I think this year we realized how flexible and adaptable we are. The best part of the many gatherings was that people, who weren't used to focalizing or plugging into tasks, which need to get done at a gathering, had the opportunity to learn new skills. Thank you for stepping up and learning how to keep this hodge podge family safe and healthy.
The many smaller gatherings reduced the intensity of tasks such as parking cars, Shanti Sena, feeding the family, and helping us all stay healthy. With a slower pace, it's easier for newer family to learn, grow, and gain the wisdom this family needs to survive to the twenty second century. I know the conversations that we started this year will help us grown in positive and healing ways. I look forward to talking with my family face-to-face as we digest all that we learnt this year and hearing how the gatherings outside of South Dakota unfolded.
As a person who normally works her ass off at larger gatherings, I spent my brief stay in South Dakota visiting with family I have worked with for years, but with whom I never had the time to make personal connections. Such a blessing to laze away the afternoon of July 3 at the Ovens and Kid Village with old and new friends instead of dealing with Forest Service b.s., thousands of people coming in without appropriate gear on cold nights, or the craziness of the night of July 3rd.
While I've heard that all the regional gatherings went well, I'd like to share a few general thoughts about the gathering in South Dakota.
I arrived in main meadow on July 2nd just in time for dinner circle. I had time to hug some well-known friends before a Lakota man from AIM (American Indian Movement) spoke to dinner circle. He told those at dinner circle that the Lakota people welcome us to the Black Hills. He asked us to love and respect one another and leave the area in better shape than we found the land. He said we all need to walk hand-in-hand. He shared his hopes that this gathering was the beginning of a relationship between the Lakota and gathering participants which will continue. Afterwards, his niece said a prayer in Lakota for the gathering.
And so it went.
One evening in a lodge in main meadow, a Lakota grandmother shared Lakota stories and ways of living in the world. She told those present that the Lakota never lived in the Black Hills, but rather came to these hills to pray. She was happy that we had come to the Black Hills to pray and invited us to come to the Pine Ridge Reservation to see the poverty in which her people live. She also acknowledged that not everyone on the Rez was happy to see us gather in the Black Hills.
In a collaborative workshop, some of the younger First Nation family at the gathering shared a vision of gathering participants teaching some of the skills used to gather in the woods while being willing to share their knowledge as well. Two cultures coming together with much to teach and learn from each other. In fact, one Lakota brother wants to organize a Lakota focalized gathering in the Black Hills and invite us to come gather with them in the woods Lakota style.
In regards to the protests of our presence in the Black Hills, I heard from a friend who was in South Dakota from spring council on, that at the height of the protest, three people were set up off the side of the road before you got to the gathering parking lot. But this is her story, not mine, and I've asked her to write up her experiences at this year's gathering (which hopefully will be in the next few weeks and then I will post them here).
I heard firsthand how happy some Native individuals were to be treated with respect at the gathering. In fact one Lakota said in South Dakota, things operate akin to Mississippi in the 1940s and 1950s -- it's that segregated.
For those that gathered in the Black Hills and those that did not, there are a number of efforts in which First Nation individuals indicated they would like our help. While the gathering does not take a stand in issues such as these, many of us were asked to assist with some of the following issues. I take this time to share the information for those that would like to stand in solidarity with The Great Sioux Nation. Rainbow gathering participants have a long history of supporting native efforts in South Dakota. I hope non-Sioux can respectfully offer assistance in appropriate ways that respect the leadership of the Lakota and other native peoples in the area. So here goes, in no particular order. I hope you can plug into one of the efforts.
I was told that LastRealIndians.com would be a good way for people to plug into efforts in which gathering participants are asked to be present.
Family has been asked to show up at Rapid City's Memorial Park on July 22 and 23 to peacefully and soberly protest the court's failure to provide adequate justice to the Pine Ridge Rez children who were verbally assaulted at a hockey game in Rapid City in January 2015. In addition to verbal assaults, European-American adults poured beer on the children for failing to stand during the national anthem of the United States of America. For more information, read this or this. I don't know about you, but if an adult deliberately doused my 10 year old with beer, I would be unhappy to say the least.
If you're into other projects supporting the First Nation families in the area, some of the projects are here. You'll probably have to reach out to folks on the ground in South Dakota to get plugged into those efforts.
For those of you who have seen the films, Hempsters or Standing Silent Nation, you know that the federal government has refused to recognize Sioux tribal sovereignty and has prevented folks on the Pine Ridge Reservation from growing industrial hemp. Watch the films to learn the basics. Then sign the petition to respect Oglala Sioux Tribal hemp laws.
If food justice is more your interest, you can plug in with Plenty who is working to support organic gardening on the Pine Ridge Rez so families can have a local supply of organic produce. Someone whispered in my ear that this non-profit was started by counter culture folks from The Farm in Tennessee. Hippies doing good stuff.
As one of the Lakota grandmothers said to those on the land, Mitakuye Oyasin.
Was the pipeline mentioned?
ReplyDeleteI heard about it second hand from a few people. Additional bodies on the ground are always welcomed provided people can adapt the cultural requirements.
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