10/31/2025
My relatives, tonight we gather not just in celebration, but in remembrance. Halloween, for us, is more than costumes and candy—it is a time when the veil is thin, when our ancestors walk close, and when we must walk with care.
Safety begins with story. Our children must know the paths that protect them—well-lit, trusted, and watched over by community. Let us teach them that not all masks are safe, and not all treats are sweet.
Wellness is in our food, our movement, our laughter. Let us serve roasted squash and corn, not just sugar. Let us dance in regalia, not just in disguise. Let our bodies remember the rhythms of the land.
Well-being is found in belonging. When we gather to make costumes, share stories, and honor our elders, we are weaving a web of care. Our youth need to know they are seen, heard, and held.
And prevention—prevention is not punishment. It is protection. It is ceremony. It is saying: ‘You are sacred. Your life matters.’ We break cycles not with shame, but with love. We offer bundles of hope, not just warnings.
So tonight, let Halloween be a shield and a song. Let it be a time of joy, of memory, and of medicine. We are not just surviving—we are reclaiming.
Walk gently. Speak truth. Protect the roots.
Masi’cho.