Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids and Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians join in ritual cleansing of the waters during Season of Creation
What a joy to feel the soft breezes and hear the water gurgling as it flows over the creek bed and rocks during our Living Water Blessing today, Wednesday, September 23, at the St. Francis Sculpture Garden at Marywood in Grand Rapids.
The Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids invited the Water Protectors of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians to Coldbrook Creek for a ritual cleansing of the waters during Season of Creation.
The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Water Protectors perform sacred water purification and blessing ceremonies to honor and protect the Grand River basin in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To have Ron Yob (Chairman of the Bands) and Fran Compo (Vice Chair of the Bands), and one of the Water Protectors from the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians companion our Congregation and friends on this day to honor water as a source of life, healing, and connection, was special, indeed.
Ron shared the Tribe’s sense of the significance of water: “It is from the water, our babies are birthed, and the water flows through our bodies, generation after generation.”
“When we touch this water of Coldbrook Creek, we are connected to the Grand River, to Lake Michigan, to Lake Huron, to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and on to the Ocean,” he said. “We are all connected and of this water.”
Water Protectors are Descendants of Long Lineage of Indigenous Water Protectors
Ron introduced both Fran Compo and her blood sister Kelly as part of the family line of women named Water Protectors. As Water Protectors, Fran and Kelly’s ancestral connection to the Nibi (water) and the Grand River (Owashtanong) holds deep significance.
“My name is Morningstar, my English name is Kelly Wesaw. I am from Turtle Clan. I am Grand River Band on my dad’s side, and Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians on my mom’s side.
During the ceremony, Morningstar/Kelly smudged everybody and said: I pray to God, pray to Creator, asking blessings on everybody. Thank you God for all the wonderful things he has brought here today. May these blessings extend from you to your families.
We walked to Coldbrook Creek, and, as we watched from the bridge, Morningstar carried out the water ceremony.
Upon leaving the creek bank, Sr. Kathi Sleziak OP led us in prayer: “Empower us to work for transformation, and may God, who gives us life, bless and strengthen us in our continuing care for the waters around us and the people it sustains. In the name of God, the source of all being, the eternal Word, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The ceremony closed with voices raised in song: “The heavens are telling the glory of God and all creation is shouting for joy. Come dance in the forest, come play in the fields, and sing sing to the glory of the world….”
Saint Francis Sculpture Garden Offers Contemplative Peace and Healing in Nature at Marywood in Grand Rapids
As an aside, Ron shared that his middle name is Francis, and that his baptismal name is Francis of Assisi. The water blesser’s name, here today, is also Francis. It’s kind of funny that here we are in this spot, St. Francis of Assisi Garden. “All three of us (Ron Yob, Fran Compo, Kelly Wesaw) attended Catholic schools in the Grand Rapids area. We are honored by the connection of the name Assisi to the Yobs through the years, so it is especially meaningful to be here today in St. Francis Sculpture Garden.”
