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| Banner for earth with oil refinery in the background. |
Mother's Day 2017 I had the opportunity to act locally. I attended the Raise a Paddle For Mother Earth-Water Ceremony to Stop Tar Sands, in North Vancouver, BC. The ceremony was sponsored by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust and 350 Canada. It's what I've been looking for.
A stormy day started to clear as if on queue, as participants arrived from as close as down the street and as far away as Samoa. This is truly a world movement.
Driven by First Nations, with political support from BC Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and grassroots support from the like minded, together, as one, we advocated on Mother's Day for Mother Earth.
One speaker, a stout, stocky man from North Dakota, spoke passionately about our Mother -- and our own mothers. What would happen to our mother if we drilled into her and extracted her blood? What would happen to our mother if we drilled into her body and broke her bones? She'd die, wouldn't she?
Reuben, who seemed to be the first spokesperson, spoke proudly of the matriarchal culture, that the elders and chiefs for his band are women, are mothers. He affirmed the consensus and unanimity of those who stood with each speaker. His young adult son spoke. "In the past I have done bad things. Today I am doing something good." That moved me, for I too have done bad things. Today I was doing something good.
Something has compelled me to engage my community, and so I came on this day. Having come from a spiritual tradition of my own, I neither wanted to offend nor had my own beliefs disrespected. All were welcomed. As the paddlers embarked toward the refinery -- and we heard their distant chants and cries -- we remained on shore. We heard the stories of those who care. We offered healing tobacco -- their "medicine" -- to the waters.
I've felt like a voice in the wilderness -- on this day I felt community.
