lox̣ʷ - the sound of rushing water - Winter 2021
sčńłtu spq̓niʔ
Shaking hands month.
by Claire Charlo
January is the month we call shaking hands month. We don't exactly follow the Gregorian New Year; however, January is a very important month for the Salish. It is the time where you put your differences to the side. We go to social ceremonies and shake hands with everyone and sincerely wish everyone a good New Year. It's a happy occasion — we are grateful for each other, and Creator's gifts of food and warmth. We gather together as a community to celebrate making another year together.
During this time of a pandemic, our social ceremonies have been canceled. We are asked to individually have our own ceremonies at our homes. It's so surreal to not shake everyone's hands. It's protocol as you enter a ceremony space to go and shake everyone's hands. Even at work, or in the store, you shake hands and say happy new year. It feels so strange to not be at the social ceremonies, shaking hands, wishing everyone a good year, letting go of past grudges. At this particular political time, there is a national call for unity. If ever there were a time to set differences aside to address the 400,000 deaths (at the time this piece was written) from Covid, climate catastrophe, stopping all pipelines, especially Line 3 — we need to work together.
I believe in healing and reconciliation. May we shake hands and wish each a good year and work together to save our Mother Earth.
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Claire Charlo was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation. A direct descendent of Chief Charlo, Claire Charlo attended law school and graduated with a Juris Doctorate. Claire works as a Civil Advocate for the Salish & Kootenai Tribal Defenders. In her spare time, Claire is a Water and Land Defender. Claire also writes, beads regalia/jewelry and sews star quilts. In the summer Claire is in the mountains picking huckleberries and digging roots.
lox̣ʷ - the sound of rushing water, Claire’s column exploring the Salish language, appears in each issue of our seasonal publication, The Changing Times.
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