I just read an interesting article by Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley, titled Remembering Native Americans  – Beyond November, posted at Sojourners.com.   Here is an excerpt below.  You can click the link to read the entire article. — Rich Avery.

Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley

In November we first think of Thanksgiving, and as we Native Americans say, Thanksgiving is a time when we once again reflect upon all we have and the genocide it took to get it. Even in November, which is officially Native American Heritage Month, most Americans don’t think about the massacres, land thefts, boarding school oppression and anti-native religion laws carried out against Native Americans throughout U.S. history and even right up to the present day. But this year on Nov. 5, President Barack Obama remembered!

This President has already shown that he may be the first president in a while who intends to keep his promises to Native Americans. Obama met with about 400 of the 564 federally recognized tribal nations and he was quoted as saying, “You will not be forgotten as long as I’m in this White House.” It would be easy to become cynical and assume he will end up being just like all the rest of the politicians in our unique history of making empty promises or breaking treaties. But here are some reasons I’m holding out hope for a better outcome.

Click here to read the entire article…

Native veterans

Today is Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada – a day we honor our veterans for the sacrifices they’ve made in service to our countries.

I don’t know if it is true in Canada, but in the US, Natives have a high rate of military service – in fact, it is the highest of any minority group!

A few quick facts:

• Natives who served in the US forces during World War 1 weren’t even considered to be US citizens yet.
• The Navajo Code Talkers produced the only unbreakable code in modern military history.  They were instrumental in the success of every major engagement in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, and helped end the war.

As you think about the freedoms you enjoy, be sure to thank Native vets who, after having endured injustice in their own lives, have fought to preserve freedom and justice for us all.

For more information on the Navajo Code Talkers, and the effort to preserve their legacy, click here.

Native Child Dancing

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States.

If you’d like to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans, you can visit the official Native American Heritage Month website, hosted by the Library of Congress, to learn more.

The Native Ministry Team of the Dakota District of The Wesleyan Church is launching two new Native churches in South Dakota later this month.

The new churches, in Pierre (the state capital) and Eagle Butte (on the Cheyenne River Reservation), are extensions of the “mother” Native church in Rapid City, called He Sapa New Life Wesleyan Church.

Kudos to President Obama for hosting the largest gathering of Native American tribal leaders in American history, earlier today.

It was the fulfillment of his campaign pledge to bring together the leaders of the 564 federally recognized Native American tribes to Washington during his first year in office.

According to The Washington Post, “He began his remarks with an accounting of the historically troubled relationship between the federal government and Indian Nations, telling them ‘few have been marginalized for as long by Washington as Native Americans.’”

Click to read the full story at The Washington Post.