Nisqually Watershed
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We give thanks that we meet today on the traditional land of the first people of Lacey, Nisqually, Chehalis, Squaxin & Puget Sound Salish people who have been its stewards for thousands of years, caring for it and nurturing it. We pray for all who live on this land and pay our respects to the native leaders past, present, and emerging; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Every week at the start of services the above land recognition statement is read at St. Benedict Episcopal Church. On September 10th the Church did something more than express our appreciation for the historic stewards of the land in that we sent support for the protection of a river system revered by the Nisqually Indian Tribe and other indigenous peoples of South Puget Sound .
St. Benedict has had a policy for several years that requires that at least 10% of the income of the parish be reallocated to local groups that support the peoples and lands of our parish. St. Benedict has chosen to declare our primary boundary to match the Henderson Watershed Drainage area and we have “adopted” the Nisqually watershed as well. It is the Nisqually watershed that is the beneficiary of a large gift from the Church.
St. Benedict Church recently learned that an early parish member had bequeathed to the Church a substantial sum of money. When the Church Vestry looked for an appropriate place to share 10% of that money we recognized that this was an opportunity to recognize the land stewardship of the indigenous peoples with more than words.
On September 10th Karen Frazer, a longtime member of St. Benedict was to be only the 4th recipient of the Daniel J. Evans Nisqually Stewardship award in recognition of her being the chairwoman of the Nisqually River Task Force which wrote the Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan. Through this connection the Vestry learned about the work of the Nisqually River Foundation and the Nisqually Land Trust groups who work closely with the Nisqually Indian Tribe to protect the Nisqually Watershed. At the award dinner for Karen St. Benedict presented checks in support of the two organizations as they continue the work of protecting the traditional lands of the first people of Lacey, Nisqually, Chehalis, Squaxin & Puget Sound Salish people.
