoke of it became an eye-opener for me. When the announcer said what he said in that way, I equated the two things together.

I didn't get to watch TV until that night, and when I got home I tuned in and immediately saw pictures of the planes hitting the Trade Center and the Pentagon, and I thought, This is at our doorstep.

Our prophecies say that the time would come when the world would be on our doorstep, and the eagle would be warning us of approaching danger. Those prophecies began to have an even deeper and profound meaning for me than ever before, even though in the past we would equate them to the symbolism of our Earth journey.

The eagle is the symbol of the United States, and here in Canada it is our guardian bird. It is perched on the Tree of Peace because of its far-seeing vision that could warn us of approaching danger. It has cried its warning, and I think it could be the final and last warning that we might receive.

Diane: Wow — that gives me goose bumps.

Grandmother Sara: You know, last weekend I was at the site of the Pentagon with others doing prayer vigil. I saw overwhelming grief in the people there.

The thing I really can't stress enough in all that we have seen — with this major catastrophe taking place — it should be a wakeup call for all people to pay attention. To embrace our divine connection more so than ever before. Because there is not much time left.

We have to do this for those children of tomorrow, those grandchildren and great grandchildren of ours and of all people.

I believe that we need to take action. Not just talk about it, but to fulfill our purpose of why we are on this Earth Walk. And it is not because of commercialism or materialism or any of these things. It is for us to learn to love one another, and to walk in peace with dignity and pride, so that we can be what we were created to be.

Diane: When you say ''not much time left,'' what do you mean?

Grandmother Sara: We are in a very critical, critical, dangerous time. From the prophecies and from the teachings, the time is at hand. We cannot continue, the way we have been, to base all our future on a collapsing foundation. I think what has happened is another great symbol, one that can cause us to awaken.

People have got to get back to honoring and respecting nature and get back into their spiritual path, into the Creator or God presence within us, not to harbor bitterness, or hatred. There's no room in our world for that type of energy form.

Diane: Many people know that war is not the answer, but there is so much fear and confusion.

Grandmother Sara: When I was at the prayer vigil in Washington DC, I saw so many people not knowing what to do or not knowing how to react. There was a difference in the atmosphere. The very root system has been shaken tremendously.

Naturally we feel the sorrow and we see the grief, but we must always have trust in the future. Especially when we've got grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Because we love them, we must create a better tomorrow, living in a harmonious, peaceful coexistence with all of life. And that's what I was saying about getting back to the environment: appreciating the beauty that we have in life.

We must get back to respecting all life that exists out there, and not focus upon the day-to-day way of life, earning a paycheck and buying two cars, or the commercialism of the world today.

I feel that the answers are very, very simple: to help one another.

Diane: I've seen something happen over the last week, and it has given me pause for hope. When the attack first happened, there was a tremendous outpouring of anger and crying out for revenge. Somehow — thank God — it was tempered with the need for caution. Many more people are now suggesting that we slow down even more and make sure we know what we are doing. Women are starting to speak out. Oprah Winfrey had a show featuring high profile women who were all saying that we need to change how we deal with things, and that the old ways have not worked.

But how can we, in the face of all of this, get back to nature and get back to caring? We are all involved in the rat-race of today's fast paced world.

Grandmother Sara: It's going to be a challenge. But what are our options?

The only sure thing is change.

We have so many people going to jobs they don't like. If what we are seeing today isn't making people happy, then we must search for our happiness.

For myself, being so close to traditional teachings and a traditional way of life, I believe that through simplicity and using common sense we can change the situation. By beginning to honor and give understanding to one another and a helping hand to those who are in need. People today will recognize truth when they see or hear it.

So much depends on our reaction.

In Washington, I heard it time and time again: anger. People were so angry. That kind of vibration doesn't do anyone any good.

I think our Native people have been talking about this for a long, long time. There are people that have been interested, but there has been no action. I think for the last 25 or 30 years many of our Native people have been sharing and warning about the coming of this time. But it has been just something nice to hear . . . like when I was a child and I heard these ways, I would think, What a beautiful story this is. It is like a fairy story. If we could all live that way there wouldn't be any animosity or bitterness. We would all love one another.

But this story is real life.

It is. It exists.

And it is for all people.

Diane: Are you afraid?

Grandmother Sara: Never.

Diane: Are you concerned about the choices that are going to be made soon?

Grandmother Sara: [pause] I care. I care very deeply.

You know, I have young nephews, nieces, and grandchildren, and if they are to exist I would like them to be able to see and exist in a positive future. So I definitely do care what happens on a worldwide scale. I wouldn't want their future to be in devastation. That goes for ALL nieces and nephews, ALL children and grandchildren, not just my own. Because we are all interconnected. The sooner that we come to that realization, and to positive thought, positive energy, positive actions. . . I really feel that it is a simple thing to do.

Diane: Many teachers of all persuasions have been optimistic about the outcome of our future. But if humanity or consciousness does not choose peace, what will happen according to prophecy?

Grandmother Sara: The ancestors said that the time would come when there would be two paths. They would always hold their hands up, the thumbs beside one another, and when they would put them side by side like that they would seem to be the same. But on one path, they said, there would be many footprints, and on the second path there would be few. But in the few, there would be many little footprints. . .

Diane: . . .the footprints of the children. . .

Grandmother Sara: . . .children whose life is seemingly cut short. I think that's what the ''many little footprints'' is a reference to. When you see so many children dying, parents taking their children's lives, teenage suicides, abortions. . . You know, there were young people in that building, they were young. There was a 12-year-old girl on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

I believe that we cannot control who is on what path or where they are going. We can only be responsible for ourselves. It is Choice that people are given. I just ask, ''Where do you want to be? What are you willing to change in order to get onto that path less traveled?''

I believe, and it's in our teaching, that Mother Earth will never self-destruct. But people will do it to themselves. It's their choice as to where they make their next sojourn. Wherever they may journey and to what dimension, it is their thoughtforms and their energy that will get them there.

I would never, ever not have trust. It may take some of us longer, and who knows? . . . I might be on that second path. We have to be nonjudgmental. I don't say that what I speak is the Truth. I don't know that. I can only echo what makes me comfortable and allows me to be at peace within.

Diane: Do those two paths lead to the same place?

Grandmother Sara: Prophecy doesn't say where they lead. But what I feel is that it is Choice we are given. In our teachings and understandings we are here to work towards perfecting ourselves.

Diane: So what is needed is to give warning and encouragement at the same time.

Grandmother Sara: Oh, without a doubt. That is a must.

I often ask people in my workshops, ''Where do you see yourself ten years from now and twenty years from now in relationship to what is at hand? If you have family, where do see them — your daughters and sons. And when they have children, what future do you see them in?'' It is something that we don't look towards. We never think beyond this week, or tomorrow, or next year. We are caught up in today.

I also want to stress that this moment in time is the most significant time in anyone's journey in this Earth Walk. The path is what brought us to this moment in time, and this moment in time is what will take us into the future. That's why I say that the time is at hand now to make our footsteps count!

I think we need to call upon the Law of Forgiveness. Because the ancestors were connected seven generations in the past and seven generations in the future. We are all so very closely connected, and the average person doesn't even think about that. It is beyond anyone's way of thinking.

We need to remember our ancestors. They have also been through this — this drifting away from the Truth Element.

Diane: And so perhaps they could assist us...

Grandmother Sara: I believe that. I believe the ancestors are helping, bringing people together. Today, people are dreaming profound, prophetic, powerful dreams.

Ask yourself: Where do those dreams come from?

The image at the top of this page is from a Petroglyph wall hanging at CactusHut