Thoreau, The Pope and The Indian.

A Shared Vision
by Connie Baxter Marlow
Thoreau Society Annual Gathering
July 10, 2016
FindingtheExtraordinaryintheOrdinary:HenryD.ThoreauasProtoecologist,
Reformer,andVisionary
Idliketobeginwithashortstoryofthegenesisoftheideaspresentedheretoday.
Itsthestoryofalifesjourneytodate.
AsayounggirlIhadanepiphanyofsortswhenIwitnessedtheloveextendedtowoundedsoldiersby
FlorenceNightingale,reformerandfounderofmodernnursing.Iaskedatthatmomentwhatwas
preventinghumanityfromexhibitingtheextraordinarylovecontainedinthehumanheart.
Theprevailingscientificparadigmseemedtometobeinadequate,giventhatitnegatedcertain
documentedparanormalexperiencesasimpossiblephenomena.Iwasntabouttobasemylifeon
abeliefsystemwhichsoobviouslyhadresultedinaworldoutofbalance.Itwasapparenttomethatit
wasmissingimportantinformation.
MylifebecameaquesttofindwhatIcalledthemissingpiecesoftheparadigm.
OvertheyearsthejourneyledmetoEuropewhereIonlyfoundthesamebeliefsIhadbeenraisedin.
Theninthelate1970sIpickedupabookofNativeAmericanpoetryinbookstoreinSantaFe,NMand
realizedIhaddiscoveredcluestothemissingpieces.Ispentthe80swithmythreechildrenonthe
outside,lookingintoNativeAmericanlifeandcosmology.IknewthattoeducatethemproperlyI
hadtoexposethemtothiswayofthinking.
Inthelate80sand90svisionaryNativeAmericaneldersfrommanytribesLakota,Pueblo,Ute,
Hopi,Maya,Huichol,WabanakiandfinallytheKalahariBushmencameintomylifeandIdiscerned
thattheywerebringingme,experientially,theinformationIwaslookingfor.
IpiecedtogetherwhatIgleanedfrommyownintuitiveknowingandthediscoveriesofquantum
science,alongwith20yearsofcloseassociationwiththeNativeAmericanwayoflifeintoaconstruct
onthenatureoftheuniverseIcalledTheTrustFrequency.MypartnerAndrewBaileyandIhave
writtenabookonthesubject:THETRUSTFREQUENCY:TenAssumptionsforaNewParadigm
whichwecallanindigenouscosmology/quantumsciencesynthesis,bringinginsightsintothe
conscious,lovingabundantUniverse.
THOREAU
Thenonedayin1998orso,IwasvisitingmycousininLincoln,MA.Ihadjustpublishedabookof
photographsGreatestMountain:KatahdinsWildernessonMt.KatahdinandBaxterStatePark
whichmygreatgrandunclePercivalBaxterhadgiventotheStateofMaine.IknewthatThoreauhad
climbedKatahdinandIventuredtoTheShopatWaldenPondtoseeiftheywouldliketocarrythe

