PAZA, TREE OF LIFE
501c3 Non-Profit Support Organization
Bringing People Together through Culture, Community & Conservation
Turtle Island United
Turtle Island United Initiative was the combined efforts of PAZA, Antinanco and Partners for Native Nations that continued to support indigenous communties as they transitioned out of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, and sought to recover, organize and rebuild their communities, early in 2021. Turtle Island United Initiative was born from our "Native Covid-19 Campaign Project" which was our orgiginal project that assisted Native Communities with COVID-19 humanitarian relief aid and contribute to long-term economic, wellness and food security solutions. A big part of Turtle Island United was focused on helping these indigenous communities to create clean water solutions, food growing initiatives, and integrate preventative measures, nutritious foods and traditional plant medicines into everyday lifestyle. We believe that it is a critical component in improving the people’s health and well-being during the pandemic and beyond, taking into the account, specifically the needs of elders and children. This initiative included Health & Wellness kits, Educational Web Series (link), Water is Life campaign, supporting Lakota Horse Camp for Youth, Crocheting for a Cause, Sacred Sheep Skins, and supporting Native American artisans develop and market their products.
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In the summer of 2021, as Covid restrictions began to relax for the first time in a year, PAZA brought together relatives from various tribes across Turtle Island to a Healing Gathering of Nations in the Sacred Black Hills of South Dakota.
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2021 Day of Healing - Bear Butte, SD
Through the Turtle Island United Initiative, we traveled to Bear Butte, South Dakota, and sponsored a Day of Healing. We shared prayers, songs, activities, food, music and dance from every tribal culture. We blessed the ground and planted pine tree saplings to replenish tree life on the mountain. We held a naming ceremony for a young man striving to return to the roots of his culture. We exchanged incredible conversation with the tribal elders who shared their wisdom and knowledge with us. We ended the day with a huge giveaway of donated items we had brought with us from the East Coast. From Sun up until Sun down it was a day blessed by the Creator. For some who continued on with us, from there were visits to the sacred sites of Wounded Knee, Little Big Horn, Devil's Tower, Pipestone and the Reconciliation Park/Dakota 38 Memorial. It was a scared journey that began the long work of healing and reconciliation with our First Nations People. We are grateful to all our relatives who came to the table; Lakota, Dakota and Nakota of the Great Sioux, Cheyenne, Chocktow, Dine and Hopi. Wopila Tanka.
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Turtle Island United is still active in joint initiatives and cross over programs. PAZA, Antinanco and the Partners for Native Nations have all returned to their original missions but not without being forever impacted by the time shared and the missions accomplished by coming together during the Season of the Covid-19 Pandemic.