Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dave Courchene Jr.) has
openly shared understanding of First Nations wisdom and teachings
with people of all races and backgrounds. This has resulted in invitations
to speak or to carry our Ceremonies, from all parts of the Globe.
Nii Gaani Aki Inini stands with other spiritual people around the
globe in a united effort to transcend religious arguments, and economic,
political and racial differences. He believes that no one people has
the entire answer to the difficulties we face as divided peoples,
rather that there needs to be a sharing of the wisdom of the heart.
Earth Summit
In 1992, Nii Gaani Aki Inini spoke at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil where world leaders gathered, out of imminent concerns over
environmental destruction around the globe. The key message of his
speech is in a co-authored publication commissioned and endorsed by
the International Indigenous Commission, entitled 'Voice of the Eagle
- The Final Warning Message of the Indigenous People of Turtle Island'.
At the Earth Summit, In 1992, Nii Gaani Aki Inini lit the Sacred Fire.
Among the First Nations people, fire represents the heart of the people.
The smoke from fire symbolically represents the carrying of prayers
rising above. Fire also represents renewal and cleansing, and from
the ashes one has new growth, new ideas, new way of living, new vegetation
growth.
Middle East
In 1994, Nii Gaani Aki Inini made a journey to Israel, where he led
a gathering of all races at the foot of the Kumeran Caves by the Dead
Sea, meeting and entering ceremony with Israelis and Palestinians
alike. The purpose of the journey was to inspire the people of the
Middle East to transcend their history of differences and oppression,
by bringing a message of peace through respect and the sharing of
common spiritual values.
As a representative of a people who have historically been oppressed
and dislocated from their land and way of life, Nii Gaani Aki Inini,
out of a deep concern for all of humanity, wished to convey a message
of hope and the ability of a people to endure and transcend despair,
loss of identity and self-worth, anger and mistrust. This effort was
highlighted in Harry Rasky's 1995 award-winning feature film, 'Prophecy'.
The journey to the Middle East was very significant, as this part
of the world is considered the Holy Land for three major world religions:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Indigenous people of Turtle Island
consider the Dome on the Rock to be located at the spiritual navel
of Mother Earth, the origin of the Life Force. The Kumeran Caves represent
the lowest geographical point of elevation in the world. Many spiritual
people believe that the ceremony of unification of peoples initiated
by Nii Gaani Aki Inini in 1994 represented a significant spiritual
beginning, in which the essence of Spirit and the light of the Creator
would rise from the lowest point on the earth and 'Pass Over' the
world.
United Nations, New York
Nii Gaani Aki Inini was an invited speaker at the 2000 Millennium
World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, hosted by the
United Nations in New York, USA in August 2000.
The Summit served as 'a further step' in the needed task of working
out the role of civil society in a new world order, wherein a viable
world order needs to be built on broader foundations than the nation
states. A draft document titled 'Commitment to World Peace' was adopted
by the religious leaders, with pledges that they will 'collaborate
and partner with the United Nations internationally, regionally and
locally for the achievement of peace in all its dimensions'. The document
also commits them to bring renewed spiritual commitment to deal with
the issues of violence, ethnic conflict, poverty, destruction of the
environment and technologies that 'degrade the human spirit'.
Asia - Phillipines
Nii Gaani Aki Inini was an invited speaker at the international conference
entitled 'The Gathering for Human and Ecological Security: A Conference
on Population, Environment and Peace' (GHES) held in Manila, Phillipines
on June 15-17, 1995. The focus of the conference was sharing of experiences
and developing a consensus on the new ethic for human and ecological
security. The GHES adopted a framework which defines inter-relationships
of population management, environmental protection and peace. The
policy agenda and program of action resulting from the Conference
served as guide to local government units in the implementation of
this framework in the Phillipines.
Asia - Japan
Nii Gaani Aki Inini was invited to Japan in 1995 by the University
of Tokyo, where he spoke on Earth issues and the environment.
