Connection Day: We are All Related
by Darren Moore and Benita Moore
On April 21, 2024, the Tacoma community came together to celebrate the inaugural Connection Day, an event conceived by Native Daily Network in partnership with local environmental and Indigenous groups. Set on the eve of Earth Day, this special day of activities was inspired by the Lakota saying “Mitakuye Oyasin”—“we are all related,” highlighting the inherent connection between individuals and the Earth.
The day began with a community clean-up organized by the Water Warriors at the Port of Tacoma, symbolizing a collective dedication to the planet. The location, directly across from Puget Sound Energy’s controversial Liquid Natural Gas holding tank, was chosen to reinforce the community’s commitment to environmental activism and the ongoing struggle against such industrial projects.
This cleanup effort was notably effective, with volunteers collecting a truck full of debris that included garbage, old tires, and even a porcelain toilet with an intact lid. Native Daily Network facilitated the removal of these items, taking them to the local dump. Overall our joint effort was just a little part of the work we are all doing in order to restore the natural life-giving abundant beauty of the area.
The afternoon’s tree planting session, planned by the Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS) at Burlington Way in Tacoma, faced an unexpected challenge as the warehouse project had extended its fencing to the curb, blocking the planned planting site. As a result, the tree planting was postponed until after CASS had finished its rally, which featured several speakers in a determined but relaxed and peaceful atmosphere of solidarity.
However, the event was marred by an aggressive and dangerous incident when a car who organizers believe is associated with the warehouse site security sped through the rally area, nearly hitting several attendees. This was followed by overtly hostile actions from two individuals, referred to as the ‘Two Karens,’ who seemed determined to escalate tensions. One of these individuals aggressively recorded the participants before physically assaulting a person who was livestreaming the event for the CASS. These actions appeared calculated to provoke a violent response and tarnish the peaceful nature of the protest. The situation was eventually calmed when police arrived to take statements.
Following the rally and the resolution of the disruption, the Water Warriors took the initiative to relocate the trees back to the site of the morning cleanup at the Port of Tacoma, where the community successfully planted them, turning a potentially thwarted plan into a reaffirmation of their resilience and adaptability.
Throughout the day, participants from various backgrounds – including environmental activists, community leaders, and tribal members – shared their experiences and insights. These discussions enriched everyone’s understanding of the complex interplay between environmental stewardship and community activism, reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives on how to foster sustainable living and respect for all forms of life.
Connection Day closed with a call to the community to continue their engagement with the Earth and each other by planting, solving local problems, and inviting friends to join in these essential efforts. It was a reminder of the ongoing need to organize and work collectively for environmental and community betterment.
