The growing hysteria during the build-up to the year 2012 has been an amusing phenomenon. According to Mayans, who are most familiar with their own calendar, the paradigm shift associated with 2012, or the "end of the world" scenario envisioned by many whites, would not actually arrive in the year 2012 of the Christian calendar. When a year is calculated at 280 days, by Matriarchal time, the Mayans tell us that the 2012 actually already came and went, long ago---over 500 years ago in fact, in 1492. There's your paradigm shift and the end of the world all rolled up in one.

Russell Means, Lakotah Chief.