CLBSJ's New Neighbor Hosts a Virtual Indigenous Elders Wisdom Sharing Gathering on Thanksgiving Day

Published 25 November 2020

The Sweetwater Cultural Center, an indigenous people’s embassy that opened its doors just down the street from CLBSJ earlier this fall, is hosting an online gathering of talks, stories, ceremony and music at 2pm Eastern Time this Thursday, November 25.

Sweetwater was born out of an act of grassroots reparations between the Hudson River Presbytery and the Ramapough Lenape Nation. CLBSJ Board Treasurer Rick Ufford-Chase played a central role in inspiring and facilitating this process. Below is his invitation for all to join in this “Celebration With an Attitude of Gratitude”:

I am writing to share with you about a wonderful opportunity tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day). Many of you know that for many years Kitty and I have been hosting a potluck Thanksgiving for those who don't have anywhere to go. A few years ago, we were approached by our good friend Evan Pritchard about the possibility of transforming that event into an opportunity for reflection about the real history of the encounter between European settlers and indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. Over the last three years, this has turned into a remarkable day of wisdom sharing, stories, music, laughter and fellowship.

This year, Sweetwater Cultural Center is co-hosting the event with Evan by zoom. Gretchen Brokaw and I (both of us members of the Sweetwater Board) will be in the background handling tech, timing and other logistics. As you will see in the attached flyer, we are calling this year's event "Indigenous Elders Wisdom Sharing: A Celebration with an Attitude of Gratitude."

Kitty and I intend to hunker down in our cabin for a pandemic thanksgiving meal, even though we have family just a short distance away through the woods, and then to join all of you for this moment to reflect together on all that we have to be grateful for even in the midst of a year in which so many have experienced such tremendous loss.

There is a flyer attached that you are welcome to share with others. I have also provided the zoom invite directly below in this email to make it easier for you to join us. The event will start at 2 pm eastern time and end sometime around 4 pm. You are welcome to come and go around your familiy celebrations as necessary.

Blessings during this strange time,
Rick

Topic: Indigenous Elders' Wisdom Sharing
Time: Nov 26, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88450614038?pwd=TFNTWjZOUjNHcmx2aVIrWVNnVHJqZz09

Meeting ID: 884 5061 4038
Passcode: 389577