Bernadette Rebienot
Encyclopedia
Bernadette was born in Libreville, Gabon
Bernadette Rebienot is a spiritual leader. Through her work as an indigenous
elder stateswoman, Bernadette gained international recognition as a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
to learn.
Bwiti
ritual. Bernadette feels that one needs humility and a love of the profession in order to be a traditional doctor.
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world.
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
and related edict
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' culture when new lands have been discovered. The Grandmothers have visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees still yet to be revoked.
Bernadette sees that the Council is greatly needed in order to produce a "reconciliation with nature" and to, "fight to create a bridge between many communities".
Bernadette has great regard for the grandmothers that have gone before her, what Bernadette calls the pioneers, stating that, "Grandmothers are the root of all nations"
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
Bernadette Rebienot is a spiritual leader. Through her work as an indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
elder stateswoman, Bernadette gained international recognition as a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
Early life
Bernadette's mother died when Bernadette was 5 years old. Bernadette was taught by her grandmother who was a traditional healer and specialist midwife and Bernadette's father. At an early age Bernadette began receiving visions. Her first vision foresaw her father's friend die through drowning. Her father's reaction to hearing her vision led Bernadette to become reserved about telling people about her gift. Later, Bernadette was sent to a conventConvent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
to learn.
Early Illness
Whilst Bernadette lived in a boarding school, which was run by catholic nuns, she again started to share her visions, this time with her friends. However, whilst still living at the school, she became seriously ill with terrible pain and having the right side of her face affected.Healing career
Bernadette has been healing people since the age of 40. She has been a traditional African doctor and therapist, and is a master of several rites including the IbogaIboga
Tabernanthe iboga or Iboga is a perennial rainforest shrub and hallucinogen, native to western Central Africa. Iboga stimulates the central nervous system when taken in small doses and induces visions in larger doses. In parts of Africa where the plant grows the bark of the root is chewed for...
Bwiti
Bwiti
Bwiti is a West Central African spiritual practice by the forest-dwelling Babongo and Mitsogo people of Gabon, where it is counted as one of the three official religions, and the Fang people of Gabon and Cameroon...
ritual. Bernadette feels that one needs humility and a love of the profession in order to be a traditional doctor.
The International Council of 13 Grandmothers
In 2004, Bernadette was approached by The Center for Sacred Studies to serve on the International Council of 13 Indigenous GrandmothersInternational Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world.
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
and related edict
Edict
An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are currently the only persons who still issue edicts.-Notable edicts:...
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' culture when new lands have been discovered. The Grandmothers have visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees still yet to be revoked.
Bernadette sees that the Council is greatly needed in order to produce a "reconciliation with nature" and to, "fight to create a bridge between many communities".
Bernadette has great regard for the grandmothers that have gone before her, what Bernadette calls the pioneers, stating that, "Grandmothers are the root of all nations"