book.AndthereIsawit.AquotefromThoreauWhyMakeSuchGreatAdoovertheRomanandthe
GreekandNeglecttheIndian?ThattoldmethatThoreauwasproclaimingwhatIhaddiscovered.I
askediftherewasanymoreinformationonThoreauandIndiansandthethenDirectoroftheThoreau
SocietyintroducedmetoBradleyP.Dean,Ph.DwhowastranscribingThoreausIndianNotebooks.
In2002IhadaphotographyexhibitonKatahdinattheConcordLibraryforthemonthofJuly
encompassingtheThoreauGathering,figuringifanyonewasgoingtounderstandmyideasitwouldbe
Thoreauvians.IhadvariousgalleryeventsinwhichBradDean,RichardSmith,ArnieNeptune,
PenobscotElderspoke,filmedthemandcreatedmyfilmseriesTHEAMERICANEVOLUTION:
VoicesofAmerica.
BradgavemeacompendiumofeveryThoreaureferencetoNativeAmericans/IndiansinallThoreaus
works,andIsetaboutcreatingtheatricalpiecesandtalksthatwoulddemonstrateThoreausvisionfor
humanitythatinvolvedtheNativeAmericanworldview.SinceThoreauwasamysticandsawand
experiencedtheexpandedrealitythattheNativeAmericanssee,itwasanaturalassociation.
BISHOPSAMUELRUIZ
Earlierinthe1990smyjourneyledmetoMexicototheMayainChiapas.ThereinSanCristobalde
LasCasasoverseveralyearsImetwithBishopSamuelRuizwhomIdiscoveredhadthesameidea
ThoreauandIdidtheimportanceoftheindigenouspeoplesandthefactthattheyhavesomething
vitaltobringtohumanityforthefuture.
BishopRuiz(19272011)wasnominatedforaNobelPeacePrize.Heparticipatedinallsessionsof
VaticanII(19621965)andthemeetingofLatinAmericanBishopsinMedellin,Columbiain1968
whichbroughtforthradicalnewperspectivestocorrecttheologicalmarginalizationofindigenous
culturesintheChurchandinsociety.
RuizcametoknowandunderstandtheindigenouspeoplesofChiapas,whichisthecenterofthe
MayanculturesinMexico.HespentdecadesrevolutionizingthepracticesofthedioceseofChiapasto
includetheindigenouspeople.
RuizhasstatedwhichechoesThoreausaforementionedquoteChristianityfacesthechallengeof
becomingmoreflexibleinordertoacceptandincorporateintoitsexperiencetheageoldreligious
andmysticalexperienceofotherpeople.ItisnotamatterofChristianityhavingacertain
understandingoftheexistenceofotherculturesandlifestylesamonghumanbeings;thepointisto
recognizeGodsmysteriouswaysinallcultures,throughthevaluespromotedbythesecultures.
Bishop Samuel Ruiz' vision and tireless work to bring the indigenous cultures and
voice into the Catholic church in Chiapas and beyond has had long-lasting and
vast implications resulting in ongoing dialogue in books, conferences, articles and
more. There will be a conference in Chicago November 4,5, 2016 " The Church
and Indigenous Peoples in the Americas" which is a direct outgrowth of the
principles brought forth in Vatican II and implemented by Bishop Ruiz
POPEFRANCIS

InFebruaryofthisyear,2016,PopeFrancisjourneyedtoSanCristobal.HehonoredthelateBishop
RuizandconductedaMassfortheindigenouspeople,inthreeoftheirlanguages.Hecalledfortheir
integrationintothechurchandsociety.

CHRISPETERS
NativeAmericanscholarChrisPeters,amemberoftheYuroktribeofNorthern,CA,inhistalkatUC
Davisin2013onTheIndigenousPeopleandTheEnduringLegacyoftheDoctrineofDiscovery
speaksoftheimportanceoftheearthbasedparadigmsoftheindigenouspeoplestosocietytoday.
BRADLEYP.DEAN,PhD
ThoreauScholarandEditorspeaksofThoreaure:Indians,Government,andtheemerginghuman.
ARNIENEPTUNE
APenobscotelderwhospeaksonWabanakiways.
IwillletyouexperienceThoreauandBishopRuizthroughquotesandPopeFrancis,ChrisPeters,Brad
DeanandArnieNeptunethroughvideotodemonstratethesharedvisionheldbythesemen:the
importanceoftheindigenousvoice,heartandspiritintheevolutionofthefutureofhumanity.
AndrewBaileywhohasoftenplayedThoreauinmyperformancepieces(whenRichardSmithisnot
available)willreadThoreausquotestobringthemalive.
RonHoaghasagreedtoreadRuizquotes.
PowerPointSlides:
Thoreau,ThePopeandTheIndian.ASharedVision
ANewWorld
Newearths,newthemesexpectus.
HDTJournalOctober22,1857.
TheUniverseiswiderthanourviewsofit.
Whymakesuchgreatadoover
theRomanandtheGreekand
neglecttheIndian?
HDTJournalOctober22,1857.
WakeUp!
Idonotproposetowriteanodetodejectionbuttobragaslustilyaschanticleerinthemorningifonly
towakemyneighborsup.
HDTTitlePageofWalden

