At the edge of frozen, bone-white Lake Buffalo an hour and a half from Minneapolis, Native American Episcopalians have gathered for Winter Talk, January 20-23.  Winter is a traditional time for gathering to tell stories in many indigenous cultures, and for the past two decades Native members of the Episcopal Church have held an annual retreat in this spirit for American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawai’ian Episcopalians, lay and ordained.  Most Winter Talks have been held in Oklahoma, though they are now beginning to be held in other places.  Last year, Winter Talk was held in Virginia to reflect on the 500th anniversary of the establishment of the European settlement at Jamestown.  This year, Minnesota was chosen.

Pace e Bene’s Veronica Pelicaric was invited by Robert Two Bulls of the Minnesota Diocese’s Department of Indian Work to lead a process on Empowerment.  Veronica was unable to attend, so I was asked to take her place.  It was a deeply moving experience to be with people who are already powerful (the learning was profoundly mutual in this regard) and who have been living the life of spirit in many different communities in Minnesota and across the United States, including in Alaska, Washington State, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Michigan and New York.  It was an extraordinary experience of sharing our journeys of nonviolent change. 

I am deeply grateful to have been invited into this beautiful circle by the edge of the winter lake.