World Native Spirit Interfaith Flag String


10" tall by 7' long • Rayon Batik

This 10-flag string honors the native peoples of the world, taking representative traditions from various continents. The symbols are arranged to reflect the order of the Iroquois Thanksgiving Address, an opening prayer of thanks offered to all the aspects of the world before every meeting of those tribes in Northeast USA. It underscores the preciousness of all aspects of creation, a central teaching of Native spirituality.

Flag #1: 'Ohana, Hawaii
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to all the humans who enrich our lives, the Two-Leggeds."

'Ohana is a Hawai'ian word meaning family, kin group, or extended family, which can include neighbors, friends, and distant relatives. A relatively new word in Hawai'i, it captures the feeling of the island spirit and true community. This image is done in the style of the ancient Hawai'ian petroglyphs, and the border includes images of a fish, a gecko, a mo'o (lizard water spirit), and a honu (sea turtle).

Flag #2: Pachamama — Inca, Peru, South America
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to Earth Mother and the many-legged people of the Earth."

Pachamama, or Mama Pacha, was a dragoness, an Earth Mother fertility goddess in Inca mythology who presided over planting and harvesting, and occasionally caused earthquakes. She is a machukuna, ancient being. This is a non-traditional representative image in Peruvian style.

Flag #3: Orca — Inuit, Alaska, North America
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the Water and the People of the Water."

Orca, or Killer Whale, is a symbol of cosmic consciousness, providing a bridge to other worlds and helping embody the consciousness of the universe. Keeper of the Ocean, and Guardian of the Cosmic Memory, called the "Sea Wolf."

Flag #4: Rainbow Serpent — Arnhem Land, Australia
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the the plants, the rooted ones, symbols of transformation and fertility."

Not limited to plants, the Rainbow Serpent is a symbol of fertility, abundance, richness in propagation of plants and animals, water, and rain, and is common throughout Australia. It is a creator of human beings, having life-giving and destructive powers. It is depicted as a long mythical creature made of the parts of different animals — the kangaroo's or flying fox's head, the crocodile's tail — joined along the body of a huge python decorated with water lilies, yams, and waving tendrils.

Flag #5: Tortoise — Shinto, Japan
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the four-legged people, the animals."

Tortoise (Black Warrior) is a protector associated with North, Winter, the color Black. The medicine of Turtle is its deliberate and thorough approach to life; Turtle is also courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out. Shinto is Japan's indigenous folk religion, teaching that all natural objects are inhabited by spirits, or kami ().

Flag #6: Eagle — Ojibwa, Northeast North America
We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the Birds, the winds and the people of the Air.

Eagle is the Principle Messenger of the Creator, who flies the closest to Great Mystery but also comes down to earth. Eagle sits in the east on the Medicine Wheel with the Elders and the direction of wisdom, guidance and courage. A symbols used by many tribes in North America, this image is from the Ojibwa (or Ojibwe/Ojibway, also called Anishinaabe/Aanishanabe/Anishinabek or Chippewa/Chippeway).

Flag #7: Moon and Pentacle — Wicca, Europe
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the Moon and the Star People, keepers of all the memories of time."

Representing the stars, symbolic of life and health in ancient times, the pentacle has been used as a strong protective charm. The five-pointed star is used in many traditions, and in Wicca, a shamanic nature religion from Europe, it represents how energy flows through the stages of life, corresponding to the Five Points of the human body. The crescent moon represents receptivity, openness, the cup, new life.

Flag #8: Sun Zia — Zia Pueblo, Southwest North America
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the Sun, giver of life, light, warmth, growth."

The Zia, named for the people in New Mexico who first used it, is a symbol of the Sun, and also of the Four Directions and the Circle of Life on Earth. The image appears on the flag of the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Flag #9: Hunab Ku — Maya Peoples, Central America
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the The Four Directions, the great energies that give structure to our world."

The Hunab Ku ("Sole God") symbol represents the center of the Galaxy, and the four directions of East, South, West, and North. The complex and highly developed Mayan system of astrology is based on our relationship with this center at our birth.

Flag #10: Gye Nyame — Ashanti, Ghana, West Africa
"We send our thanksgivings and greetings to the The Great Spirit, the Unknowable, the Infinite One."

Gye Nyame means "except for God," and is a symbol of the supreme nature of God. A unique and beautiful Adinkra symbol found everywhere in Ghana, very popular for use in decoration and fabrics. (Ashanti/Asante)

These batiks are custom hand painted with very bright permanent dyes. Each piece is unique and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Limited quantities. Fully washable