Igoinsearchofarrowheads
Asmuchassportsmengoinpursuitofducksandgunnersofmusquashandscholarsofrarebooksand
travelersofadventuresandpoetsofideasandallmenofmoney,Igoinsearchofarrowheadswhen
theproperseasoncomesroundagain.
HDTJournalMarch28,1859.
Wingitswaythroughtheages
Thelargerpestlesandaxesmayperchancegrowscarceandbebroken,butthearrowheadshall
perhapsneverceasetowingitswaythroughtheagestoeternity.(contd)
Hasnotbeendeciphered.
BearingaMessage
Itwasoriginallywingedbutforashortflight,butitstilltomymindseye,wingsitswaythroughthe
agesbearingamessagefromthehandthatshotit.(contd)
Onthetrailofmind
Theyarenotfossilbones,butasitwere,fossilthoughtsforeverremindingmeofthemindthat
shapedthem.IwouldfeignknowthatIamtreadinginthetracksofhumangame,thatIamonthetrail
ofmind.Andtheselittleremindersneverfailtosetmeright.
HDTJournalMarch28,1859
TheIndianbeginswhereweleaveoff
TheIndian...beginswhereweleaveoffandseemssomuchthedivine;andanythingthatfairlyexcites
ouradmirationexpandsus.
FromanAugust18,1857lettertoHarrisonBlake,writtenshortlyafterThoreausfinalexcursiontothe
Mainewoods.
TheTrueManofScience
ThetruemanofsciencewillhavearareIndianwisdomandwillknownaturebetterbyhisfiner
organization.Hewillsmell,taste,see,hear,feel,betterthanothermen.Hiswillbeadeeperandfiner
experience.1)
HDTJournalOctober11,1840(p.187Princeton,Vol1)
BarterBirthright
TheIndian,perchance,hasnotmadeuphismindtosomethingswhichthewhitemanhasconsented
to;hehasnot,inallrespects,stoopedsolow;andhence,thoughhetoolovesfoodandwarmth,he
drawshistatteredblanketabouthimandfollowshisfathers,ratherthanbarterhisbirthright.(contd)
Heisnotdestroyed
Hedies,andnodoubthisGeniusjudgeswellforhim.Butheisnotworstedinthefight;heisnot
destroyed.HeonlymigratesbeyondthePacifictomorespaciousandhappierhuntinggrounds.
HDTJournal:[18371847(pp129130Dover,Vol.I)]
LifeanInstitution
Butthispointstoadistinctionbetweenthecivilizedmanandthesavage&Nodoubttheyhavedesigns

onusinmakingofthelifeofacivilizedpeopleaninstitutioninwhichthelifeoftheindividualistoa
greatextentabsorbed,inorderperchancetopreserve&perfecttherace.
HDTJournalFebruary14,1852
WhatSacrifice
butIwishtoshowatwhatasacrificethisadvantageisobtainedandtosuggestthatwemaypossibly
soliveastosecurealltheadvantagewithoutsufferinganyofthedisadvantage.
HDTJournalFebruary14,1852(p.347Princeton,Volume4)
RestoreMankind
If,then,wewouldindeedrestoremankindbytrulyIndian,botanic,magnetic,ornaturalmeans,letus
firstbeassimpleandwellasNatureourselves,dispelthecloudswhichhangoverourownbrows,and
takeupalittlelifeintoourpores.
HDTEconomy:Walden
LearningCannotEducate
Thesavagemaybe,andoftenis,asage.OurIndianismoreofamanthantheinhabitantofacity.He
livesasamanhethinksasamanhediesasaman.Thelatter,itistrue,ismorelearned;Learning
isArtscreature;butitisnotessentialtotheperfectmanitcannoteducate.
HDTEarlyEssaysJune2,1837p110
AThousandRevelations
ThenextdaytheIndiantoldmetheirnamefor[thephosphorescent]light[Ihadseeninthenight],
Artoosoqu,andonmyinquiringconcerningthewillothewisp,andthelikephenomena,hesaid
thathis"folks"sometimessawfirespassingalongatvariousheights,evenashighasthetrees,and
makinganoise.Naturemusthavemadeathousandrevelationstothemwhicharestillsecretstous.
HDTTheAllagashandEastBranch59
RevelationsChrisPetersvideo
ExperienceandBelief
Itsuggested,too,thatthesameexperiencealwaysgivesbirthtothesamesortofbelieforreligion.
OnerevelationhasbeenmadetotheIndian,anothertothewhiteman.Ihavemuchtolearnofthe
Indian,nothingofthemissionary.
HDTTheMaineWoods.Penguinedition249
SomethingtobeSeen
Ascientificexplanation,asitiscalled,wouldhavebeenaltogetheroutofplacethere.Thatisforpale
daylight.Sciencewithitsretortswouldhaveputmetosleep;itwastheopportunitytobeignorant
thatIimproved.Itsuggestedtomethattherewassomethingtobeseenifonehadeyes.
HDTTheMaineWoods.Penguinedition249
MagicArnieNeptuneVideo
Spirits

Itmadeabelieverofmemorethanbefore.Ibelievedthatthewoodswerenottenantless,butchoke
fullofhonestspiritsasgoodasmyselfanyday,notanemptychamber,inwhichchemistrywasleftto
workalone,butaninhabitedhouseandforafewmomentsIenjoyedfellowshipwiththem.
HDTTheMaineWoods.Penguinedition249
IndigenousPreceptsChrisPetersVideo
BishopSamuelRuizPhoto

