On a windy, cold November Sunday morning, the rain held off and the lawn at Emmanuel Church lay witness to an ancient ceremony.

Rosie Cayou James, her husband Bill Bailey, leaders of the Samish Tribe, along with James’ cousin, Orcas Islander and tribal member Betty Hall, led Emmanuel Parish and guests in a blessing of the land where a permanent community labyrinth will be built.

“My father was born here, went to school in Deer Harbor,” James said. “We are here to honor the land of our ancestors. We are all different, beautiful flowers of the master’s bouquet. My grandfather taught me that white people are the beautiful color of the blackberry blossom. My people knew not envy, not hatred, not arrogance.”

Emmanuel’s rector, Bishop Craig Anderson, also played an important part in the ceremony. Anderson served as a former bishop of South Dakota, where 75 of the 109 churches in the Diocese are on the reservations of the Great Sioux Nation. He learned the language and the culture and was adopted by the Oglala Tribe.

It is important to Native Americans to consecrate the land, held sacred by them for generations, prior to the commencement of construction of another sacred site. In so blessing the land, the Samish were asking the ancestors for permission.

It was also important to the tribal leaders that this blessing be kept as low key as possible. Members attending last Sunday’s blessing were Emmanuel Parishioners, visitors to the church for that day, and key people involved in the labyrinth construction process. There will be a large blessing and completion ceremony held at the end of May. At that time the Orcas community will be invited to join with Emmanuel Parish and the Samish and Lummi for yet another joyful celebration.

As the clouds gathered last Sunday, so did the people, filling in around the outside edge of the temporary, painted labyrinth. Each person present dipped a cedar bough into a bowl of holy water to bless and add their energy.

“It’s been many generations, if ever, that Orcas Island has witnessed the merging of spiritual leaders from different cultures joining with the common goal of honoring each other and the ancient land,” said organizers.

Added James, “History was made and permission granted by the ancestors to build a sacred space on top of another sacred space, repeating an act as old as the human race.”