Land AcknowledgementMany of you have probably heard Land Acknowledgment statements that remind us of those who were here before us. Through a process that included looking at a variety of statements, the Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries has developed a template for our sites to use as one element of the way we welcome groups. We borrowed from the Deschutes Land Trust because we liked their statement, and it helped communicate the complexity of the fact that many tribes/nations were connected to the same land, though maybe at different times of the year (think, for example, of salmon runs). The Land Acknowledgment Statement below for Camp Latgawa (not perfected yet) demonstrates the template: setting our religious and historical context; noting some geographical markers of the area; naming the tribe/nation and our recognition of the relationship; our gratitude for the care for the land that preceded our presence here; and acknowledgment that there are tribal members still present today. Camp Latgawa's draft statement: Hebrew and Christian scriptures say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” and all that is in them. And before the earth beneath our feet was called the Oregon Territory, before there was a Medford, Eagle Point, or Camp Latgawa thousands of years of life went on in these forests, along the streams, and across the rugged land. For generation after generation the Latgawa people belonged to this land. We acknowledge their relationship with this land, we give thanks for their care of this land, and we recognize their tribal presence today. *PHOTO: A feather rests on the ground at Camp Latgawa (Todd Bartlett). Blessings Report
Please send your blessings to share in future issues of the e-news. Shaped by loveThe features of each one of our sites have been uniquely shaped by God's creative hand: the mountains and meadows of Sawtooth, the beaches and wetlands of Magruder, the lush forest and ever-changing creek of Collins. Similarly, each camper and retreat participant is uniquely shaped by love. So much goes into each camp or retreat experience: the hospitality, the settings, the activities, the curriculum, and most especially the human relationships that are nurtured by well-trained staff. All of these are undergirded and inspired by God's love. And none of this would be possible without your donations. Thank you!
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Go Camping E-News is a publication of Camp and Retreat Ministries, a collaboration of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. 1505 SW 18th Ave Portland, OR 97201 503-802-9210 GoCamping.org |