2023 Workshop Review

The First Being a Good Neighbor Course was Hosted by

The SWFL RESET Center,

the Love The Everglades Movement,

and members of 4 Unitarian Universalist Congregations.

Generously funded by:

The four-part exploratory workshop was created to promote Indigenous Sovereignty, Resilience, and Climate Justice.

In both Zoom and on-site sessions, participants engaged in a deep exploration of how Florida Indigenous people relate to nature, created a Land Acknowledgement, discovered ways to honor and support Indigenous Sovereignty, and how to be good allies in the struggle to Protect The Sacred.

Indigenous Sovereignty & Justice

The information, curriculum, and material below are from 2023’s inaugural workshop.

To register for the 2024 Workshop, visit our 2024 Workshop Registration page here:

“Being A Good Neighbor”!

In January and February 2023, a group of 35 Floridians, many of whom belong to Unitarian Universalist Congregations, came together to explore issues of indigenous sovereignty, justice, and U.S. history from the perspective of indigenous peoples. 

We were deeply honored that Rev. Houston Cypress, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, Otter Clan, and co-founder of Love the Everglades Movement, joined us for each of 5 Sessions.

Deep exploration of how the Miccosukee people relate to nature inspired participants to take the first steps by creating Land Acknowledgements that emerged and to become more connected to nature. This was just the beginning of Being a Good Neighbor and our intention is to stay in touch and become more engaged in Indigenous Sovereignty and how to be good allies in the struggle to Protect The Sacred. The reading materials and videos below are important resources. We will keep adding to them, so keep coming back.

2023 Workshop Curriculum

ZOOM SESSION 1: “Welcome To The Garden”

The Power of Nature - Resilience and Regeneration

Pre-session/preliminary reading:

ZOOM SESSION 2: “Understanding Settler Colonialism”

The Displacement of Indigenous Peoples

Pre-Session Reading:

These two short readings have had profound implications for our world. Please read them carefully before the next session.

Next Study:

  • Watch the short film EVERY STEP IS A PRAYER to lighten up and understand the artistic creativity coming out of the Everglades.

  • Read UUA Address 400 years of White Settler Colonialism to see the way UUs mobilized through our social justice process called AIWs. This is an Action of Immediate Witness, which is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups. AIWs are passed by a vote at the UUA’s Annual General Assembly. An AIW must: Pertain to an issue that requires immediate action. This AIW was written in response to the Trump Administration notifying the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe that their reservation lands were being terminated. AIWs have action items. Read the 7 Action items and see if you think any are relevant to us today here in Florida.

Contemplative: Consider your personal lfe:

  • How have you been a good neighbor to others? (How did that make you feel?)

  • When has someone from another community been a good neighbor to you? How did that make you feel?

  • Think about what your relationship is to the land

ZOOM SESSION 3: “Understanding Land Acknowledgment”

Thinking Deeply About Our Part

Pre-Session Homework 

Draft your own Land Acknowledgement (below resources may help)

Land Acknowledgement Resource Links:  

Additional reading:

In addition to the resources you will read for homework, recent UU work in solidarity with indigenous people can help us understand what this collaboration might look like:

  • The UU Service Committee, our human rights arm, advances human rights through grassroots collaborations and funds work like ours that builds relationships with indigenous peoples.

  • The UU Ministry For Earth work on Indigenous Solidarity provides resources developed with BIPOC UUs in support of Religious Education, Worship, and Green Sanctuary that are focused on respecting life, restoring earth and renewing spirit. 

  • DRUUMM is a Unitarian Universalist People of Color Ministry and anti-racist collective that invites BIPOC UUs to join and work with them.

Contemplative:

  • What has been your experience of land acknowledgments?

  • Have you ever given a land acknowledgment?

  • If you like, use the links above to inspire you to write your own land acknowledgment. 

ZOOM SESSION 4: “Southern Native Solidarity”

Deep Listening With Houston Cypress

Pre-Session Homework:

Please take some time this week to complete your own Land Acknowledgement as the main part of your homework. 

  1. Write your own Land Acknowledgement from your own being, it may include why you are making this acknowledgment.

  2. Watch/read Treaties, Peace and Reconciliation (By Rev Houston Cypress) from Love The Everglades link Tree

  3. Drilling in Big Cypress.

  4. Watch Sierra Club on Land Acknowledgements

ONSITE SESSION 5: “Being A Good Neighbor: Moving Into Action

Onsite Session & Ceremony

Students and teachers gather onsite to complete the curriculum, share insights, commit to actionable steps on Being Good Neighbors, and celebrate:

Discussion

Commitments

Actionable items/Next Steps

Presentation of Certificates

Fellowship

Additional Educational Resources

As we prepared this program, we found the following resources to be very helpful.

Informative Links:

Music:

Important Books

For questions about the Being A Good Neighbor Program, do not hesitate to contact us at swflreset@gmail.com

or call 239-464-6556

IMPORTANT INITIATIVES

A Call to Action to Protect the Sacred!

Honor The Ancestors

A company called Related Group plans to build on a sacred site - a sight where archaeologists have uncovered human remains and other artifacts pre-dating the pyramids of Egypt. This site is a known spiritual site for many tribes who came from far distances to travel to the “beyond”. This site is being desecrated for the purpose of building residential Units. There has already been a stop work order because archaeologists on the site got arsenic poisoning.

Just because prior permits were issued to allow the building of the current structures didn’t make it right. Why are discriminatory practices and policies of allowing the destruction of indigenous sacred sites continuing in Miami-Dade County?"

How You Can Help: Email the City of Miami Mayor and Officials.