Pine Ridge Reservation
I was honored to be part of a Permaculture Project on Pine Ridge Reservation. I started working as the volunteer coordinator in January of 2013, I spent part of April, all of may and returned home in early June. Working on the rez is a rewarding experience so I will be returning again in August. I was responsible for a dozen or so volunteers and helped coordinate a tree planting project for O.L.C.E.R.I., Earth Tipi, and Thunder Valley. We worked along side The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF). Rico and FTPF are great! I had an amazing experience. I learned so much about the the Lakota People.
While I was in Wounded Knee and Thunder Valley I met Shannon Freed, Founder of Earth Tipi. Shannon invited me to continue on with her and Earth Tipi. Earth Tipi is an amazing organization. I have enjoyed working with Shannon this year and look forward to our living roof workshop in August. Shannon and I will be partnering and Co-Founding the Costa Rica Project this year. Please see the volunteer page to register if you too would like to come and help us on the Reservation this summer.
While I was in Wounded Knee and Thunder Valley I met Shannon Freed, Founder of Earth Tipi. Shannon invited me to continue on with her and Earth Tipi. Earth Tipi is an amazing organization. I have enjoyed working with Shannon this year and look forward to our living roof workshop in August. Shannon and I will be partnering and Co-Founding the Costa Rica Project this year. Please see the volunteer page to register if you too would like to come and help us on the Reservation this summer.
SKA YELA~WICONI ~ Pure Life ~ Pura Vida
Lakota
Mitakuye Oyasin... All my relations.
I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer...
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages. I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life.
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin is a simple yet profound statement. It comes from the Lakota Nation and means all my relations. It is spoken during prayer and ceremony to invite and acknowledge all relatives to the moment.
