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First Nations leader praises Transcendental Meditation, Maharishi's knowledge for the preservation of language, culture, health
by Global Good News staff writer

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16 November 2009

Tim Paul, a leader of the First Nations people of Canada, expressed his appreciation for endeavours to preserve the culture and language of native peoples—one topic featured in a historic three-day seminar and press conference* held at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, USA this autumn. He also spoke about how the Transcendental Meditation Programme has helped him with diabetes.

Prosper Waukon**, press conference moderator, introduced Mr Paul as 'one of our highest ranking Indians in Canada'. Mr Paul has single-handedly developed a radio station dedicated to First Nations language and programming for the Maliseet people of New Brunswick. He is now executive director of the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, and in January of this year he visited Maharishi University of Management to see the University's Sustainable Living department.

'Maharishi Mahesh Yogi did a lot for my people,' Mr Paul said. 'He helped our radio stations expand. We're going all over New Brunswick now, and we'll be going all over America next year, promoting our language, promoting our culture. I think it's important that we do this. We need to preserve our culture. We're dying—we're dying of diabetes, our language is dying, our culture is dying. . . .

'We need your help. I'd like to thank everybody for this,' he said. 'There are only 6,000 of us left on earth,' he said, referring to the Maliseet people, 'and . . . 80 per cent have diabetes.' He expressed heartfelt appreciation for efforts to preserve the language, culture, and health of his people.

Mr Paul said that although initially he was unsure he wanted to learn the Transcendental Meditation Programme (TM), since beginning the practice he's experienced dramatic improvements in his health.

'I'm a diabetic . . . my blood pressure was high, I was always tense, my numbers were always high. I [learned] TM, and it was a matter of a couple of weeks, something like that, and my numbers started stabilizing, my blood pressure stabilized. This was almost a year ago now—and it's been good ever since. It's amazing. I feel great.'

'I practise TM every single day, and I appreciate the knowledge. I think it's important that the rest of our people gain that knowledge.'

* Many distinguished leaders spoke at a press conference on 'Building Healthy, Sustainable American Indian Communities'—which preceded a historic three-day international symposium of the same theme, 25-27 September at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, USA. The press conference explored in brief a proven five-point plan to reduce, and even eradicate, some of the most pressing problems confronting American Indians and all indigenous people throughout the world.

** Prosper Waukon is a hereditary leader of the Winnebago tribe of Nebraska (USA). He is an accomplished businessman, youth development specialist, and organizational strategist. Mr Waukon shares with the Hocak Elders Council a tireless advocacy for the education, health, food, and preservation and restoration of culture for his tribe and the whole of Indian Country.

*** The beneficial effects of Transcendental Meditation on diabetes are being studied through scientific research in the Ho-Chunk community in Nebraska, with the involvement of medical professionals at the reservation.

© Copyright 2009 Global Good News^®

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