Sunny Autumn Equinox with Wind Gatherers

September 22nd 2023

We shared such a sweet and sunny first day together on the autumn equinox! 

During morning circle, we greeted the land in the Twulshootseed language that has been interwoven in the land/Vashon since time immemorial by saying "hello taču!" (Sounds like: touch-oh). VWP staff learned this phrase from David Turnipseed, a Puyallup tribal member and teacher for the Puyallup Tribal Language program. 

Next, we listened to a story about a child who bravely goes into the forest looking for huckleberries. Along the way, they encounter a myriad of hazards they must problem solve around: nettle, wasps, and dehydration. The child falls into a dreaming sleep where they see chickadee gathering huckleberries. The sound of the chickadee ultimately guides the child to find the berries…where they remember to listen for a yes or no from huckleberry before harvesting.

After our morning circle we ventured to Hartman meadow to play magical forest, work on salmonberry bead making, observe a praying mantis and free-play until it was pick-up time again.