Dear Everyone who reads my page, yep even you, the ones who
quietly remain behind the scenes without commenting or posting, but observing;
I ask you to take seriously this time on our planet.
We are approaching Thanksgiving tomorrow and most of us learned in school
about the Pilgrims and our first Thanksgiving; we even had school plays
depicting it. (And yes, I know all the details are inaccurate depending on
where you went to school and who told the history.) The First Thanksgiving Celebration in America
was in 1621 when the first harvest of the pilgrims was successful due to the
assistance of the Native Americans teaching them how to cultivate the local
land and crops. The true history behind Thanksgiving has become distorted as a
result of egoic interpretations of history, but I'd like to emphasize that the
most important message of that first Thanksgiving is it was one of the sole
representations of harmony between European Colonists and Native Americans. The celebration showed no distinction between
cultures/religions/differences instead the focus was a common bond: celebrating
harvest because that is something they did together. Without the help and support of the Native
Americans, we likely would not be here on this land because our American
Ancestors would not have survived. It brings tears to my eyes when I think that
we can celebrate this holiday and not recognize the fact that the Native
Americans are why the European Settlers survived and yet we don't hold them in
high regard. (I am not saying everyone--when I say we, I am referring to the
collective because I know in my heart I hold them in high regard--they are,
just like everyone on this planet to me, my family.)
Many of you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (and no, not because of the food); it is my favorite holiday because I think of the meaning of celebrating harvest, showing gratitude for a year of growth and hard work, and most importantly, a time to bring people together in unity and oneness regardless of their religion/culture/background etc. That is my interpretation of what Thanksgiving is. What is yours? What do you bring to the table this year for Thanksgiving? When I ask that, I am not referring to the food you create, the decorations you put out, but what do you bring with you? Yes, many of you bring gratitude, but that is often from a self interested perspective. Many participate in donating to food banks/shelters/community kitchens. Please do not get me wrong, I feel it is very important that you recognize what it is you are grateful for and to give your time to helping others, but this Thanksgiving I ask you to broaden your horizons a bit. I ask to you think back to the first Thanksgiving, what must that have been like? The Native Americans could have chosen to turn a blind eye to the foreigners (pilgrims/colonists/settlers) and not taught them how to cultivate the land and grow a harvest, but they didn't; instead, they helped them in their time of need.
Many of you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (and no, not because of the food); it is my favorite holiday because I think of the meaning of celebrating harvest, showing gratitude for a year of growth and hard work, and most importantly, a time to bring people together in unity and oneness regardless of their religion/culture/background etc. That is my interpretation of what Thanksgiving is. What is yours? What do you bring to the table this year for Thanksgiving? When I ask that, I am not referring to the food you create, the decorations you put out, but what do you bring with you? Yes, many of you bring gratitude, but that is often from a self interested perspective. Many participate in donating to food banks/shelters/community kitchens. Please do not get me wrong, I feel it is very important that you recognize what it is you are grateful for and to give your time to helping others, but this Thanksgiving I ask you to broaden your horizons a bit. I ask to you think back to the first Thanksgiving, what must that have been like? The Native Americans could have chosen to turn a blind eye to the foreigners (pilgrims/colonists/settlers) and not taught them how to cultivate the land and grow a harvest, but they didn't; instead, they helped them in their time of need.
This brings me to today and what is happening RIGHT
NOW. I ask for you to look deeply at the
situation that is happening here in America.
In North Dakota, The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has gathered in protest as Water Protectors along with several
thousand others from every walk of life.
Not only is there the largest gathering of Native Tribes from around
America and the world ever, but there are also non-Native American supporters globally joining in to protect the
water. Why are they called Water
Protectors? They call themselves Water
Protectors because they are not only trying to protect their water supply, but
the planet's water supply. The are trying to stop the building of the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline. The destruction
of the earth and her waters is a very REAL DANGER, one which we have already
seen taking place in other parts of our country, our world. These people are living by their truth--they
recognize that we must overcome violence/fear/suffering/pain with
peace/love/compassion/truth. The Water
Protectors have been demonstrating their concern through peaceful gatherings and prayer, expressing their First
Amendment Rights, but they have been met with some very real violence at the
hands of a militarized police force, hired private contracted mercenaries and a state and federal government
turning a blind eye on this. I
don't wish to go into detail, you can always look this up on alternative media
because mainstream media is certainly not providing information on what is
happening there or you can contact me and I will provide you with resources, but the point of my writing today isn't about the violence. It is about this Thanksgiving.
I ask you to look into your heart beyond your family obligations, last minute errands and cooking this Thanksgiving and think of America's First Thanksgiving and recognize that these are the people who have helped our
Ancestors create the country we are living in now, without them we would not be here. I ask that we as a people do not turn a blind eye on them. I ask that we support them and honor them for what they are doing, for their standing up is for ALL OF US. By the way, the immediate impact may only appear to affect the Standing Rock Sioux, but the greater implications involve anyone living around the Missouri River or connecting to it; not to mention the greater impact of the earth's water supply. Please provide support to this cause by joining them in North Dakota, or by prayer and/or donation, but by all means by starting the conversation at the Thanksgiving table-it is the most important cause of our time because as the Standing Rock Sioux say: Water is Life.
Let's be thankful for one another and remember we are all in this together. We all want water. We all want a safe planet. We all want to share in the earth's abundance. Most importantly, we all want to live life fully. Start the conversation about the Standing Rock Sioux this holiday, you will be surprised not only how misinformed many have been, but how many people can recognize that we are all in this together. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Love and light,
EstaRa April
