The sliding scale remains the same: $17-76, with indigenous folks free.
This year, 50% of profits go to the Tuscarora Language Program, which was a central nexus in Monty’s work in revitalizing the Tuscarora language.
As you probably know, the loss of indigenous languages through the horrific Indian Boarding Schools was a blatant attempt by the US government to destroy indigenous culture and control their land. The US subsequently forced that land towards unsafe and dangerous projects, such as poisoning the soil through excessive pesticides and monocropping; putting men’s fertility at risk through prolonged production and consumption of plastics; and both producing and burning the remains of dinosaurs (aka oil), even after full awareness of the increase in heatwaves, worsening hurricanes, and in other forms of endangering life that burning fossil fuels entails. For many decades, the relentless search for and desire to control oil has led to various forms of coups, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, active conflict, and acts of warfare between the US and other countries…. such as Iran.
A positive way of living together still remains possible. Strengthening such possibilities can occur in part through reclaiming our identity as creatures who thrive in cross-cultural collaboration, which is part of what dis-membering of the true roots of democracy conceals.
I can just about guarantee you that questions of origin stories will become (even more) deeply contentious in the next few months. As will the end-times.
Beginnings and endings often accompany one another.
And we will continue to find ways to support your ability to understand, navigate, move through, and strengthen your capabilities for these bigger nudges.
Which is part of why I am continuing to pursue these ideas, albeit in a different form. We are thus in the midst of a ‘landscape review', inquiring into what people in America (and possibly elsewhere) are planning to do for the 250th anniversary of the country's birth, which is in July 2026. We want to learn from, spark, and find appropriate ways of supporting critical conversations across the country and the world about the indigenous roots of democracy, and, in the process, make some small steps towards collectively attuning towards Mother Law.
On this initial ‘who is doing what and how can we best contribute’ review, I'm collaborating with my long-time colleague and dear friend, Rachel Arlene Redeye Porter, from Kneading Change.
Stay tuned for more.
Speaking of our family's grief around losing Monty, we once again want to appreciate everyone who has contributed in various ways, including the fundraiser that we started for him and for Krissy's mother Mimi, who also passed away last April.
The family has decided to close the fundraiser on July 4, so if you've been wanting to donate, this is a good time to do so. As of the time of my writing, we have raised $9,999, all of which continues to go towards costs associated with their deaths.
Another potent story: we don’t have to engage with life (including death) alone.
We will keep you informed about some other projects that are in development since Monty's passing around his own work of language and cultural revitalization.
Finally, here are a few resources about some contemporary global politics that I have found helpful in the last few days.
Many blessings -
Sara Jolena
P.S. - I'm offering an exclusive Midsummer Circular Time gathering on July 1 limited to those people who have already taken circular time with us at least once - you should have already gotten an email about it, but if you missed that, you can still sign up.
PPS -
I'm writing this missive towards the end of a major heat wave. It’s hot out there! And heat can be lethal. Indeed: heat causes more deaths than wildfires and tornadoes combined.
Last summer, my own experience of heat stress prompted me to conduct further research on heat. This summer, I've picked that thread up again and plan to put it into some kind of an article soon.
Key thought for now: we are in a climate changed world. It’s getting worse. This is not your grandmothers hot summer. Techniques you learned growing up about heat in your ecosystem might not necessarily apply today. As a global society, we are woefully unprepared... on so many levels. As individuals/families, remember, hydration is critical to cooling down, but heat can still kill hydrated bodies. You have to keep your internal temperature cool.
This often includes stopping before you think you need to. You don’t always have to finish your to-do list. These days, safety often means slowing down.
