Transcript:

Heres a program from our archives.In many traditions the relationship between human beings and nature is deepened through ceremony. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Iroquois music, Standing Quiver Dance Oren Lyons is one of the chiefs of the Onandaga Council of the Six Nation Iroquois Confederacy.Lyons: Indian nations have always had ceremony. The ceremony has always been to celebrate and to give thanks, and to recognize these life-giving essences around us: whether it's the corn, whether it's the beans that grow, whether it's the rain, or whether it's the sun. Great ceremony, great thanksgiving, this becomes an essential part of your daily life. And so the idea of reverence for, of respect for, and appreciation for, and thanksgiving for these essences, ensure a long life, ensure a better life, ensure a better community. There's very little ceremony, practically none in the industrial states. The ceremony that you see are what they call, 'pomp and circumstance'. Which is, I think, in contradiction to the ceremonies for corn and beans -- ceremonies of humility, rather than pomp and circumstance. I find that in a community is where the ceremonies are, where meetings are, where the longhouse is, where the chiefs are. When I sit with the council of chiefs, I'm just always impressed that these men take the time with no pay, no compensation, and on behalf of the people, and always on behalf of the future. I just have a great deal of respect that human beings are still capable of that. I know there are people all over this earth that think and do like that.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. If you want hear more, check out our podcast.