Day 7. The Circle Never Ends, Kinship Beyond Blood.
For many Indigenous peoples, family extends far beyond bloodlines. The Lakota say, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ; “All my relations.” This phrase expresses a worldview of sacred interbeing: all creation is family. Humans, animals, rivers, winds; all belong to the same great circle of life.
In this understanding, kinship is not hierarchical but reciprocal. To honor our kin is to protect the water, feed the soil, care for the children, and respect the elders, human and more-than-human alike.
As Unitarian Universalists, our theology of interdependence echoes this truth, aligning deeply with our Seventh Principle which affirms the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We affirm that every being has inherent worth and dignity, and that love calls us into ever-widening circles of care. When we embody this wisdom, community becomes an act of spiritual ecology, nurturing not just one another, but the world that sustains us.
The circle never ends. It widens with each act of compassion, each choice to belong.
Stories of Interbeing
The principle of “All My Relations” is enacted through daily decisions and ceremonies that express gratitude and responsibility to the whole.
Reciprocal Relationships more on the Four Sacred Medicines: Many Indigenous nations engage in practices like giving an offering of tobacco or cornmeal before harvesting plants or fishing, acknowledging the life taken and affirming the spiritual equality of all beings.
More-Than-Human Kin Connecting to the More-than-Human World through Law: Recognizing animals, trees, and geographic features (like mountains or rivers) as relatives fundamentally changes governance and resource decisions, prioritizing health and longevity over short-term profit.
The Sacred Hoop can be better understood through the example of The Lakota Medicine Wheel – A Sacred Circle of Life, the symbol of the circle, or hoop, emphasizes that all parts of life are equally important and interconnected, and that true health for one requires health for the whole.
Reflection: How might your circle of kinship expand to include all beings in your life?
“We are all relatives. All are held in one sacred hoop.”
— Black Elk
Learn More
- Read Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt This classic text shares the spiritual vision of Lakota holy man Black Elk, detailing the wisdom of the sacred hoop and the philosophy of “All My Relations” (Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ).
- Explore the work of the NDN Collective – The NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power through advocacy, grant-making, and shifting the narrative to build a world where Indigenous Peoples thrive, demonstrating kinship through direct action.
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