There is a native concept of considering what the effects of decisions made today will be on seven generations into the future. The following quotation makes a two-way connection between us and future generations. Looking at each other over the generations. The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are prayingContinue reading “The eyes of the future are looking back at us”
Category Archives: ancestor
Truth and healing coalition
Yesterday at my Quaker meeting, Bear Creek Friends near Earlham, Iowa, we continued discussions related to Quakers and our relations with Native peoples generally, and those we know personally. There was deep sharing related to what we were learning about the institutions of forced assimilation. Like me, others indicated they had not understood the depthsContinue reading “Truth and healing coalition”
Spiritual basis of justice work
This morning my Quaker meeting will continue to discuss our work for peace and justice. In preparation, I’ve been praying about the spiritual basis of justice work. Quakers have a long history of work related to Indigenous peoples, including participation in the institutions of forced assimilation (sometimes referred to as boarding or residential schools). InContinue reading “Spiritual basis of justice work”
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Today, Sept 30, 2021, is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the country known as Canada. There is a lot of publicity now related to the institutions of forced assimilation. The remains of thousands of children being located by ground penetrating radar on the grounds of those institutions. Articles about the historyContinue reading “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”
Students teaching students
Yesterday I saw the great presentation, Online Pushback:UnBan Anti-Racism Education in Iowa, a forum by Indigenous youth of the Great Plains Action Society related to Iowa’s ban on teaching Critical Race Theory or Anti-Racism Education (video below). Indigenous Youth Organizers, Alexandrea Walker and Keely Driscoll, have started a youth-led movement to demand that the currentContinue reading “Students teaching students”
even Quakers if you can believe that
“even Quakers if you can believe that“. I heard this from an Indigenous friend during a presentation about institutions of forced assimilation. This is damning for us Quakers. A jarring dichotomy of being viewed as leaders in the work for peace and justice and yet to have participated, continue to participate in the cultural genocideContinue reading “even Quakers if you can believe that”
Ku Stevens’ Remembrance Run
Stories continue to emerge related to the remains of native children on the grounds of institutions of forced assimilation. Over 1,000 have been found on the grounds of several institutions in Canada so far. Searches are beginning in the land called the United States. Just last month nine children from the Carlisle boarding school in PennsylvaniaContinue reading “Ku Stevens’ Remembrance Run”
The eyes of the future are looking back at us
There is a native concept of considering what the effects of decisions made today will be on seven generations into the future. The following quotation makes a two way connection between us and future generations. Looking at each other over the generations. The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they areContinue reading “The eyes of the future are looking back at us”
Practicing Hope
Most white people in what is called North America were ignorant of the history of forced assimilation. But many are learning about it now, shocked to hear about the Native residential schools from news reports about the remains of hundreds of children on the grounds of those institutions. Are learning about the cultural genocide, theContinue reading “Practicing Hope”
Becoming the ancestor you want to be
I recently wrote about what kind of ancestor do you want to be? Despite the anxiety of exposing yourself to the world, one good thing about writing on a blog is sometimes someone leaves a useful comment. In response to that blog post, someone mentioned the book What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be?Continue reading “Becoming the ancestor you want to be”
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