PRAY FOR OUR WATERS

I was bailing out a Mishoon at Plimoth Plantation

As indigenous people we protect the land and the water and have been doing so since we were created. As time passes in this society our strength grows as the battles become more and more complicated.

The strongest we are is TOGETHER.Northwest Tribal Canoe Journey's I have paddled and held protocol for communities here in the North Eastern Coastal region twice. I was not able to make it to the Qatuwas 2014 PEOPLE GATHER TOGETHER.

All over Native people feel the pain of the land and water because we are connected to them. One of the most powerful healing ceremonies I have ever experienced in my life is the canoe journeys. I was unable to make it this year; however, I have been following with canoe families, sent prayers and will be sending gifts.

Paddling through the Peconic Bay
(2013 Paddled From Shinneock to Pequot & Mohegan)

As a paddler I have experienced first hand the pain of the waters both PACIFIC OCEAN and ATLANTIC OCEAN. I have seen the red tide, the oil, the pollution of tankers, trains, boats, ferries, etc.

In Indian Country Today Richard Walker writes and very interesting read Canoe Journey Message: Protect Our Fragile Environment He states "Canoes from the Lummi Nation near Bellingham passed Cherry Point, a sacred and environmentally sensitive area where Gateway Pacific proposes a coal train terminal; early site preparation was done without permits and desecrated ancestral burials."  Talk about #IDLENOMORE we cannot neglect our environment.!!!!!!!!!!Remember to take the time out of our assimilated lives to honor what our ancestors fought for. This is the reason why WE NEED more presence in the water ALL OVER. When you are travelling by canoe your become more intimate with the environment. Our ancestors show us what we have failed to pay attention to.

Bryson (Quileute Nation) Sing Paddle song in Canoe Journey

To know that beaches are being shut down because of high bacterial count in the water should raise more than a few eyebrows. In recent news Rhode Island State Health Department  tells the public "State health officials have recommended the closure to swimming of six beaches in Rhode Island because of high bacteria counts in the water" These waters are sacred to our people. EAST COAST, WEST COAST, IN-LAND, MAIN-LAND, CREEK, RIVER, STREAM, POND, LAKE. We need to help heal these waters. I encourage people to start praying for the water.

Just paddled to Conscience Point Long Island
(2013 Paddled From Shinneock to Pequot & Mohegan)

More than often we go to the water to heal us, we cleanse ourselves in the water, we let all of our frustration and emotions go and release them into the water. It's time to take the strength the water has given us to HEAL THE WATERS ALL OVER. This is ceremony. Doing this individually together is powerful! Doing it together in our individual communities strengthens us as individuals to come together for our environment! We cannot be like the immigrants and their ancestors who have came here to continuously take from the earth and never give back! We must give back to the environment.