Guest post by Christina White, BIPOC Business Owner and Shop Partner of Giving Reparations.
In a world often defined by relentless hustle and constant productivity, the concept of rest can feel like a luxury—a fleeting moment snatched between obligations and deadlines. As a business owner and mother, I’ve often fallen into the trap of overworking, but through my partnership with Giving Reparations, I’ve learned to value rest as an act of resistance and healing, especially for Black and Indigenous communities.
When Yakama Nation elder Priscilla Saluskin requested Sacred Rest, it deeply moved me. Her words inspired my journey toward understanding the importance of rest, not just for myself but for our ancestors who never had the chance to rest. This powerful call to action motivated me to partner with Giving Reparations to support Sacred Rest for elders like Priscilla, providing them with the space and resources to heal and reclaim their connection to well being.
What is Sacred Rest?
But what is sacred rest in a world like this? In a world so fast it has forgotten the words and practices it once used to invoke that sacred act. I think rest is more than mere downtime; it allows the body to repair itself and reclaim one's agency over time. It restores a more harmonious existence between being and doing. And, when we consider others, rest is an acknowledgment of the generations before who were not allowed to rest as well as the generations to come. Rest as reparations involves recognizing the emotional, spiritual, and physical toll oppression has had across generations.The Historical Context
For descendants of stolen bodies, sacred rest is revolutionary. It breaks the cycle of unrest and defies histories, stories and dialogues that seek to exploit our labor and diminish our humanity. The legacy of slavery and colonization has created a landscape where rest is reserved for the few. These inequities of rest are reinforced by centuries of abduction, genocide, land theft, forced removal, dehumanization, racial hierarchies and so on. Even the list itself is tiring and numbing. A list that has led us to a pervasive lack of access to resources that promote well-being. A list that can feel discouraging and overwhelming. A list that can lull us into subordination. In this context, sacred rest is ironically an awakening if we know how to remember the dream.
Rest is Resistance, Rest is Reparations
Awakening is an interesting process discussed by many Indigenous cultures particularly those of Hindu origins. Unfortunately, for Black and Indigenous communities, rest has been a source of shame. The pervasive myth of laziness across these diverse communities has been used to justify their exploitation. Rest is a form of resistance in the face of phrases like, "No rest for the wicked", or "You can sleep when you're dead". It is resistance from a culture of working beyond the physical, mental and emotional limits of well-being and balance. A culture with deep roots to slave-based economies. By embracing Sacred Rest, descendants of stolen bodies actively resist these narratives and reclaim their inherent right to rest, joy, and restoration.
In the broader conversation about reparations, it is crucial to understand that reparative justice encompasses more than financial compensation. It includes recognizing the need for mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. Sacred rest is a vital component of this reparative framework. Providing access to spaces and opportunities for rest—be it through wellness programs, community retreats, or cultural practices—serves as both an acknowledgment of the historical injustices that have led to the current disparities and an attempt to begin remembering and repairing severed connections to long held practices such as rest.
Remembering Sacred Rest
Giving Reparations is utilizing funds from purchases to support Sacred Rest for Black and Indigenous elders and community members. This includes providing funding and support for individuals and communities to pursue acts of Sacred Rest including:
- Meditation: Embracing mindfulness practices rooted in Indigenous traditions like deep breathing, visualization, and spirit connection, which cultivate mental and emotional clarity. For example, the Hózhó (Navajo) philosophy focuses on beauty, balance, and harmony with the world, encouraging a state of inner peace and well-being.
- Hot Springs: Indigenous cultures have long revered natural hot springs for their healing properties. The Yavapai and other Native tribes of North America believe these waters to have purifying and rejuvenating powers. Visiting hot springs can symbolize returning to nature to replenish and purify.
- Sweat Lodges – In many Native cultures, sweat lodges are ceremonial spaces used for physical detoxification and spiritual purification. These ceremonies, like the Lakota’s Inipi rite, encourage deep rest by allowing participants to reconnect with their inner selves and ancestors through the power of heat, water, and prayer.
- Forest Bathing – Indigenous communities have long understood the healing power of nature. The shinrin-yoku practice of forest bathing, originating in Japan but mirrored in many Indigenous traditions globally, emphasizes walking slowly and mindfully through forests to absorb the peace of nature. This practice can be restorative for both mind and body, reducing stress and promoting calm.
- Traditional Healing Circles – Indigenous cultures often emphasize the communal aspect of healing. Rest can come from sitting in a circle with others, sharing stories, and receiving collective support. The Circle of Elders practiced by many First Nations allows for shared wisdom and rest within a supportive community.
- Dreamwork – Dreaming has always been an important spiritual practice in many Indigenous traditions. For example, the Aboriginal peoples of Australia engage in Dreamtime as a form of spiritual journey and ancestral connection. Dreamwork can serve as a form of rest that opens pathways to inner healing and spiritual growth. You can find more information about the people and projects we are currently supporting here.
Each of these practices serve as a powerful reminder that rest, as Audre Lorde so beautifully said, is "self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." Moments of Sacred Rest allow descendants to rebalance and reconnect with peace and well being. This commitment to restorative practices can help dismantle the cycles of trauma and inequity that continue to permeate our society at this very moment.
As we work toward a more equitable future, we must acknowledge that TRUE Justice involves not only addressing past wrongs but also nurturing the well-being of those who continue to bear their weight. Rest is not just a luxury; it is a necessity—and Giving Reparations seeks to support Black and Indigenous bodies in reclaiming holistic well being through funding acts of Sacred Rest.