If we revere our ancestors, we must revere the land. If we revere the land, we must revere our ancestors. They are one and the same. I am encouraged by the recent designation of Himalayan glaciers as “living entities” for protection purposes despite the fact that the US and Canada are still struggling with similar issues at the most basic levels. Honoring my ancestors has always meant venerating the natural world. I could no more kill a stink bug than a person. I could no more deny a local park protection than I could an abused child. Ironically (or maybe not so much), after 30 years, my best friend and I have just discovered we share 24th great-grandparents. If that doesn’t tell you we are ALL related, then I don’t know what does.