Awakened Women's Convergence Conference is being held in the valley and they wanted to honor the original people by graciously asking if we could do an opening for their event. My Dad, fellow Salt River people, myself and other native people from around the valley had the pleasure of doing this. There were women from as far as Vancouver, CA to Australia Europe, and China.
I realize that most people would feel uncomfortable welcoming a non-native audience considering the historical circumstances but many of us feel these sort of interactions need to happen in order to increase our people’s visibility amongst the general public; create awareness our issues; awareness our rich history and to share our teachings to help re-install humanity.
We do not share what is deeply sacred or allow them to record us, but what we share is our spirits and they were very grateful for it. We need all the allies we can get. These are chances to teach from a good place about who we are and dispell myths and misunderstandings about our people. As usual, we found out we're more similar than different. There is only separation if we create it in our minds.
Some of the topics I addressed was the loss of our rivers (Salt/Gila) and how the Phoenix valley would not be possible if it were not for the O’otham who were already living here and operating an advanced irrigation system, which was later taken over by the federal government.
I address the historical trauma that came as a result of the loss of the river and how it set off a ripple effect causing a loss of himdag (way of life) and dependence on the federal government, leading to deteriorating holistic health. Also addressed was how western religious ideologies were forced upon the people, causing them to reject the original O’otham worldview and laterally oppress their own people (I don’t reject religion, only when it tries to assert it’s superiority over other spiritual ways).
These may be heavy subjects for some people but I feel these are important topics to cover because it gives everyone––even our own people–– a better idea as to why things are the way they are today and why it is important that we’re healing ourselves and revitalizing our rich himdag.
The strengths and gifts of our people are also shared, such as our holistic perspective on this beautiful human experience. Our reverence for all the elements of the mother earth: wind/air, fire/sun, water, land, plants, animals, protocols and societal structures. I feel this worldview can be shared with all to help reestablish humanity, shift attitudes towards our mother earth and mend tension between people of different cultures.
We were received well and people expressed deep gratitude for what we share. Many said they learned so much and it even changed their view on society. I was very glad to hear that.
Shout out to the strong O’Otham women who sat on the panel about cultural appropriation and shared their good medicine with the other women. Shout out to the women of the AWCC for doing the good work in restoring human values once!
We’re all related.
Pic by Rosetta Walker