CivilSocietyEnriched
Weglimpsethepossibilityofacivilsocietyenrichedbyallthecontributionsthatarenowsuppressed;
theindigenousvoicethatisstifled,andwhich,forthatveryreason,issonewandstrikingthatwhen
wehearitforthefirsttimewewillrealizehowmanythingsitquestions,anditwillenrichusfrom
manypointsofview.
BishopSamuelRuizOfTimesNew,PossibleandDreamedJuly1994
ConsideringtheIndigenousExperience
Inthisdreamwefindasocietythatconsiderstheindigenousexperience.Whenindigenouspeople
demandtherighttoparticipateinthenewsociety,thisdoesnotmeanhavingaseattopartakefrom
thecommonbanquet,buthavingaplacefortheirownvalues,soastocontributetothetransformation
ofthissociety.(contd)
ContributeValues
FortheIndian,participatingmeansgivinghisshare,notjusttakingwhatishisbyright,butto
contributewithhisownvalues.
BishopSamuelRuizOfTimesNew,PossibleandDreamedJuly1994
FlowerPowerPopeFrancis
ImportantRoleDailyMail
ThegestureisademonstrationofthePopesbeliefthatIndianshaveanimportantroletoplayin
moderndayMexico.
IndiansimportantinthefutureTheDailyMailOnline.Feb15,2016
Youhavemuchtoteachus!PopeFrancisinSanCristobalVideo
TranslationPopeFrancisMassinSanCristobaldeLasCasas,Chiapas,Mexico

The environmental challenge that we are experiencing and its human causes, affects us all
(cf. Laudato Si, 14) and demands our response. We can no longer remain silent before one
of the greatest environmental crises in world history.
In this regard, you have much to teach us. Your peoples, as the bishops of Latin America
have recognized, know how to interact harmoniously with nature, which they respect as a
source of food, a common home and an altar of human sharing (Aparecida, 472).
6

And yet, on many occasions, in a systematic and organized way, your people have been
misunderstood and excluded from society. Some have considered your values, culture and
traditions to be inferior. Others, intoxicated by power, money and market trends, have
stolen your lands or contaminated them. How sad this is! How worthwhile it would be for
each of us to examine our conscience and learn to say, Forgive me! Todays world,
ravaged as it is by a throwaway culture, needs you!
Exposed to a culture that seeks to suppress all cultural heritage and features in pursuit of a
homogenized world, the youth of today need to cling to the wisdom of their elders!
DilemmaChrisPetersVideo
LoveforallLifeArnieNeptuneVideo
KeeptheNewWorldNewBradDeanVideo
SelfGovernorsBradDeanVideo
TheChurch&IndigenousPeoplesintheAmericas
November4,5,2016Chicago,IL
ThisconferencebringstogetherscholarsandpastoralvoicesfromChile,Bolivia,Brazil,Mexico,the
U.S.,andCanada,andtheIndigenouspeoplesoftheMapuche,Chiquitano,TzeltalMayan,Oglala
Sioux,Mi'kmaw,andAnishinaabetodiscusstherelationshipbetweentheCatholicChurchandnative
peoplesacrosstheAmericas,identifyingbothwoundsandopportunitiesforreconciliationandhope.
CatholicTheologicalUnion(CTU)andDePaulUniversity'sCenterforWorldCatholicism&InterculturalTheology
(CWCIT).November45,2016

OnwardtoANewFuturePhotoofThoreau,BishopRuiz,ArnieNeptune,ChrisPeters,Pope
Francis
ASynthesis
ItisthedestinyofthepeopleoftheAmericastocometogetherasonefamilyandshowtheworldhow
toliveinpeacethroughfreedomofthehumanspirit.TheindigenouspeopleoftheAmericashave
beenholdingkeystothefreedomofthespiritforallofhumankindthroughtheirconnectiontothe
Earthandtheunseenuniversalforces.(contd)
WalkinBalance
Whenwebringtogetherwhattheyknowandwhatthemoderncultureshavelearnedbyexperiencing
thescientificparadigm,asynthesiswilloccurwhichwillcreateawholenewwayofwalkingonEarth
inharmonywithallofCreationneverexperiencedbyanyonesincethebeginning.
ConnieBaxterMarlowVisionandMissionof
TheJourneyforPeaceandHealingintheAmericas1995

ThankYou
HaveaNiceDay.