The Fourth Way: An Indigenous Contribution for Building Sustainable and Harmonious Prosperity in the Americas, was first shared publicly with trusted relatives at the Healing Ourselves, Our Communities, and Mother Earth Spiritual Gathering on Earth Day, April 22, 2006, at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Discovery Park, Seattle, WA. It was also simultaneously shared at three other related spiritual gatherings across North America and with trusted relatives via email.

The Fourth Way is a result of an in-depth consultation process, beginning on October 2001, with Indigenous leaders and communities across the Americas and beyond, as well as with other concerned parties, we present The Fourth Way with full faith and confidence that it embodies a sacred path to ending escalating cycles of poverty and violence and helping to build sustainable and harmonious prosperity in the Americas.

The Fourth Way is rooted in the Sacred Prophecies and Teachings of the Ancient Ones who walked the Americas long before the arrival of Columbus. With the Spiritual Foundation already prepared in many places and by many Relatives who have walked the path before us, the actualization of Stage 1 will move rapidly and the next three stages will be revealed and fulfilled at the proper time.

The Fourth Way is an effort to address what we view as the unfolding crisis of this new century, a crisis of many dimensions where our Mother Earth and its inhabitants simultaneously face the prospect of environmental degradation, violent conflict, competition for ever scarcer resources and markets, economic insecurity, societal and political upheaval, and an increase in poverty and hopelessness. We view the Fourth Way as a “Strategic Security Document” presenting greater potential for peace and security than heavy-handed military or diplomatic approaches. We point to the Fourth Way and the Sixteen Principles as laying the foundation for formulating a response that will benefit the entire Human Family.

In The Fourth Way, we clearly point out that Indigenous Peoples have the vision, the Guiding Principles and values, the growing capacity and collective resources to co-create with other members of the Human Family a peaceful and harmonious future for all of our children and grandchildren. We submit that Indigenous people hold a critical key to peace, security, and sustainable well-being for all members of the Human Family. We believe our collective future is at stake.

 

The following Gatherings in South America will help to develop the spiritual foundation for the actualization of The Fourth Way:

Gathering in Lake Titicaca, Peru on March 19-23, 2007

Gathering in Tiwanaku, Bolivia from June 14-22, 2007

 

The Fourth Way in the Media:

9/22/2006: Democracy Now Interview with Bolivian President Evo Morales on Latin America, U.S. Foreign Policy and the Role of the Indigenous People of Bolivia

1/2007: Colors Magazine: "The Fourth Way -- Phil Lane's Vision for Harmony and Prosperity" by Alex Valdes

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