Some inspiring words from an email from Angela Mooney D'Arcy, who is one of an up-and-coming generation of tribal thinkers, philosophers and writers:
"I just returned from Limuw, which means "in the sea lies the meaning of the language spoken," in Chumash. Every year Chumash from all of the bands--Santa Ynez, Barbareno, Ventureno, Coastal Band-- gather on the island (along with cousins from the north and south) for the weekend to celebrate the return of the crossing of the tomols from the mainland to the island, which is the birthplace of the Chumash in their creation stories.
It is always such an incredible experience and a key model for how we can begin to generate a positive storm...a whirlwind that will clean the air and move us in the right direction. As we sat around the fire one night discussing the state of the world and the massive environmental changes occurring all around us, an Elder said that the biggest mistake Europeans made when they came to this land is that they came with their shoes on. Thus, their connection to this land was severed from the beginning, which is why we are witnessing the destruction and environmental and cultural devestation taking place right now."
Mvto Angela
2 comments:
an Elder said that the biggest mistake Europeans made when they came to this land is that they came with their shoes on. Thus, their connection to this land was severed from the begining
This is a brilliant image which I find interesting when extended to the Folk Who Came Without Shoes - African American slaves, indentured servants and immigrants fleeing starvation, Filipino campo boys, Chinese railroad workers, and all the women lured or kidnapped to comfort the men.
Barefoot yet unfamiliar with the Land, there was a glancing touch that only served as a reminder of a lost home. A doubled disconnection that numbed the heart and made looking up and around, beyond the moment of survival to into legacy, difficult.
For the Barefoot Who Came, then, the challenge is to resist putting on the Shoes of the Colonizers which caused us to shed what little connection we had for what matters. And if we already find those Shoes on our feet, to take them off again, and share in the preservation of this Land which has supported us.
Thank you Joy and thank you Angela. That wisdom is needed so much. I'm thirsty for more wisdom voices and my wish is for more wisdom voices to flood the airwaves and the 'net waves.'
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