Prayers4Peace: Respect and Love for One Another

Respect and Love for One Another

By: Raven Diaz-Smith

As a descendant of the Tübatulabal people, the original people of the Kern River Valley in California, my elders and family often speak of our people’s resilience. We take pride in the survival of our culture, language, land, and community. Our original way of life and traditions were taken from us with the expansion of the United States. Many of us were forced to give up our cultural identity and are now on the path of preserving our sacred traditions. Growing up, I couldn’t fully connect with my Tübatulabal heritage because my family moved away from our homelands, and my great-grandma attended Sherman Boarding School, which aimed to strip Native children of their cultural identity.

While on my journey to reconnect, I learned about the effects of boarding schools and the different ways California Natives were treated. In my language revitalization class, my auntie spent time teaching us history. During one of the classes, she spoke about the Keyesville Massacre that had taken place in 1863. Her words weighed heavily on me, and my heart sank as I struggled to comprehend the idea of my ancestors’ loved ones being murdered in such a brutal way. Every year, around the anniversary of this massacre, we honor them with songs and prayers. It feels miraculous to gather together to relearn our language, culture, and history.

When I see what is happening in Palestine, my heart and body feel the same as when I first learned about the atrocities that had happened to my ancestral people. I see a painful parallel between the experiences of the Palestinian people and my own. I see human beings stripped of their lives, forcibly removed, and erased. It’s incredibly hard to witness because it feels as though history is repeating itself.

I often reflect on the fact that the genocide of Indigenous people across Turtle Island is still unrecognized, and what is happening to Palestinians today is also not being recognized as genocide. Genocide and colonization shouldn’t be normalized or forgotten, but when only one narrative is known and accepted, it becomes the norm. This leads to a loss of compassion and respect for different ethnic groups and allows dehumanization and vilification to take root in hearts and minds.

A relative of mine, who was in the language revitalization class, passed away a couple of years ago, leaving me with two words from our language: “paaniinat” (respect) and “uluukan” (love). He cherished learning these “life words” because they bring positivity into our lives. I hold these words close to my heart, striving to live by them each day, and I hope that one day, we can all embrace them as guiding principles in our own lives.

Let us Pray:

Creator,
Help us to grow
Help us to love
Help us to respect others
Bless us all
Thank you for life
Thank you creator
Amen

Prayer in paka’anil:
pangotaal,
ütsawas dzüng ayaawüt
ütsawas dzüng uluukan
ütsawas dzüng paaniina aanghanil
alsa’ana piniyu dzüng
tüwü-bi hoonat
tüwü-bi pangotaal
wa owok

About the Author: Raven Diaz- Smith is CMEP’s Grants and Administrative Coordinator. She holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Native American Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining CMEP, Raven spent four years as a Software Quality Assurance Analyst at the largest tech employer in Oklahoma City. Raven is driven by a lifelong passion for making a positive impact, she believes her role at CMEP will help her achieve this mission.

Please note any views or opinions contained in this devotional series are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).