Photo credit: Mariah Tiffany.
Thinking differently, feeling deeply
The Right Relations program is designed for TOGETHER Bay Area member organizations to think differently about Tribal relations, to build connections with colleagues around the region, and take action based on what they learn. Sometimes to think differently, we need to feel deeply.
In August, the Phase One cohort of Right Relations participants gathered at the HEAL Farm in Half Moon Bay with Cata Gomez from Muchia Te’ Indigenous Land Trust and colleagues at Grassroots Ecology. We listened to Grassroots Ecology and HEAL Farm staff share how they built Tribal partnerships and collaborations with Muchia Te’ to create a space for healing and connection.
We took part in a tour of the HEAL Farm with Sara Neale, the Farms Program Manager at HEAL (the abundant and perfectly ripe strawberries were a hit!). We participated in a listening circle facilitated by Cata in their ceremonial space. And we closed the day by practicing reciprocity and giving gifts to our hosts.
Photo credit: Mariah Tiffany.
As we looked around the garden, we also listened to our hosts share their stories of relationship, connection, and healing. We considered the abundance that this partnership makes possible for the land, for the community, and for all of the people and organizations. And we immersed ourselves in essential questions about relationships, healing, and connection.
Here are a few we’re still thinking about, especially as the Phase One participants put together action plans for their organizations to take collective action for local Native lands and communities in the San Francisco Bay Area:
- Where might we notice connections between people, land, culture, organizations, and community that you might not have noticed before?
- What does it mean to tend a relationship? What relationships might we tend differently?
- If everything is connected, what becomes possible when relationships are cared for?
