Meditation for March 24, 2020 / "Please Stay Home" / Birds singing before dawn

Spring Meditations with Native American Elders

Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors -- the dreams of our old men, given them in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.  (Chief Seattle, SUQUAMISH)

Our spiritual ways have carefully been given to chosen people.  Slowly, through our past generations, through past conflicts, our Elders prayed for guidance, which the Creator provided.  Then it was passed down to the next generation through culture, ceremony and oral traditions.  Our Indian religion has been tested and is about how we should behave and treat other people, animals, and earth.  This knowledge is written in the heart of every person.  We can find this knowledge by looking inside ourselves.

My Creator, today, when conflict occurs, I will look inside myself for the answers.

(March 24, from Meditations with Native American Elders:  The Four Seasons, by Don Coyhis, p. 5)

The following is from the Lummi Indian Business Council:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 22, 2020 

Community Update 

Siam e ne schaleche siam 

My dear people, as we expected, today the Lummi Indian Business Council accepted the Lummi Public Health Team's recommendation and unanimously passed a Shelter in Place resolution (Reso #2020-055). This resolution is in response to mitigating the COVID-19 crisis by providing a mandate for all individuals living on the Lummi Indian Reservation to shelter in place. The resolution takes effect today, March 22, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. and will remain in place until April 5, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Please do not panic; we are prepared for this. Be assured that certain fundamental activities will still be allowed. Individuals may travel from their homes to: 

 Provide or receive certain essential services, like taking care of family members or to obtain medical services; 

 Engage in certain essential activities such as going to get groceries, medications, fishing, hunting and gathering; and 

 Work for essential businesses, essential infrastructure, and vital LIBC functions. 

LIBC will continue to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the Nation during this Shelter in Place Order. Commodities and the student lunch programs will continue and the Lummi MiniMart and the Cove store will remain open to serve the community. All LIBC employees will be contacted by your direct supervisor with direction regarding your work schedule. 

We recognize that this shelter in place order may cause confusion. Our objective is to take every measure and to ensure the health and safety of our families during this COVID-19 pandemic. We love our people. This resolution is a mandate for our people and families to stay home. It further emphasizes the necessity to protect our elders and youth and prohibits all gatherings of individuals within the Lummi Reservation. 

When it is necessary for you to leave your home please practice good Social Distancing, take great care to protect our elders, and Wash your hands frequently. We cannot stress enough the value of each and every one of our Lummi members. Please join us in taking every precaution to mitigate the impacts of the great flood of this virus that becomes more of a threat to our community every day. Please stay home. 

Clarifying information about the Shelter in Place Order will be released this evening. For more information please visit our LIBC websites or our  outlets. 

It is important to have Sxwolowen at this time, one heart and one mind and one spirit for the work. Che Shesh Whe Wheleq Sen – we come from survivors of the great flood. Sqweshent-lh tse Xwlemi Elhta-lng-exw – we protect the Lummi People 

Hy’shqe Siam ne shcaleche siam Hyshqe xwian ne quol quol 

Chairman Lawrence Solomon

(Note: The following is from the Shelter in Place Order and is am's addition)

1. Background.

Today we are in the same position as our ancestors when the Great Flood arrived. Like our ancestors, we are doing everything possible to ensure that our children have everything they need in their canoes to survive. We want to make it clear that our children need the teachings from their elders; we refuse to give up any of our elders during this flood. On March 3, 2020, the LIBC declared a State of Public Health Emergency due to the novel infectious coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 may cause respiratory disease leading to serious illness or death. The World Health Organization considers COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports COVID-19 is the most contagious when the person is most symptomatic, but may spread before symptoms appear. The Lummi Tribal Health Center has been actively monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and recommending self quarantine to individuals that may have been exposed to COVID-19. However, the number of potential contacts with COVID-19 has grown exponentially that the Lummi Nation must order shelter in place to protect the Lummi community.

2. Intent.

The intent of this Order is to mitigate the impacts of the great flood of this virus that has already reached our community. To be successful we absolutely need your help. We need all Lummi people and all Lummi residents to be leaders and ensure the safety of our vulnerable populations. The maximum number of people must shelter in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. When people need to leave their places of residence, whether to obtain or perform vital services, or to otherwise facilitate authorized activities necessary for continuity of social and commercial life, they should at all times possible comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined below. All provisions of this Order shall be interpreted to effectuate the expressed intent. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat and creates an immediate menace to public. Violations of this Order could subject a person to criminal penalties and/or civil fines.



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