Today is recognized by many Indigenous movements and allies as a National Day of Mourning – a day to commemorate the millions of Indigenous Peoples killed and displaced through genocide, colonization, and occupation across Turtle Island/ the United States and Abya Yala (the entire Americas).
It is also a day to honor the self-determination and resistance of Indigenous Peoples over 533 years, as well as to stand up against the racism and oppression that Indigenous Peoples continue to experience worldwide.
Recently, at our Healing Justice Solidarity Encounter, we had the honor of hearing directly from a grantee in Guatemala, Fundación Centro Bartolomé de Las Casas (CBC), about how healing can be resistance in light of trauma from genocide and from other forms of violence. Members of CBC spoke powerfully on the importance of tapping into collective memory, and into connections with the Earth, in order to heal and build new futures together: |
|
|
“Our processes begin with our bodies, with our experiences, with what memory imprints on our bodies. From there we work and try to transform in this way, developing holistic methodologies in popular education.” “Because we, the Indigenous Mayan people, have a connection with Mother Nature, with everything that surrounds us.” |
|
|
CBC site, Quiché, Guatemala |
|
|
In addition to the National Day of Mourning, this month of November includes some other days of remembrance we wish to highlight, including:
While these days honor different groups of people – trans and gender non-conforming people, women and girls, the Indigenous People of the Americas, and the Indigenous Peoples of Palestine – they are connected by common threads of memory, love and resistance through healing, collective action, and solidarity. What can we learn from Indigenous healing practices in this moment? A CBC leader shares further: |
|
|
“Conditions of poverty, racism, patriarchy, and colonialism reproduce collective traumas. We help to reframe historical memory, accompanying survivors and promoting community resilience. We do this through multiple methodologies and diverse knowledge systems…Ancestral knowledge is fundamental for us and for our collective work.” |
CBC members in Guatemala taking part in a Mayan ceremony |
From powerful groups like CBC, we clearly heard how a deep relationship with Mother Nature and ancestral knowledge are integral parts of the healing journey. This month, while honoring the lives of those who have been lost, we invite you to join us in our support of ongoing struggles for liberation and healing justice. May we take time to remember together, to take collective action, to heal and to deepen our solidarity. |
|
|
In Solidarity, Chung-Wha and Sara |
|
|
Chung-Wha Hong Co-Executive Director |
| Sara Mersha Co-Executive Director |
|
|
Grassroots International
#1721
867 Boylston Street Suite 500
Boston, MA 02116
United States |
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. |
|
|
|
