It’s All Relative by Yvette Neshi Lokotz

From the Editor

It's All Relative

By Yvette Neshi Lokotz

I knew I wanted to select the topic of relatives for this editorial in the May issue. I remember when I was selecting topics for 2020, this possible topic came up, and I knew then I would be writing about this specific topic.

We just finished up celebrating Earth Day in the U.S., on April 22. It was the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. This year acknowledg‑ ing our planet, I would add that She is a sentient Being, we expe‑ rienced Earth Day quite differ‑ ently than in past years due to the Safe in Place all across the United States in response to COVID19.

Many Indigenous people believe Earth Day is every day. I believe that We, all humans, are a member of nature and not sep‑ arate from nature. Humans, also known as Two Leggeds, are one of Grandmother Earth’s children; one of her many children.

As I pondered the topic “Relatives,” my belief about Grandmother Earth, and Humans, a phrase came to my mind. The phrase, “It’s all relative,” is an idiom that has multiple meanings.

Let’s get on the same page in our understanding of “it’s all relative.” What is an idiom?

I wanted to be sure I knew the definition of an idiom, so I looked it up online using Merriam-Webster.com

Here is the definition of the idiom: “expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way).”

Does the definition of idiom help? Not as much as I would have liked the definition to have a better understanding. There is no clear cut, agreeable, understanding of an idiom. The way we use it depends on the understanding or interpretation of the idiom’s meaning. Great. Clear as mud.

Did you notice I used more than one idiom to explain an idiom? Yes, I used “let’s get on the same page” and “clear as mud.”

In my research for my editorial, I realized that the full meaning of “Relatives” could be a challeng‑ ing definition to understand and take in its rich meaning because a person may not be able to agree that a stone or a lake is a “Relative”.

So, if we take the phrase, the idiom, “It’s all relative,” to understand its meaning, we may or may not be able to fully understand what it means to be a relative or to be relative.

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I used the online EnglishForums. com to identify a possible meaning of the idiom, “It’s all relative,” and here is their definition: “It’s all relative” means that nothing is absolute; everything is rated or described or evaluated in its relationship to other things.

In some respects, this definition does help a bit, even though the definition is convoluted. I understand I get it, that understanding who or what is a “Relative” is a difficult belief to appreciate and believe in wholeheartedly. Our mind and our mental body find the convoluted words hard to grasp.

I believe our soul and our heart, fully understands the twisting, winding, path of understanding how we are related to all of cre‑ ation. This deeper understanding, when even partially embraced, leads to a deeper understanding that All life is precious. That we are precious.

Even using the phrases, whether in an Indigenous language or English, “All My Relations/ Relatives,” is a very powerful statement and should be used with conscious thought. You may have seen this phrase in my Editorials. I use “Jage Nagonan” in my closing salutation. “Jage Nagonan” is a Potawatomi phrase that loosely translates in English to, All My Relatives. You may also have seen the Lakota phrase, Mitakye Oyasin, which loosely translates in English to, All My Relations.

The intent of these two Indigenous phrases when used is to invoke the Medicine or Spirit the Creator/God/Goddess/ Great Mystery essence that is in everything in creation, which derives from the single source of the Creator. This intent has tremendous energy that we call “Big Medicine”.

Using the phrase All My Relations/Relatives also means that we are open to and understand that we love and respect all of our brothers and sisters, whether they are another human or if they are a tree, stone, bird, or body of water. Here is the rub for some people (another idiom used!).

Some people have a belief that anything that is not human is an inanimate object, a thing with‑ out life, and deserves no further thought or concern. I believe this is a fundamental cause of sepa‑ ration. If you believe that water is not worth your time or thought, why would you protect it or stop throwing trash overboard?

Is it possible for the royal “We” to get on the same page and understand the fuller meaning of “Relatives”? Do you believe it is all relative in a different way now? I hope you create some space and time to consider your understanding of being a “Relative” and being Relative.

In this issue of Star Nations Magazine, our contributing writers share with you about May Day, Teacher, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Nurses, Wildflowers, Relatives, and Clairaudience. This issue’s cover is our nod to Wildflowers.

Enjoy your time with us as you read the articles, watch the video, and listen to the audios.

Jage Nagonan, (Potawatomi for All My Relatives)

Courtesy of Yvette Neshi Lokotz

Courtesy of Star Nations Organization

Courtesy Star Nations Organization