we want to teach from the indigenous perspective that when we step foot on land it is to come into a relationship. One that listens, that recieves gifts, that gives thanks for and honors those gifts to the best of our ability, and than gives back. The first step to living within this Honorable Harvest is to honor and give thanks to the land, the past stewards, and ancestors of the land we stand, live, and breathe on.1. Honoring the Waters and the SoilWe begin by praising the living waters that thread our city together and give it life. We honor Wacca Pilatka (the St. Johns River), whose vast tidal currents move with the rhythm of the ocean. We speak the names of Hogans Creek and McCoy’s Creek and remember when they were wild, meandering, spring-fed streams. We remember that generations of children played along her banks, caught crabs, and took home pure water straight from the Earth’s store with zero waste or carbon footprint.We honor the oysters and clams that once lined these creek beds, breathing in and breathing out with every tide, filtering and cleaning the water with every inhale and exhale. While some areas of these waterways have been scraped raw or burdened by urban development, we thank can find encouragement in the immense resilience of this land.2. Honoring the Ancestral StewardsWe honor the Timucua and Mocama peoples, the original caretakers who lived in deep reciprocity with these exact creeks and riverbanks for thousands of years. They fished these waters, planted in this sandy soil, and listened to the wisdom of the live oaks without ever claiming to "own" what belonged to the Creator.3. Honoring the AncestorsWe honor the ancestors—those whose bones are mingled with this dirt, those who were brought to these banks against their will, and those who fought to protect the sacred balance of this landscape. We carry their remembrance in our blood, recognizing that their resilience is the very energy that allows us to stand here today and imagine a different future.