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Reconciling with our American Indian Family
As our American Indian/Alaska Native family strives to overcome a historic legacy of violence, dislocation, and broken promises, we must renew our covenant with Indigenous people. As people of faith, we are called to honor the culture, dignity and heritage of indigenous peoples through reconciliation and advocacy, encouraging renewed commitment to the health and well-being of the first inhabitants of America. We stand with our American Indian/Alaska Native family to secure their inclusion and empowerment to find solutions to the social and political challenges they encounter.

Click here to view the full text of the alert after 4/9.
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Several EPPN Members forwarded information about this series from PBS -- it looks like it will be a good series:
WE SHALL REMAIN Series on PBS Starting April 13
We Shall Remain is a groundbreaking mini-series and provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Five 90-minute documentaries spanning three hundred years tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective.

Congressional Action
H.R. 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed by Congress on February 13 and became Public Law No: 111-5 upon the President’s signature on February 17, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.txt.pdf. The bill includes the following provisions directly related to American Indian/Alaska Native population:
  • $5 million for food distribution programs on Indian reservations;
  • $225 million in state and local law enforcement assistance grants to Indian tribes;
  • $8 million in the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund program account for financial assistance, technical assistance, training and outreach to benefit Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native communities;
  • $40 million for operation of Indian programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
  • $450 million for construction, repair and restoration of roads, and school construction projects at the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
  • $85 million for the Indian Health Service;
  • $415 million for Indian Health facilities;
  • $310 million for the Indian Reservation Roads program;
  • $510 million for Native American Housing Block grant

Photo: Eric Smith
   (Photo: Eric Smith)

 

Additional Resources
Welcome
The New Jamestown Covenant
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Report Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country
National Congress of American Indians
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
National Center for Education Statistics Status and Trend Report on AI/AN
The Gwich'in and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The 2009 Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness
There is growing recognition that the incidences of substance abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence and suicide within the American Indian/Native American community may be the legacy of debilitating trauma from widespread abuse of American Indian children in boarding schools supported by the U.S. government. According to the National Congress of American Indians, from 1879 to 1934, thousands of American Indian and Alaska Native children were forcibly removed from their homes to attend one of the nearly 500 schools run by the government and churches to assimilate Native people.

As part of an effort to bring healing and forgiveness from the traumatic results of a history of colonization, the White Bison Society has launched a campaign to learn the truth about the experiences of American Indian children who were separated from their families to be educated in these schools.

Learn more:


Share Your Story
As we strive for justice and peace, we can learn from what each other are doing. We can share in our successes and collaborate on our challenges. Post your stories – from everyday advocacy (the little things that sometimes happen and you even don’t realize they’re advocacy until it’s over) to parish and community efforts that you are a part of. This is the place for Episcopalians to share how we are striving for justice and peace! Take a few minutes to tell us how you've made a difference in your community. You'll be amazed at how just one story – yours – could inspire people around the world. We welcome your contribution!  Share your story HERE.