Building a bigger circle of kinship in care of the land

With the dark of night anticipating a new day, Vineyard Sound washed onto South Cape Beach, scattering kelp, driftwood, shells, and crab carcasses before the ocean sucked itself back, erasing its trace on the shore, leaving the sand a smooth wet canvas for the next wave. A safe distance from the encroaching tide, a sacred fire danced in the whipping wind and a promised storm. Undaunted, the flames cast a glow on faces gathered for ceremony to welcome sunrise. The gathering huddled close and warmed their fingers, casting tobacco to the embers, prayers of gratitude to the creator carried on the smoke.

This was how Indigenous leaders in conservation and rematriation from across Turtle Island began day two of a gathering held in early October to “Strengthen our Kinship in Land Care, Conservation and Connection.”

Hosted by the Native Land Conservancy in the ancestral homeland of the Wampanoag Nation with more than 20 attendees the three-day event was made possible in thanksgiving to the Kalliopeia Foundation.

“With brave hearts leading, we still remain tender when the world demands hardness. We weave lifeways of connection against all odds where for generations we've endured violent forces that sever, exploit, and manufacture division,” said Rowan White, Mowhawk Indigenous seed and food sovereignty activist. As the Creative Director of Sierra Seeds, she was deeply moved by the ceremony. “We sow seeds into hidden and marginal places, trusting that life will always find the cracks to grow through. We stay close to the earth and to each other, knowing that this is the only way to survive this post-apocalyptic collapse.” 

It was the vision of Kalliopeia Program Officer Tania Morrison to welcome inspired Indigenous leaders for deep conversation and knowledge sharing to “provide a space for community building and collective wisdom-sharing, and weave together a network of aligned organizations working with the land.”

By all accounts, mission accomplished!

“My heart and spirit are still full from the deep sharing and learning,” said Melissa Nelson, Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Executive Director of The Cultural Conservancy. “From sunrise ceremony to clam bake, prayers at the lake, wetu stories, and learning about growing your organization and nation, I felt nourished and inspired. Listening to the common struggles and shared pathways we take to rematriate Native lands and waters was a special gift.”

At the Wampanoag Common Lands in Kingston, attendees had a chance to experience what it means to Native Land Conservancy to truly rematriate ancestral land to the People and return cultural practices and be in community on those lands as they enjoyed a traditional clambake feast prepared by Wampanoag tribal Panise Buddy Pocknett. 

On the final day, attendees felt incredibly privileged to both share and listen to stories of people returning to the land and were committed to continuing and growing the connections made.

“All in all, it was a beautiful week being with you all, and I'm forever grateful!” said Kawenniiosta Jock, an Iroquois citizen and Creative Director of Skywoman’s Forever Farm in Middleburgh, NY. She found old friends and made new connections, all of whom she invited to reach out to her to continue the work they began.

For the NLC and Kalliopeia organizers and participants, there was a genuine sense of renewal of our common mission and goals to recover land, culture, and empowerment based on who we are. Something stated so beautifully by Rowan as she reflected on sunrise ceremony.

 “We are not a conquered people. In solidarity with the Earth and each other, we are the seeds our ancestors planted. We are the future they loved into being.”