Extending Friendship: Relational Kinship Despite Inequalities, De-creation Desires, and Death

Relationships and practices of friendship promote well-being, even as people and communities navigate diverse crises. Presenters within this session explore such relationships as they engage with various challenges to well-being, including existential crises, various forms of violence, and colonizing practices. Inspired by Indigenous wisdom and practice, Anne-Marie Ellithorpe advocates for the reframing of friendship as a multidimensional, multigenerational relationship. Jamie Myrose argues that presence-generation is a central activity of friendship that extends beyond the boundaries of life. Yehuda Mansell draws on dialogue within the Book of Job to highlight the importance of trauma-informed care within friendships in response to suicidal ideation. Janelle Adams examines the role of friendships in mitigating the impact of violence experienced by refugees, including the challenges of poverty, xenophobia, and discrimination. Through these diverse perspectives, this session highlights the pivotal role of relational kinship—friendship—in navigating crises, fostering resilience, and promoting personal and collective healing and flourishing.