#HonorNativeLands this Thanksgiving
Every year I write some kind of anti-Thanksgiving post inspired by my past lives as a Native American.
Let’s be clear here–the European settlers did NOT come over and befriend the Natives. Massive genocide took place. There was NOT a nice Thanksgiving feast where they came together for a joyous celebration.
What I’ve heard from those of native descent is that it was a time to celebrate the killing of the Natives actually, NOT a collaborative time for feasting.
Remember my loves, what we were taught in school is “his-story” NOT history.
Even today it’s important to honor humans and the Earth.
When we do our healing and spiritual work, it is normal for memories of past lives to surface. Over Thanksgiving last year I went to Death Valley to heal the parts of me that were/are still angry about the settlers unjustly coming over saying they “discovered” America as if there weren’t already tons of people living here. I remember I remember my tribe being murdered, the rape, the terrible things, the anger and injustice in that life and feel it in this life too. I have observed how it created anger at the patriarchy and masculine in general. Though I have done a lot of healing around this subject, healing is a process and this topic still revs me up a bit.
I am still baffled how people could just come and take land that belonged to other people. And I am writing about this now because it is still happening in the Amazon and Africa today! When corporations take over lands they aren’t even helping to relocate these people let alone the destruction of burning down trees to raise cattle and dig for oil.
It’s unbelievable to me that even today people do NOT honor native lands and humanity. If people don’t wake up, humans can destroy this beautiful Earth.
Anger serves a purpose
Anger and outrage are emotions that all humans feel. It is what we do with these emotions that are key. It is beautiful when anger sparks movement inside of us to do something, to create change, to choose different circumstance. When this anger is directed at creating change on our planet, this is what activism. Take action. Create change.
Activism doesn’t have to be some loud march in the streets for all to see. Yes, this is helpful as my friends at Good Money hosted the #AmazonUprising event in the streets of downtown LA to bring awareness to banks supporting the burning of the Amazon, which are the lungs of our planet.
Activism can also be silent and powerful too. Through prayer, meditations with specific intentions and movements that create change from an energetic space.
How can you be a part of change and returning harmony to our planet this Thanksgiving?
One of my students in my teacher training program, created a workshop for her final exam and shared about the topic of honoring natives and the land. She shared about a national movement happening, started by those of native descent who still identify with their tribes (which most of us have never even heard the names of called).
On their website, you can download a guide and call to acknowledgement and a specific simple protocol on how to do this: https://usdac.us/nativeland
The Native Lands App can tell you the indigenous history of the land you are on. Simply enter your ZIP code into the Native Lands App and an interactive map will tell you the area’s original language and tribal ties.
This acknowledgement can be done at any public event or gathering, and even at your Thanksgiving dinner right before you eat.
The simplest version they share to begin your speech is “We acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the _________ People.” Then you continue what you are going to say.
Why bother?
This is a Karma we all share as inhabitants of the Earth. To prevent the cycles of war moving forward, it is important to heal the past and do our part to reconcile any wrongs against fellow humans and the Earth even from an energetic perspective, such as this simple phrase.
Some more reasons they share in the guidebook include:
Offer recognition and respect.
Counter the “doctrine of discovery” with the true story of the people who were already here.
Create a broader public awareness of the history that has led to this moment.
Begin to repair relationships with Native communities and with the land.
Support larger truth-telling and reconciliation efforts.
Remind people that colonization is an ongoing process, with Native lands still occupied due to deceptive and broken treaties and practices eminent domain and other mechanisms intended to benefit government or corporate America.
Take a cur from Indigenous protocols, opening up spaces with reverence and respect.
Inspire ongoing action and relationships.
For the complete guidebook go to>>> https://usdac.us/nativeland
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and how it is received at your Thanksgiving dinner by sharing your comments below!
With love,
Dr. Nikki Starr