Covenant leaders Lenore Three Stars and Jim Sequeira share profound Indigenous wisdom in two video clips we are highlighting for Native American Heritage Month. These clips were captured during recording for the upcoming Season 2 of the Love the Cov podcast.
Lenore, who is Oglala Lakota, shares insights from the Lakota teaching of Mitákuye Oyás’in, which means “We are all related.” The principle extends to Creator, one another, and all parts of creation, including non-human elements like the weather and the stars. She reflects on the call in Genesis to care for creation with love, embodying the values of God’s relational nature. She also speaks to the significance of land acknowledgments, urging that we move beyond formalities to honor the deep reciprocal relationship Indigenous peoples have maintained with the land for thousands of years.
Jim, who serves as pastor of Cascade View Covenant Church in Vancouver, Washington, focuses on the importance of being a good guest, sharing stories of entering spaces with humility, acknowledging ancestors, and respecting local customs. He highlights practices of bringing gifts and seeking permission as ways to express honor and gratitude.
These reflections offer a glimpse into the wisdom and relational values that can inspire us to live with greater care and respect for the Creator, all of creation, and one another.
