The Fourth of July: Interdependency by Fr. Scott Hill, OMI

July 4th started out as a beautifully sunny and cool morning in West Berkeley, CA as several hundred women and men, as well as teens and young adults gathered in a parking lot at the “Shellmound” (burial site) of the Ohlone Native Peoples. Jack Lau, OMI and I joined this Community to grieve the desecration of the Ohlone’s sacred cemetery grounds and remind ourselves that beneath the asphalt is the living and breathing mother earth desiring to be set free to be the nurturer of all life.

Many of the speakers from a variety of native peoples, including native Hawaiians and native peoples from south of our border spoke of the day, the 4th of July, as a day to humbly acknowledge the interdependency of all humanity with peoples from all culture and points of the compass, as well as offer ponder Wind, Water, Earth and Fire on which life depends.

A native Hawaiian spoke of mountains and their dependency on mother earth, the mountains are born from the earth and these mountains hold fire and the power to influence the elements of nature.
The group also reflected on the following questions:

How is the invisibility, displacement and harm towards indigenous peoples and immigrants connected?

How can we create new meaning together in celebration of our interdependence?

Wind, Water, Fire and Earth all depend on one another. The paradox of July  4th and the Gospel message invites one to ponder on humanity’s relationship with one another and with mother earth.

Standing on this Land Together: Indigenous, Settlers and Migrants

On July 4th members of the indigenous Ohlone, interfaith and immigrant communities gathered for prayer and ceremony on sacred Ohlone territory at the West Berkeley Shellmound site.
They gathered to honor their ancestors and 1st nation people of the Bay Area, and to reflect on what it means to be a guest on indigenous land.

In a gesture of reparations and to make amends for the continued occupation of indigenous land, non-indigenous peoples were invited to make a donation to support:

(1) Shellmound Legal Defense Fund: https://shellmound.org/donate/

(2) Shuumi Land Tax:
https://sogoreate-landtrust.com/shuumi-land-tax/