Last month, I reflected on my work with the Indigenous community in Toronto in this post. In it, I spoke of a Circle that I had the privilege of being a part of at Council Fire. A Circle - which was an event where community members could come and speak on their concerns - took place a week after the rally to show support for Standing Rock happened in Toronto, mainly to hear the concerns of folks who thought that the rally should've been organized differently. One of the people who attended that meeting was Jay Mason. He gave us, the rally organizers, good advise on how to organize rallies going forward. He said, "the next time you do a rally, don't even ask for a police permit, just do it," he said to us.
I befriended him thereafter through Facebook, and found out through his subsequent postings that he was a critical part of the American Indian Movement years ago. He would also post daily teachings on his account. One day, he posted a prayer that I instantly took a liking to.
I grew up Christian, where I attended Baptist church services starting from an early age. From my experience, Christian prayers are imbued with a sense that the person who is praying is sinful, and in need of saving. Jay's prayer is different because it leaves me feeling empowered. It connects me to the world around me, asking me to wonder what would happen to the world if I don't follow my instructions to be kind and to live a good life.
I printed a copy of this prayer into a piece of paper that I taped on my office desk at work. Every morning, as I drink my coffee, it would be my ritual to read this prayer and reflect on it.
Rest in Power, Jay.
Here's the prayer, straight from Jay's Facebook post:
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