We need a new story for our changing times, one that brings renewed meaning to our lives, and water shows us the way. In today’s society, we often find ourselves living in isolated bubbles, detached from the natural world around us and the most basic element of all—water. Disconnected from the water sources that surround us, we lose sight of the serious issues facing these wellsprings of life, including drought, floods, pollution and commercialization.
Indigenous communities have long held a deep connection to the land and its elements, such as a number of tribes in Alabama who have long revered the Tennessee River, calling it Nunnuhsae, the Singing River. In this weekend, we explore ways to develop our ability to connect more profoundly and spiritually with our creeks, ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers as a way to inspire a new story for our times.
Guided by Indigenous spiritual leader and human rights attorney Sherri Mitchell (Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset), Omega Center for Sustainable Living Founder Robert "Skip" Backus, and others, this experiential retreat brings together community and nonprofit leaders, activists, educators, and healers to recognize the value of nature as a teacher and guide.
Through music, story, group discussion, and meditation, we come into a place of stronger connectivity with one another and the natural world. The weekend also includes a powerful, interactive concert with Jeremy Dutcher, a classically-trained Canadian Indigenous tenor, composer, and activist who has revived once-lost songs of Native peoples.
Under Mitchell's guidance, we focus on understanding and embodying the inherent wisdom and extraordinary healing power of water. This group experience includes traditional meditations, prayer, and song held both indoors and outdoors by the Omega lake. Reflecting on the voices of the water, our intention is to be cleansed and transformed into water ambassadors for the planet.
By using water as a deep source of wisdom and inspiration, we become stronger water advocates making a difference in the world.
