Next week the community of Pt. Hope is gathering to celebrate the gift of abundance. With thankful hearts and joyful spirits, they will participate in activities and traditions that connect the present with the past, binding generations and communities together. 8 whales have been provided to the people, given into the hands of the whaling teams so that all might be fed, so that life will endure, so that communities will be strong. In all of this, the Spirit moves.
I join with Pt. Hope in these thankful prayers of celebration.
Again this year, on the rivers of the Interior there are no nets, no fishwheels, no racks of cut salmon drying in the sun. The activities and traditions around the harvest of salmon–activities and traditions that connect the present with the past, binding generations and communities together, are not happening. There are no fish, or not enough. Prayers of hope are offered for strength, for healing, for the fish, for the land, and for a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. In all of this, the Spirit moves.
I join with our people on the rivers who pray in hope and seek healing, strength, and justice.
May the Spirit renew the face of the earth and the hearts of all people.
