Food offering



Food Offerings

Growing up, I watched my parents and grandparents treat life with deep respect. Whenever they took a deer, moose, fish, or gathered berries and roots, they didn’t waste any time. They prepared everything right away for the year ahead and to share with our community.

They always seemed happy when cooking or making clothes. If something felt off, they would take a moment to step away and gather themselves.

Any scraps left over would always go back to the land and water. That’s how we show respect.

I remember my dad telling me about the time his uncle took him up on the mountain to fast. There was no food given to him. Just a boy with a blanket and nothing else. After a day, he returned down the mountain.

My Yea'a taught me to leave a little food on my plate every time I ate. I did this for most of my life until I moved to the city.

When we have burnings, we light a fire after dinner just for the spirits. We put food on the fire to burn it, along with things our loved ones would enjoy (but we always make sure to be safe).

My mom calls it 'mind communication' when the spirits talk to you.

Every thought we have is a prayer; God is within us and God  in us. Our ancestors guide us every step of the way.

We need to respect the spirit and all of life.

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