In November Indigenous people become highly visible but in a contextualized and often past tense way. Native American Heritage Month recognizes the many contributions of Indigenous people and offers an opportunity to learn about the culture and to remember that Indigenous people are alive and well in our modern world.  We exist year around in a modern way that is true to our earth-centered culture and spirituality. The title of the service is “Protection & Resistance, the Indigenous Experience”. Protection because protecting nature is not just something we do, it is part of our culture and who we are. Resistance because historically in order to live our values and maintain connection to our culture and spirituality we had to resist assimilation & eradication. It is Indigenous people who stand on the forefront of the environmental movement standing as protectors and asking others to stand with them to guard water-ways, land, & air. For Indigenous people the very act of existing and being proudly Native is resistance especially since we are so often overlooked. This service is not just an opportunity for the San Gabriel community to recognize and honor Indigenous people but an opportunity to listen, learn and build an allyship with our local Indigenous community and be in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. 

Join us on November 22nd where our guest speaker Ben Nava, leader of the local chapter of the American Indian Movement, will share his stories and experience.  We are fortunate to have a diversity of Indigenous ancestry represented through the participants in this service that include Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota, Lipan Apache, Mayan, Chiricahua Apache and Náhuatl. Be inspired by the contributions of music, songs, words, videos, and art (by both our children and adults).