Today I got to witness the sunrise over my Indigenous homeland. How pretty the wide, wide sky is, as expansive as the wisdom in our traditional teachings.
The cool fall air greets me on my morning walk. I notice frost here and there, letting me know winter is eager to visit.
Later I have Zoom meetings with wonderful people. The internet works. What a blessing. The women I meet with share their good ideas. In their work as educators and scholars they provide examples of radical hope and love.
After my morning meetings I treat myself to another walk. The crunch, crunch, crunch of my steps on a gravel road. The whispery soft sounds of my steps when the road turns to dirt. Mother Earth is dry and firm, as she usually is here. Strong enough to support me and my hopes and dreams. Strong enough to hold and nurture my people–since time immemorial.
I look up and see puffs of clouds moving gently across the sky. A chilly breeze from the mountains sends them East. I look to the source of the wind and see the snow-capped foothills of beautiful sacred Pátu (Mt. Adams). I’m so lucky to witness all of these ancient and eternal blessings, all in one contemporary day.
The Auntie Way Writing Retreat resumes Nov. 6. Register here.
Michelle M. Jacob 
Máysx̱maysx̱ nash laliwax̱a nch’i túx̱ɨn nisháyktpa. Every day I miss the big sky at home!
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