How do we survive this with love?: Resources from Indigenous Peoples Day Gathering
At the Gathering on Monday, Joseph McNeil reflected on the state’s violent destruction of the Standing Rock encampments 10 years ago.
He said, “This violence is what has been practiced in this country and to our communities since they came to this country. This level of violence. This level of coercion. This divisiveness. We're going to have to turn to a place where we look at each other - and not just as family, but then as community. And than as a nation.
To help one another is simple. We ask, “How do we survive through this with love?” That's the only way we're going to get through it.”
Joseph gifted us with this question that I invite us all to sit with.
As Rev. Karen Van Fossan said “We're learning how to live with our hearts and our minds and our courage aligned.” She was reflecting on 10 years ago. “I think about what we learned [in that movement 10 years ago]. This became a model for so many things: Other resistance movements to pipelines, to ice. There's strong connection between the resistance in the Twin Cities to ICE and the Water Protector Movement on Standing Rock in Line 3.”
Rev. Clyde Gurbbs reflected, “The Bismarck-Mandan UU Church became a place where you could go and orient and find out how you could be more helpful than trouble, and that was a good thing.”
What an honor and privilege to listen to this conversation.
If you missed us live, you can watch the recording and view the presentation slides.
If you were there, Will you take 2 minutes to share your feedback?
Here are the next steps we invited you into:
Ground yourself. What is 1 thing you will do to tend to your spirit and regulate this week?
Amplify. What is something you will share with 3 people tomorrow?
Write to restore Solar for All. The Solar for All was a grant program under the Inflation Reduction Act that provided opportunities for low-income households, Tribes, other disadvantaged communities with the funds to provide solar energy alternatives. In August 2025, the EPA under the Trump administration, terminated the grant program. Lawsuits were filed by RI’s AFL-CIO and another filed by Harris County, Texas. The two federal courts have now ruled that termination unlawful, and the letter below asks your member of Congress to call on EPA to restore the program and release the $7 billion already committed to lowering energy bills nationwide.
Join us to Defend Public Lands at our Green Sanctuary Community Meeting, Wed, Oct 21. The Trump Administration has removed protections from more than 86 million acres of public lands, and millions more of our beloved landscapes and wildlife are in imminent danger of expanded mining, drilling, and timber harvests with limited consultation with Tribes and Nations and public comment. As our lands, waters, and habitats are under attack, UUs passed the 2026 AIW to Defend Against the Assault on Environmental Protections: Public Lands Rules and the Endangerment Finding. As part of our Standing Rock Anniversary events, join Deb Cruz from JUUstice WA, for a discussion about current issues and how we can protect public lands from the onslaught of logging, fossil fuel and other extractive industry projects.---Guided by UU values, the Green Sanctuary community nurtures resilient, thriving communities through climate actions that prioritize justice. All are invited to join our monthly community meetings to learn together, support each other, and celebrate progress.
Sign up for our November 9th, post-election Gathering
Side With Love Links
Side With Love’s Dos & Don’ts Grounded, Resilient & Responsible Toolkit
Bookmark the webpage for The Gathering to see all the dates, a promotion kit, recordings, crisis resources, and links.
The strength of our movements has always been found in our ability to come together. May we continue acting in wider and wider networks of solidarity, and we will see you again in November.
May we dedicate ourselves to love today and always,
Rev. Cathy & Side with Love Staff Team
PS: Don’t miss our November 9: Declarations of Democracy: Election Round Up
We gather less than a week after election day to reflect on what we know, what we’ve learned, and the road ahead. Regardless of what happens on and after November 3rd, we know that it is our sacred call to shape a multiracial, interdependent democracy where everyone can thrive. Join Side with Love’s Nicole Pressley, President Sofía Betancourt, musician Glen Thomas Rideout, and other special guests to make strengthen your spirit, make sense of this moment in our democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others!
