DownsideUp Leadership - The Rainbow Warriors

Sedona, where we are blessed to call home, has also been home to several Native American tribes over the millennia. One such tribe, the #Hopi, maintain their current homeland about 90 min away from our house. Fewer than 20,000 Hopi remain. As a #Diplomat I found it interesting that the Hopi Tribe is a?sovereign?nation within the United States and has government-to-government relations with the United States federal government. The primary meaning of the word "Hopi" is "behaving one, one who is mannered, civilized, peaceable, polite, who adheres to the Hopi Way." Sounds a bit like how one would describe an ideal diplomat ;-)

The Hopi are well known for their peaceful ways, awareness of non-linear cycles of time, and for?their many prophecies - two of which I will explore further below. Additionally, the Hopi - like many indigenous peoples, are known for their many celebrations and ritual dances. While attending a sporting event for my daughter near Flagstaff a few weeks back, we had the honor to witness a traditional Corn Dance performed by the Hopi youth. In this dance the children, each holding an ear of heirloom maize, dance in a circle to the rhythm of rattles and a drum. This dance is to honor the main sustenance of Hopi people - Corn, and to connect with their history and stories. The practice of growing corn for the Hopi is filled with meaning and ritual - it is?reflective the developmental cycles of life.?

I am struck by the reverence the Hopi have for their food and for the land in which it grows. Paying homage to our land and to our food, even by simple prayers of thanks for each bite we take has helped us as a family to connect deeper with the source of our food, for the land where is grows, and with the people that toil to bring it to our table. We are so very grateful for the lessons of the Hopi - I greatly admire their peaceful strength for maintaining their traditions in this modern world.

I’m writing this article as the World Cup is just kicking off in Qatar. I love the excitement and anticipation in the group stage of the tournament. The ever-hopeful spirit of possibility is electrifying billions of people across our planet these days. There is simply no other event on earth that captivates the attention of nearly a quarter of world's population. During such tournaments, I long to be in city plaza in Latin America or a small town in Asia to connect with the people glued to screens, hearts filled with hope.

Surrounding this World Cup however are clouds of doubt, of anger, of disgust at the allegations against the organizer FIFA and of the host country Qatar.?This is not the platform to repeat or debate such allegations. Removing fans from stands for wearing depictions of a light spectrum, I must say, I find rather petty and appalling. How does this World Cup and its less than inclusive rules tie to the Hopi? Thanks for asking.

Let’s take a moment to share and reflect on one of the more well known Hopi prophecies…

"When the earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, classes, creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the earth green again.

They will be known as?

Warriors of the Rainbow."?

Prophecies, by their nature, are designed to help us glimpse into a future with a hopeful eye. Within these beautiful and inspiring words, however, I see much more than that. This is a call to action. And not one that will wait for some distant generation carry the yoke. The rainbow has many meanings for many cultures - yet a common thread is that there is great beauty created when diverse colors unite. For The Cup and all those that are watching the action during this period, let us showcase our most brilliant colors and our most vibrant rainbows - to Qatar and to the world. We simply can not wait for anyone else to come to our aid. Looking for further encouragement? Look no further than, of course, another Hopi Prophecy...

"The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

--Hopi Elders' Prophecy, June 8, 2000

Aho!

#leadership #downsideupleadership #wisdom #organizationaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #followership #diplomacy #personalleadership #personaldevelopment #motivation #sustainability #indigenous #nativeamericanheritagemonth #strategy #reflection #consciousness #mindfulness #storytelling #lgbtq #pride #rainbow #worldcup #qatar?