Have We Done This Before?
Lessons from Hopi wisdom
In 1948, after seeing the horrific images of nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - a group of Hopi elders in northern Arizona scheduled an emergency gathering for three days to talk about what they had seen. This gathering was unusual for the Hopi, but their ancient teachings had told them if they ever saw this image, the clouds of ash from nuclear explosions - they needed to warn the powers of the world that they were traveling down the wrong path. After their summit, the elders decided it was necessary to send four messengers from their community out into the world to share Hopi teachings and advocate for a more sustainable life.
Thomas Banyacya Sr. was one of the four messengers. He attempted to deliver a sacred prayer feather and a request to address the United Nations three separate times and was denied. After the fourth request he was granted permission to speak and in 1992 the UN scheduled a special ceremony for International Year of World’s Indigenous People.
The Hopi teachings say that we are currently living in the fourth world. Three separate times, we have built worlds with complex civilizations and technologies. Our ancestors in these previous civilizations thought that they could outsmart nature and build technologies to solve their problems. In every case, their lives and civilizations were destroyed by nature. Earthquakes, ice, and flood. The destruction of these worlds killed nearly everyone alive - only a handful of people survived with knowledge of how their ancestors used to live. Their history, their technology, nearly everything was forgotten.
In his UN speech, Thomas Banyacya Sr. warns us that this fourth world, the world we are all currently living, is on the brink of meeting a similar fate. We have made the choice to live against nature and nature will inevitably overpower our human cleverness. He warns that if we do not change our ways, then very few of us will survive what is coming next.
Sometime in my mid 20s. My father handed me a bolo tie with a Hopi design, a large silver sun and he said to me “go and listen to Thomas Banyacya’s speech to the UN.” Eventually I did and it fundamentally shifted my world view. My education taught me that human civilization exists only on this one timeline - from Mesopotamia to the sunny streets of Los Angeles. Stories like Atlantis, Noah’s flood, and the Tower of Babel reference this idea that previous civilizations have been built, destroyed, and then forgotten. But scientific consensus dismisses these stories as myths with no historical grounding.
I am not going to argue against scientific consensus, nor will I argue for the historical accuracy of Atlantis. I do advocate that we listen to indigenous wisdom. If the Hopi claim that we have done this many times before and it always failed, maybe we should listen to them. Maybe we should try something new. Try to live more sustainable and earth conscience lives.
But what do I know? Thomas Banyacya Sr says it much better than I ever could, the public link to the full speech is on the UN’s website.
There are two reasons why I recommend you to listen to this speech now.
As of March 12, 2026. We are at the beginning of a new violent conflict between the United States, Israel, Iran and other surrounding neighbors. It feels like the global hegemony has been rope-a-doped and we are watching a global poly-crisis unfold. Thomas Banyacya Sr.’s warning is as prescient as ever.
Thomas Banyacya Sr.’s son, Thomas Banyacya Jr. is still with us. I reached out to Thomas Jr last month because I am interested in using a portion of Thomas Sr’s speech in my upcoming album “Cowboy Dream”. I sent Thomas Jr an email and on the following morning he gave a call and said “I heard you were looking for Thomas Sr, well I’m Thomas Jr.”
Thomas Banyacya Jr lives and works in Kykotsmovi Village, Third Mesa in Hopi, Arizona where he creates his art and jewelry. Thomas Jr has been creating jewelry since his early twenties. An accomplished and preeminent contemporary Hopi artist he combines ancient design motifs and modern forms creating sculptural designs that are timeless and classic art that is worn.
In addition to his art practice, Thomas Jr is also managing Thomas Sr’s estate, and has plans to rebuild and preserve his father’s house called The Historic Thomas Banyacya Legacy House. More info and a link to donate to this important project can be found at https://hopiproject.com/
The Historic Thomas Banyacya Legacy House is a multi-generational home whose restoration will provide a boost to the local economy, and create an informal local meeting place for groups and individuals, where old friends and new generations will be able to visit, meet, eat together and stay. Please donate if you are able and share with your community.
I haven’t met Thomas Jr in person yet, but I have greatly enjoyed our phone conversations over the last few months. I am hoping we can meet up the next time I make it back to Arizona. I wanted to highlight him and his father here because I believe is so much value in listening to indigenous wisdom in times like these.
On a personal note:
It’s been a while since I was properly in touch, I really appreciate your patience! I had a few months of transitions that included some loss (wow so much grief recently) - I needed to retreat back into myself and get my bearings. I am slowly crawling back into the light and hope to get back to my post every two weeks or so schedule.
Until then, wishing you all a good week!
Joshua