​What does connecting with our ancestral cultures and ancestors have to do with anti-racism?

​​​1. Nurtures that which racism and colonization seeks to destroy. Colonization and systemic racism labeled certain cultures "different," "bad," and "inferior." By connecting to our own cultures' Earth-based practices, we nurture that which colonization and systemic racism seeks to destroy.​

2. Changes our experience of Othering people different from us. By stepping deeper into a vision of ourself as someone "of culture and who has culture," it changes how we may other historically marginalized populations as "those who have culture." And it changes how we show up to our personal and professional relationships with people who are racially / culturally different from us.

3. Heals Western Wounds that lead to racism. Many of our families gave up their cultures to survive in the U.S. or had their cultures forcefully taken from them. This created large intergenerational wounds, including around belonging and connection. Reclaiming elements of our ancestors' cultures can be a layer of dissolving the disconnection and isolation that affects many Americans and that can cause clinging to inappropriate power and privilege.
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4. Heals intergenerational trauma. Connecting with our ancestral cultures and ancestors helps us find the family stories we need to learn about to release intergenerational trauma stored in our bodies, enabling us to show up to dismantling systemic racism with regulated, cared for nervous systems, and with our own colonial traumas more healed.​

5. Helps us be happier and better resourced. Finding the elements of our ancestral cultures and ancestral stories that are meaningful and those that are joyful for us helps us live happier more fulfilled lives, and we can best give to social change movements from full cups. ​