Water

About Us

This project from the start has had, and continues to have, a life of it's own ~ it seems to want to emerge at this time. It is about relationship ~ relationship with water and the connectedness of everything. We are three people who live around Salish Sea, who have come together having been inspired to help facilitate an awakening of the healing waters in Salish Sea and within us, and around the world. Here is our story:

In the fall of 2009, Makere, a Waitaha grandmother from New Zealand, was visiting the area, and planned to experience the Salish tribal canoe gathering on Lummi Nation shores. A friend of Makere’s, eric maya joy, educator and active member of the Religious Society of the Friends, was also there with Kazu, a friend from Japan. They listened in when tribal leaders and EPA scientists who were discussing the disturbing results from the test equipment that had been towed behind the canoes ~ the waters were much more polluted than had been expected. The Lummi Tribal Chairman spoke about how it was only in the last 150 years that the water had been contaminated, and that the native peoples were committed to cleaning up the waters.

Later that day, eric connected Kazu and Jewell James, artist, totem pole carver, and Policy Analyst for the Lummi Indian Business Council, and they talked about how young people are losing their connection with the waters, with nature. They knew that something needed to happen now to begin the healing, and that we all could, and need to, address the issue on a spiritual level, along with those that are working scientifically and politically. Jewell spoke about Dr. Emoto’s work, and felt that Dr. Emoto could help his young people see our connection with water and nature and inspire everyone to take more appropriate action. Kazu just happened to have one of Dr. Emoto’s booklets for children with him, and the enthusiasm amongst them built. Kazu was also able to help with the initial contact with Dr. Emoto in Japan.

The following day, eric received a call from Pat Rasmussen, a long time peace and environmental activist and coordinator for the World Temperate Rainforest Network, who said she had participated from afar in a blessing led by Dr. Emoto in 2008 for Lake Baikal in Siberia and at the time she had wondered if Dr. Emoto might come here to help facilitate a blessing for Salish Sea. Eric contacted Jewell, and the three of them began envisioning the possibilities.

Before Makere left to return to New Zealand eric, Makere and Loraine, a friend traveling with Makere, visited Lummi. Jewell introduced them to the tribal chairman, tribal historian and a couple of the tribal council members and others from the office. As they met around a conference table Makere shared some of the Waitaha story and relationship with water and universe. Her quote on the homepage is from that meeting.

More phone calls were made, meetings were scheduled, and the work began. Jewell, eric, and Pat, have been meeting since last fall. They have been contacting regional tribes, professors, scientists, and community spiritual leaders for their support. Dr. Emoto agreed to come, and that meant finding a translator, transportation and housing, and most of all, funding. Successful grants have been written, partial co-sponsors found, venues confirmed, yet there is more to do. The website was created, and continues to be refined, and publications are being shared and produced.

The water blessing on April 24 with Dr. Emoto, along with other tribal and non-tribal spiritual spokespeople, is the major event that inspires us. We envision it initiating and nurturing long term projects to help all of us recognize and deepen our relationships with water and nature, thereby transforming our actions to move toward living in peace and harmony on this planet.

We hope that everyone feels empowered and encouraged to be involved ~ we can collectively make a difference! As individuals, the three of us do not have the deep pockets needed to fund this type of undertaking, but we do have the passion and perseverance to make it happen. We invite you, wherever you are, to participate and contribute, in whatever ways you are able, to this exciting, ongoing movement!