We Know the Way: A Season for Restoration

As autumn unfolds, the calendar brings with it moments of celebration and reckoning. Columbus Day and Thanksgiving—two holidays often associated with gratitude and heritage—also carry the weight of historical trauma, especially for Native peoples. For many, these days are not festive—they are reminders of loss, displacement, and the long echo of injustice.

Yet within this tension lies an opportunity: not to erase the past, but to reframe it. To move from pain to purpose, from division to dignity. This season invites us to turn the page—not as separate groups, but as people seeking restoration.

Letting Go of What Hurts

Healing is not forgetting. It is the release of what continues to wound. The mind holds memory; the heart holds emotion. To let go of either is difficult—especially when those responsible cannot or will not acknowledge the harm.

But healing is not a transaction. It is a gift we give ourselves, our families, and the generations to come. Some cannot offer apology because they lack the awareness or humility to do so. Waiting for them keeps the wound open. Leading by example—through grace, resilience, and strength—teaches by demonstration.

When anger is released, sadness may surface. That is part of the process. Honor it. Then let it go. Only then can healing begin.

Reframing the Story

To let go is not to forget—it is to reclaim authorship. It is to move from surviving to thriving. Healing begins when we define ourselves—not by stereotypes or historical projections, but by our own truth.

Every people carries chapters of light and darkness. What matters most is what we write next. Healing allows us to turn the page with dignity, shifting focus from what was lost to what can still be built.

You don’t need to know the destination. Sit if you must—but don’t stay there. The path is made by walking.

How a Wound Heals: A Lesson for Nations

The body’s wisdom offers a roadmap for collective healing. Every wound heals through four overlapping stages—each with its own lesson for humanity.

1. Hemostasis – Stop the Bleeding

When injured, the body clots to prevent further loss. Healing begins with containment—closing the wound and reclaiming stability.

For communities, this means unity. Let go of anger. Gather strength. Create space for healing to begin.

2. Inflammation – Clean the Wound

The body sends immune cells to clear debris. Swelling and heat follow—but this is necessary.

For people, this means acknowledging pain, removing harmful patterns, and standing in truth. For Native communities, it means honoring survival. For others, it means listening—not to defend, but to understand.

3. Proliferation – Rebuild and Reconnect

New tissue forms. Blood vessels bring nourishment. The wound fills in from the inside out.

This is the stage of reconnection and self-definition. For Native peoples, it means reviving tradition, rediscovering roots, and forming identity beyond imposed narratives. For all, it means nurturing spaces where growth can take root.

4. Maturation – Strengthen and Renew

The body remodels new tissue into something stronger. Scars form—not as reminders of defeat, but as proof of survival.

For communities, this means reclaiming authority and moving forward—not as casualties of history, but as authors of the future. From this strength, connection becomes possible—not as tolerance, but as mutual respect and shared humanity.

Turning the Page Together

History shows that peace is possible—but rarely sustained. Old wounds reopen when deeper healing is neglected.

It is time to turn the page—not as races, nations, or factions, but as people. We are more alike than different, united by emotion, need, and hope.

Let this season be one of understanding, compassion, and renewal. May we stop the bleeding, cleanse the wound, rebuild, and grow strong together.

The Creator reveals the way to those who listen. You know the way. Go the way. Show the way.