Guides / Guías
Created by Deborah Aschheim and Say Their Names LA
Say Their Names LA and artist Deborah Aschheim are creating 2 zines focused on mental health and the crisis of law enforcement violence. The first zine features resources for mental health and alternatives to 911, and the second zine is about dealing with the aftermath of a crisis including grief and loss support, and how to be an advocate for social justice. Both zines will feature art and creative writing as well as stories graciously shared by impacted families.
Download the zines by clicking on the images or on the links below:
We have experienced so many harmful uses of the acronym #BIPOC especially in recent months. When used carelessly it implies that #Indigenous Peoples are included when mostly they are not and if they are it’s usually not the Indigenous Peoples of the area. This zine is a helpful guide to starting some important conversations in authentically centering Indigenous Peoples in advocacy efforts.
We want you at your best!!!!
We know that it can feel intense and disorienting to witness and experience what is going on and we also understand that the inadequate response by officials has been poor and that the consequences of the poor response has already, and can have severe consequences without even contracting COVID-19.
The flow of information and misinformation alone is a huge undertaking much less just living fully to the best of our efforts at this time. Some of us that have lived through riots, went to funeral after funeral growing up because of violence, and have been in high-intensity scenarios supporting Indigenous communities defending the land, we know this feeling.
The human need to self-preserve kicks in and at times it can feel good. But staying in that high clouds clarity and can become toxic.
We've been taught by elders to not let our spirit get stuck in that moment. We hope this guide can help a bit with lowering the intensity of the moment and maybe there's a need to expand on this version but we wanted to give folks a starting point.
Indigenous Peoples Day
It is amazing that we have more and more opportunities to celebrate Indigenous Peoples but let’s be cautious that in doing so we don’t erase the original peoples of the area where you plan to produce your event.
Indigenous Peoples most certainly includes natives south and north of the US borders but we believe these celebrations should center on the original peoples of the land your event will take place on.
We encourage you to reach out and build relations with them and ask them to join your event organizing team. Building relationships in one the most fundamental ways to honor them.
Be sure to practice reciprocity meaning for everything they share with you, be prepared to contribute equally.
Land Acknowledgment
How can we truly heal ourselves if we don’t heal that first scar caused to our body, our memory, our story, our spirit, and the land?
Practicing land acknowledgments can help us begin a process of reconciling how the majority of our existence is a continual displacement of Indigenous Peoples.
In our social justice (woke) spaces we use words like decolonize, cultural appropriation, restorative justice - but how can we truly do any of those things without centering on those who were/are the original stewards of the land.
Indigenous Peoples have always practiced the honoring of guests as-well-as their hosts when visiting other nations, communities, etc. It’s time we do the same.
Moving Towards Harmony
In this guide, you will find a template for facilitating a process to reintroduce harmony after harm has been identified by an individual or group.
As a disclaimer, you will not find the word “justice” beyond this introduction as we find that ending conflicts for the sole purpose of achieving justice, does not bring harmony to relationships, friendships, communities, and families. In addition, the use of the word justice is usually set in the context of a crime.
This guide will assist you in moving a conflict towards a process the can spark healing, reconciliation, and adherence to a communal path forward.
This process should focus on harm reduction while centering on the survivor/s.
I’ve been invited to a Healing Circle, now what?
The phrase “healing circle” has become a catch-all term for many things that might visually appear as such but most likely aren’t.
For example, a Men’s Circle can act as a “healing circle” but it usually isn’t and the same applies to other similar circles for specific groups such as Youth Circles, etc.
Being a Healing Circle facilitator requires a lot of experience (not something you can purchase training for) and there are a few organizations that offer training to become a circle facilitator but even those are limited in what you learn and what you actually need to know to conduct a Healing Circle. Other organizations out there that offer training in “Council” or other names they use, simply are appropriations of practices by Indigenous communities.
Reconocimiento de Tierras
¿Cómo podemos curarnos verdaderamente si no curamos esa primera cicatriz causada a nuestro cuerpo, nuestra memoria, nuestra historia, nuestro espíritu y la tierra?
La practica del Reconocimientos de Tierras puede ayudarnos a comenzar un proceso de reconciliación de cómo la mayoría de nuestra existencia es un desplazamiento continuo de los Pueblos Indígenas.
En nuestros espacios de justicia social usamos palabras como descolonizar, apropiación cultural, justicia restaurativa, pero ¿cómo podemos hacer realmente cualquiera de esas cosas sin centrarnos en aquellos que fueron / son los originales de la tierra?
Los Pueblos Indígenas siempre han practicado el honor de los huéspedes como sus anfitriones cuando visitan otras naciones, comunidades, etc. Es hora de que hagamos lo mismo.
En Camino Hacia la Harmonía
En esta guía, encontrarás un modelo para facilitar un proceso para reintroducir la harmonía después de que un individuo o grupo haya identificado un daño.
Como nota aclaratoria, no se encontrará la palabra “justicia” más allá de esta introducción ya que vemos que el acabar con los conflictos con el único propósito de lograr la justicia, no resulta en harmonía para las relaciones, amistades, comunidades, y familias. Además, el uso de la palabra justicia usualmente se establece en el contexto de un crimen.
Esta guía te ayudará a trasladar un conflicto hacia un proceso que pueda despertar la sanación, reconciliación, y un compromiso a un camino a futuro colectivo.
Este proceso se debe enfocar en la reducción de daños mientras se centra en la(s) persona(s) sobreviviente(s).