West Kootenay Associates Celebrate LTIV

West Kootenay Associates gathered to finalize their group study of Listening to Indigenous Voices and just as we had hoped and dreamed, it was a real celebration – despite the challenges of the content. On the study end of things, we veered from our usual format of one person leading discussion, into each taking a turn with only 2 pages each to cover. This proved most effective. We broke our prayer into 3: at the beginning, over lunch, and then at the end which included some deeply meaningful and fitting First Nations prayers and songs.

Our simple luncheon of 3 Sisters Soup, bannock and huckleberry tarts was absolutely delicious! Hospitality was offered by Mary. The dining table was adorned with rose hips, plantain (White Man’s Footsteps) and Hawthorn berries that Donna Thomas gathered locally. Before eating, we offered a little of each food item back to nature in the outdoors while meditating on the poem, “Be Gentle When You Touch Bread.”

Everyone was invited to bring First Nations items from their own home to place on the table centre and invited to wear any clothing, jewelry, moccasins, etc. that reflected unity with First Nations. These included some deeply meaningful items, including a beautiful drum made by a First Nations prison inmate and there was even a peace pipe! We also brought a relic of Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys as she belongs very much at this event, having tuned her ear to Indigenous Voices right from the start. Our sharing was deep and meaningful, and we enjoyed not only a lovely simple meal, but also beautiful prayer time together, departing with a much greater sense of what Indigenous Voices are saying to us today.