The following prayer was written by Nancy Morehead in the summer of 2022 for a gathering to celebrate the life of her friend John Alan Robbins who dedicated his life to understanding and protecting the earth.

A Prayer to Remember Someone

Gimiigwechiwigo Gizhemanidoo gakina gegoo gaa-miizhiyang minawaa ingoding gii-gizhigak
Giizis gii-binabid.
We thank Creator for all that you have given us and for the rising of the Sun today.

Gimiigwechiwigo Gizhemanidoo gaa-miizhiyang maanda sa bimaadiziwin miinawa nesewin.
We thank you Creator for giving us life and breath.

Gigagwejimin Gizhemanidoo ji-naadamawiyang ge weweni mikwenimangid Zhaabadiis-ba wii- wawiiyadendaagoziyang, gizhewaadiziyang, nibwaakaayang, minwendaagoziyang maage zhawenjigeyang.
I ask you, Creator to help us so that all our memories of John-baa are sweet, funny, enlightening, joyous, or loving.

Gigagwejimininim miinawaa bagosendaman wii-minoayaayang maawanjidiyang noongom ishkwaa gii-anjitood akiing Zaagibagaawi-giizis 6.
I ask and hope that the grief we as a community felt from his May 6 walking-on is eased through this gathering.

Aanawi gigashkendaamin gaawiin ayaasii omaa noongom, gikendaamang geyabi bimaadizid ezhi-mikwenimangid.
Though we may still be sad that he is not here in body, we know that his spirit lives on in our heart and minds.

Niibina miigewinan gigii-miizhigonaan.
He gave us many gifts.

Daga giwii-bimaadiziyang ezhi-gii-bimaadizid:
May we bring those gifts into reality by enacting them:

miinawaa debwe’endamang ingoding bizaanateg akiing,
and desiring justice and peace in the world,

miinawa maamakaadiziyang miinawaa wii-ezhichigeyang gii-ezhichiged.
and being curious and living in other ways you know he did.