From Many Peoples, Strength
Photo by Dave Beasley on Unsplash
Multis e gentibus vires: From many peoples, strength.
You might recognize this as Saskatchewan’s provincial motto. But even if you’re not from here, I think we can all agree on the motto’s universal truth.
Two years ago today, a global pandemic was declared and we were all suddenly thrust into a time of great uncertainty. Despite the anxiety and terror of the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was nevertheless a palpable sense of community. After a century of increasing individualism and loneliness, we were reminded of how much we need each other.
The pandemic made it abundantly clear how fundamentally interconnected we are.
Our hearts were warmed by videos of Italians singing for their neighbours from apartment balconies. Hunkered down at home, people poured their love into making masks and bread for friends, family and strangers alike. In the evenings, we stepped outside our front doors to see our neighbours from a safe distance and bang pots and pans in a show of support for essential workers.
Even if we could not physically be together. We were, in the words of Priya Parker, Together Apart.[i]
Over the past two years each person has suffered some degree of loss, whether that be of an income, a sense of security, an opportunity to mark a special milestone or – most devastatingly – the loss of a loved one. Many of these losses have hit BIPOC and other marginalized communities the hardest.
On this day last year (the one year anniversary of Covid in Saskatchewan), I co-hosted an online vigil called Together in Remembrance, Together in Hope for people to share their losses from the pandemic and their hopes for the future. Over 750 people tuned in from around the globe for an hour of connection and mutual support. The response to the vigil was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant describing it as a ‘balm for the wounded soul’. You can learn more about it and watch the recording here.
Over time, the sense of communal solidarity that swelled at the start of the pandemic has waned. As we all struggled (in our own ways and to varying degrees) to keep our heads above water and our minds clear amid uncertainty and turmoil, we’ve let politics and economics once again divide us.
However, another global crisis – this time Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – is again reminding us how much we need each other. My well-being depends on the well-being of my neighbours, no matter their age, status, or beliefs...whether they be next door, or at the opposite end of the province or the world.
Yes, Putin is strong. But for the most part, he stands alone.
Real, enduring strength comes from many people working together. As we are seeing in the global response to Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine, only when we put our differences aside and draw on our collective strength do we stand a chance at stopping hatred and greed in its tracks. Only when we harness our disparate griefs and furies, and channel them as a positive force toward the common good do we contribute toward a safe, secure, and vibrant global community.
As individuals, how do we contribute to the common good?
How can one person make an impact when faced with devastation and cruelty?
Peace at home, peace in the world.[ii]
It’s my belief that peace starts at home:
By cultivating personal awareness.
By nurturing strong relationships.
And by contributing our time, energy and resources to our local neighbourhoods and communities.
When we cultivate peace at home, we build resilience. And perhaps more importantly, we remember our interdependence even in the midst of a crisis. Because of this, we are better equipped to respond and mount an effective collective resistance to oppressions like those unfolding in Ukraine right now.
Deepening our connections with those around us paves the way for hope and positive change.
This is what one person had to say after participating in last year’s online vigil.
Click to read more about the vigil and watch the full recording: An Online Ceremony That Touched and Transformed
A powerful, living expression of the motto ‘From many peoples, strength’.
The immediate global instinct to come together in support of Ukraine reminds me of the shows of communal and global solidarity that we experienced in the early days of the pandemic.
Except this time around, instead of making homemade masks, groups are making and selling pyrohy (perogies) and holubtsi (cabbage rolls) to raise funds for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Instead of booking holidays in Mexico as Covid restrictions ease, Canadians are booking and paying for Airbnb reservations in Ukraine with no intention of staying there. Instead, they are doing so to provide direct financial aid to the Ukrainians who own them.
Instead of Canadian flags being flown as a sign of protest to public health mandates, people around the globe are putting Ukrainian flags in their windows and gathering in peaceful protests in solidarity with Ukraine.
And, of course, millions of dollars are being donated to support the relief efforts. It’s important that these dollars get directed into the right hands as quickly as possible to maximize their impact. If you’d like to help, consider donating to one of the credible charities or organizations on this list compiled by Charity Intelligence Canada.
How do you cultivate and harness community strength, solidarity and support?
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Credit: Emma Love Photography
AUTHOR: KARLA COMBRES
As a Legacy Guide & Celebrant, I help individuals, couples, families and organizations make the big and small moments in life count, and shape their legacy along the way. I offer:
Drawing on my vast experience as a Life-Cycle Celebrant and in working with people at the end of life, I am uniquely qualified to help people move through transitions meaningfully and to think about how they want to leave this world so they can live better now.
I’m based in Saskatchewan, Canada and serve clients worldwide. Read more about me here.
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[i] Hosted by Priya Parker and produced by Magnificent Noise, in partnership with The New York Times, Together Apart is a podcast which explores how to meaningfully gather despite physical distance.
[ii] The expression “Peace at home, peace in the world” was first coined by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.