“Immigrants are thieves and murderers,”
say the descendants of immigrants
who came among the Natives
as thieves and murderers.
Great Spirit, grant us humility.
Some chant replacement theories,
ignoring who we tried to replace.
Grant us silence.
We are innocent, of course:
it was our great grandparents who sinned…
but we still cling to stolen land,
and resist making things right.
Grant us repentance.
Those who we tried to erase
are still here.
Grant us gratitude.
The ghost dance goes on,
beneath our knowing.
Great Spirit, take hold of us.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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