Daniel Stange de Acatl
Posted April 9, 2026
Holy Week. While Holy war rages on, makes me wonder what Holy hell is in store for the world? There is a deep-rooted affiliation to the Catholic faith in our community and for more reasons than you might believe. When you visit Juárez, México there is a mountain that commands you in Spanish: “The Bible is truth, READ IT!” and to some, it is a declaration of the faith in God and to others it is a reminder that this religion was forced upon us. Because one thing that Mexicans do agree on is that we did not come from across the Atlantic to a “new world”. We might have some Spanish ancestry and most who’s skin is fair, will proudly announce that. Still, our Brown skin and Native features are a stark reminder that we belong to this continent and no other.
Most Chicanos have a deep genetic bloodline to the many African explorers and slaves that came to our shores and through the Caribe. There is certainly some Asian blending here, not only recently, but remarked in history that most likely the pacific coast was a welcome place for trade and genetic blending with ancient Polynesian, Chinese, Hindu or Japanese guests. Long before the Spanish invasion and certainly still today. José Vasconcelos was eager to name us the RAZA COSMICA in relation to our blend of the four corn nations, – Red – Yellow- Black – White – all blend together to a beautiful shade of Brown.
We will never fight our way to peace.
Certainly, the now well documented diaspora of human genome is reshaping the historical view that European scientists and academics have strained themselves to maintain. One that paints Judeo-Christian beliefs as a key factor of dominance. God only helps those who pray to him in the proper manner I suppose? We could ask the Pope? But we could also search inside and hear the voice of our ancestors that were an incredibly devoted and spiritual people, in days past as well as today. Native American Indigenous people have a profound spiritual belief that can even recognize the conscious spirit of natural things that Christians do not believe have a soul. Animals, rivers, mountains, rocks and trees; these all are considered sacred and spiritual beings to our ancestors. So much so, that as our 7,000-year-old culture advanced its technology, there was no utilization of the wheel because we understood that its use would destroy the natural environment.
In México Tenochtitlan and in most nations around them, there was a calendar that divided the year into 18 months with principal religious celebrations at each month and some months had two festivals. When the priests from Spain and the Vatican took the time to learn our languages and live among our cities, they documented incredible stories that linked the religious ideology, but most of those stories have been destroyed and forgotten. Or, the academic scholars and anthropologists have distorted the accounts and used them to paint our ancestors as heathens. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The biggest difference to our religious and spiritual values between Europe and Anahuac (America) is that to our ancestors, there was never any disruption between the relationship with human and divine energy. There is no “sin” that requires God to bring death. Death is just an everlasting recycle of energy, and we know that our lives are eternal because we are in relationship with all things on the Mother Earth. Even beyond, into the cosmos that we see in the clear night sky, there is a connection because our Mothership is spinning through the galaxy as it revolves around the sun. So, we understand that there is a space that we move through. There are cycles that repeat and there are processes that resolve us to blend into the world and the universe without ever actually going anywhere.
In truth, the real journey is inward. And even Jesus tried to teach his followers that. The kingdom of heaven is within you, and you should be like a child to understand it (without judgement). When you ask Jesus to come into your heart, you are reconnecting with the essence of truth that is God’s presence in all life. When you understand Native Spirituality, you know that that that essence of truth was never severed from you and you just have to feel it. You have to walk in it. There’s no need to use a torture device like a crucifix to burden you and weigh down your heart.
What our spiritual teachings do, is to lighten our hearts so that we may easily lift our spirits and recognize the actions and intentions of our deeds so that they remain in relationship to others around us. Even the cross itself is a symbol of the sword being placed into the ground to declare and end to war. We will never fight our way to peace. But we can find our way out of darkness. Just as many of our ancestral stories have told about the people rising up out of the ancient caves. The cave is your internal being and the place you find connection to your ancestors. Then you bring yourself into the light just as you did at birth. Call it rebirth if you need to. Spring is the rebirth of the flowers and trees and why not a chance for you to renew your identity with the true knowledge of your ancestors?
Danny Stange de Acatl is a Denver Native and Cultural activist that serves his community on various levels.
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