The Social Justice Committee wanted to share the great news that after a thorough discussion and consultation we have identified the Tahoma Indian Center as the recipient of our 2022/23 Native People’s Reparations Payment.  We have included the message below with our donation and encourage those in our community to donate directly to this organization.

www.tahomaindiancenter.org

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We, Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists, have made a commitment to learn and grow in relationship with our neighbors.  We acknowledge that we are on the land of the sx̌ʷəbabš peoples. We begin each of our Sunday services with a call to take action not just to learn from the past but to actively work towards right relationship with Native Peoples.

As part of that effort, we are sharing our funds with you in support of your mission “…to uphold the spiritual potential of our Native Peoples so that we may realize greater healing, opportunity and self-determination for individuals, families and communities.”  That is beautifully stated, and it resonates with our belief in the power of spirit to bring healing and transformation.

We asked Shelley Means, a member of the Seattle Urban Indian Health Board, for her advice on where a good place might be to donate this year’s reparations payment from our congregation. She highly recommended your group as living nearby and doing a wonderful job of providing services with dignity to Native people and families. She knew of your good works as her aunt helped start this program many years ago.

Please accept this donation, it is sent with love and appreciation for the work that you do in our community.

Sincerely,
Members of the Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists