November 14, 2020
Exactly 400 years ago, the Mayflower was on its way to the shores of Turtle Island. Learn the story from the perspective of the Mashpee Wampanoag, who welcomed the settlers. As we celebrate and honor Native American Heritage Month, we know that the journey of learning right relationship, being an ally and accomplice, and doing the work of decolonization is a daily endeavor. We invite you to continue in your path of unlearning and learning, together in community, throughout this month and beyond.
To start, check out this article by Taté Walker: Free the Fringe: 6 Ways to De-Stereotype Native American Heritage Month
On Monday, November 16th, the Canoe Journey Herbalists will be featured during Olympia SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) November General Meeting. Click here to register for this meeting, 6-8pm.
*Please note that YWCA's 2020 Womxn of Achievement event was postponed. We look forward to celebrating together with our community and honoring Earth-Feather Sovereign and her work in early 2021.
Continue reading for related events & news:
2020 Womxn of Achievement Celebration POSTPONED
Please watch for announcement on new date & join us in honoring Earth-Feather Sovereign with our community for her amazing work!
Olympia SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) November General Meeting
featuring
Canoe Journey Herbalists
Monday November 16th 6:00-8:00pm
(new member orientation 5:30pm)
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Click here to register for Olympia SURJ's November General Meeting. The topic will be grounding in the work of decolonization in moving forward from the election, to create the world we want to build. We are honored to be joined by the Canoe Journey Herbalists, and will be discussing material ways settlers can support this work, including raising funds for the Canoe Journey Herbalists to purchase land.
Click here to contribute to the Canoe Journey Herbalist's land purchase.
Native America Series Screening
with Learning Right Relations
Four Sundays beginning November 29th
We are excited to be offering a special viewing opportunity with the Learning Right Relations of the recently released Native America PBS series. For four consecutive Sundays, we will be coming together to watch an episode from this series, followed by discussion. Click here for more information on this series, and stay tuned for further details!
The Learning Right Relations library is available, with many wonderful offerings to check out! Click here for full list of titles and availability.
If you're interested in borrowing a book, email learningrightrelations@gmail.com to make arrangements.
IN THE NEWS:
Jenni Monet, author of the Indigenously newsletter, helps us in understanding the power of the Native vote, especially as major networks continue to neglect to even track Native Americans as an ethnic group in polling data. Click here to read her Nov. 6th newsletter: Something Else.
Indian Country Today reported on Native candidates in the 2020 elections. Click here to read article: Native candidates score in legislative, other bids
NDN Collective released a statement on How to Survive the Elections: Organizing Forward, Indigenously
The importance of historical treaties as binding agreements in legal battles for land and resources is significant, and now 374 ratified Indian treaties have been digitized. Click here to read article in Smithsonian Magazine: Hundreds of Native American Treaties Digitized for the First Time.
DECOLONIZING "THANKSTAKING"
The holiday known as Thanksgiving has long been used to amplify false historical narratives that erase atrocities committed by settlers upon arriving on Turtle Island and perpetuate stereotypes of Native peoples. We can do better.
What can you do to take steps towards decolonizing your Thanksgiving this year?
For parents and caregivers of school-aged children, here is a helpful article on addressing racism around the Thanksgiving holiday in schools: Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combating Racism in Schools
For the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations - Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora), Thanksgiving is a daily practice. The Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen, or Thanksgiving Address, is their central prayer and invocation. This ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and her inhabitants is said as a daily sunrise prayer and used to open and close every social and religious meeting. Click here to read more about Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen.
Remembering Bernard Michael "Bernie" Steckler
1932-2020
Our hearts are with Joyce and the family of Bernie Steckler, as we join together in the ways that we can to celebrating his life and work while mourning the loss of his presence in our community. As many of you are aware, Bernie was particularly passionate about addressing the egregious Doctrine of Domination, also known as the Doctrine of "Discovery". As we endeavor to carry on and deepen in the work of dismantling the Doctrine of Domination, we will always remember Bernie's steadfast commitment to understanding the history and in turn, acting in solidarity with Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. We miss you, Bernie.
Click here to view tributes, obituary, and to send your condolences to Bernie's family.