“NEW GENERATION” by KASHI in San Diego

“NEW GENERATION” Acrylic on Canvas, 30”x48” in gold frame— is a part of a series of 5 paintings “Harmonic Convergence” NEW GENERATION is a painting paying tribute to the First Nations people of Canada, specifically Coast Salish First Nations. Being Métis and Salish myself, this painting touches a special spot in my heart. This painting carries the message that we are not separate from the earth.. That the earth and the land we are on is precious, sentient, and very much alive. That our resources are important to keep pure not only for those alive today, but also for the future. The First Nation communities, not only in Canada, carry the wisdom and knowledge on living sustainably, mindfully and harmoniously with nature. The destruction of the lands and waters must stop— the pollution and toxicity of the air and food must stop. We must learn to rebuild an ethical system to live that will benefit all, including the earth and all its inhabitants. The colonial mindset has led to just extraction and exploitation— now we're living with the consequences. A safer and renewable alternative is to learn how to actually harness the power of nature without destroying our planet. The key to that is to listen to indigenous wisdom. In Canada, we live amongst some of the worlds largest trees, purest water, greatest biodiversity and intricate mycelium networks. It is of great importance that we protect our giant ancient ancestors, as they are the lungs of our planet and play such a crucial role in the balance of life on earth. The First Nation communities know how to live in harmony with the earth, they carry the wisdom and stories that can bring us back to the core of what it means to be human. The richness in the human spirit is beyond any monetary value. If humanity were to realize that the value of life is unmeasurable to money, then we wouldn’t ever cause harm to others for greed. We must remember, that when we inflict harm on others, we simultaneously inflict harm upon ourselves as well. I have painted a young child in this painting, as a symbol and reminder that we are doing this for the survival of our species; for the New Generations to come—and life on earth as we know it. We must learn to work together despite the differences in values and beliefs we may have with each other. We must remember our commonality, our sacred union with one another, that we have much more in common than the contrary. We must learn to work in unison together, with the help of the wisdom carried down from ancient cultures around the world to guide us each step of the way towards harmony. The children are the future of humanity, and it is our duty to protect them, and to protect the earth for them. It is our responsibility to leave a healthy and abundant planet for future generations, to leave it in much better shape than what we have inherited. We must listen and learn from our children when they are standing up for the earth and its inhabitants. We must listen to their messages about loving one another unconditionally, and to live life through the lens of our hearts with playfulness. Children are deeply connected by nature, when they share and speak up for the animal kingdom and for the earth, it carries great weight and great importance. Us adults can carry their voices even further, by advocating for a healthy and balanced future, by reconnecting to our own inner child, and moving forward with love in our hearts. The fate of life on earth is in our hands, now it is up to us to create a future for life to thrive in.