“Revolution of the Heart” Storytelling and Actions

​Idle More SF Bay and signatories on the Indigenous Women of the Americas Defending Mother Earth Treaty hosted our Spring Equinox Action, to honor and protect the sacred web of life through an art build, storytelling, and participation in Third Act SF Bay Area’s National Day of Action on March 21 in SF.

We were deeply honored to be joined for these events by Isaac Murdoch/Bomgiiizhik (Anishinaabe, Serpent River First Nation) and Shannon Paul (Anishinaabe), who came down from their territories in the north to share their wonderful presences, songs, art, and stories.

​On March 18 we gathered with the Climate Justice Street Mural Arts Project, Isaac and Shannon, and a beautiful group of volunteers in Richmond, CA to connect and to create pieces for the action.  Attendees gathered to paint posters, banners, and patches with Isaac’s “Revolution of the Heart” image of beloved Anishinaabe water walker Josephine Mandamin, who walked 10,000+ miles around the Great Lakes in prayer for the water. 

Isaac and Shannon would bring some of the banners and back patches back to their territories. It’s so moving to think that the images we helped create, along with our love and prayers, would travel back with them. 

On the Spring Equinox we gathered for an evening of songs and stories with Isaac and Shannon at the Urban Tilth farm in Richmond. As the sunset began Urban Tilth members, including Idle No More SF’s Isabella Zizi, welcomed us and shared about their efforts to defend the land, tend and heal the earth that has been so polluted, and nourish the community with healthy food. 

Isaac shared stories and lessons from his mentor that touched on our place in the web of life, the sacredness of images, and the importance of perseverance in difficult times. We are thankful to be carrying the wisdom and spirit of these songs and stories into our lives. It was a beautiful way to welcome the Spring Equinox and prepare for our action. 

​​The next afternoon we joined the gathering with posters and banners in front of Wells Fargo headquarters. It was inspiring to see people from all walks of life coming together to stand up for Mother Earth and to know our event was one of more than 100 in-person action across the continent, calling for banks to stop funding climate chaos. 

The group sang, cut up credit cards, shared stories, prayed for the water. INMSFB shared the banners and patches from our art build. Some participants chained themselves to the doors of the bank.

​We also prepped to paint the “Revolution of the Heart” image on the street, to call in love and beauty to honor the everything and to open people’s hearts. As David Solnit and the Climate Justice Street Mural Arts Project sketched the outline on the asphalt, we were blessed with a downpour. And even though the rain washed away the color as quickly as we could put it down, David kept his chalk to the street. The rain clouds finally parted and we were able to paint “Revolution of the Heart.” What a beautiful series of moments.

It was inspiring to gather with so many others to connect, create, and call in love to heal the earth. Love will win! 

Very special thanks to Isaac and Shannon; Urban Tilth for hosting the storytelling event; our action co-sponsors Third Act SF Bay Area, 350 Bay Area, 1000 Grandmothers Bay Area, Oil and Gas Action Network; Idle No More SF Bay’s Isabella Zizi for organizing and being a part of both UT as well as a signatory on the Indigenous Women of the Americas Defending Mother Earth Treaty); MCs Lu Aya and Isabella Zizi; and David Solnit and Climate Justice Street Mural Arts for humbly being everywhere.