Caring For Creation - Indigenous People's Day
/Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples, their histories, and cultures. The word “indigenous” means: born in or native to a land or region. Indigenous peoples in North America are all the Native American tribes and groups of people who lived here before European colonization began in the 1400s.
All month long, we have been celebrating God’s creation and considering ways that we can love, protect, and care for the earth and all its living things. First we learned about Saint Francis of Assisi and talked about caring for animals. Last week we read a true story called Young Water Protectors, and discussed how we can protect our waterways. In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, today we will listen to a story from the Choctaw Tribe, read to us by a member of the Choctaw tribe, our dear friend Chris Hoklotubbe!
Wondering Questions
I wonder if you have ever gazed at the clouds, looking for pictures in the sky?
I wonder what it feels like to be able to create beautiful works of art?
I wonder what Leona means when she says, “Cloud art is meant to be shared, not sold”?
I wonder how you can discover, use, and celebrate YOUR gifts and talents?
Caring for Creation
Our sky is so precious! It is the air we breathe, the beautiful clouds above us, and the atmosphere that surrounds every living thing around the entire earth! What can we learn from Native Americans about how to care for the air?
While there are hundreds of different Native American tribes with different cultures and beliefs, one common belief is that many Native Americans understand themselves to be part of the earth. All parts of creation are connected, and all parts are related. If we can see all parts of the earth as important and connected to each other, we can begin to love, care for, and protect every aspect of creation, from the tiny spiders to the massive mountains, from the tiny raindrops to the enormous clouds they came from!
By caring for animals well, our land and water are healthier. When the land and water are clean, the plants are healthier. Healthy plants make the air cleaner. And we all need clean air! Our actions matter, and we are all connected as part of God’s amazing creation!
If you like, see how many items you can complete in this Caring for Creation Challenge! These are just some ideas…maybe you will think of even more!
If you would like to do more research on the earth’s atmosphere and environmental protection, check out the following links:
