History of the Manitou Foundation

From the Founder Hanne Strong

In 1977, my husband, Maurice Strong and partners purchased AZL, a large ranching operation consisting of 2 million acres in the Southwestern United States. AZL’s land holdings included two parcels totalling146,000-acres in Colorado, the Luis Maria Baca Ranch and the Baca Grande Development . At the first executive meeting, the board suggested that Maurice immediately sell the Baca Grande Development and the Luis Maria Baca Ranch as the property resulted in a 30 million dollar loss in revenue to the company.

Maurice, myself and my family were to relocate to Phoenix, but after one month of looking for a place to live, I told Maurice that I could not live there as I didn’t feel a connection to it. He then suggested we take a look at other company land holdings/ranches. We looked in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado and when we flew into the Baca I got out of the plane, looked at the mountains and said “this is it. I instantly recognized the land, felt its spirit and felt the sacred mountain welcome us”. At that moment we both decided not to sell the Baca, as this would be our new home.

In 1978, my mother, my daughters and sister all relocated from Canada to Crestone. We drove from Alberta and as we entered the Valley we were greeted by four golden eagles. We moved into the Luis Maria Baca Ranch main headquarters built in 1823. A few months after settling in, a stranger appeared at my door and introduced himself as Glen Anderson. I immediately sensed his kindness and a certain light in his eyes. I invited him in for tea. I did not know at the time that many people throughout the Valley knew Glen as the local mystic and prophet. His first words were “I have been waiting for you to arrive”. Over the course of next four days he transmitted what he had received from spirit about the future purpose of this land and my role in fullfilling this vision he received from Spirit.

When Hanne and Glen visited the vacant site where the Desert Sage is now located, he stood there and cried. Tears streamed down his face as he asked “where are all the buildings? Where is the dining hall, the teachers and temples”? Glen spoke specifically about climate change and said, “it is not only about global warming, it is about climate extremes – part of the world will experience another Ice Age.”

After Glen shared this information, I fasted in the mountains for four days and four nights and was told by spirit that I needed to draw a map of the mountains and include the worlds religious traditions. I was further told that this land is Hopi territory and that I must go to Hopi land to consult with the elders. I already had a history with a Hopi Elder, Thomas Banyaca whom I met in Stockholm in 1972. We had kept in communication over the years and I had helped Thomas facilitate the Earth Healing Ceremonies during the Habitat Conference. Enrique Penalosa arranged for Thomas to read his statement (a warning to the world) to heads of government. In his remarks, Thomas mentioned a “World Spiritual Center”. The following is a quote from his address:

“If the United Nations cannot prevent the destruction of mankind and Mother Nature by political means, they should now support a meeting of the world spiritual leaders with the Hopi Nation. All nations who come to our homeland should recognize our spiritual foundation and support the establishment of a Spiritual Center for all mankind.”
Thomas Banyacya – address to the UN June 8, 1976

In 1978, after my fast, I made a trip to Hopi land where I was taken to a sacred Kiva deep within the earth. After hours of ceremony and prayers, the elders communicated that the vision was correct and that the Hopi shared a similar prophesy. They further stated that this center had to take place near the Eastern Mountain, the most sacred of their mountains, “where the light comes into the world”. I received their confirmation blessing and began the journey forward.