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”
Category Archives: residential schools
First Nation-Farmer Climate Unity March Anniversary
My grandmother, Lorene Standing, said the will of God is often revealed in a series of small steps. I thought that meant a series of spiritual messages and that has been my experience. But also, looking back over our lives, the series of actions we took, the decisions we made, map the path traveled. SpiritualContinue reading “First Nation-Farmer Climate Unity March Anniversary”
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”
Native American Boarding School Violence and Whitewashed History
I have been blessed to get to know and become friends with Sikowis (Christine Nobiss). Four years ago I heard her speak about building bridges with native peoples during Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)’s annual sessions. In 2018 we walked and camped together for 94 miles, eight days, along the path of the Dakota Access pipelineContinue reading “Native American Boarding School Violence and Whitewashed History”
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”
Corrosive of the human spirit
I am broken, trying to make sense of Quakers’ involvement with the institutions of forced assimilation, the Native residential schools. In the news now because of the verification of the remains of hundreds, soon to be thousands, of children on the grounds of those institutions in both the US and Canada. Verified because Native peoplesContinue reading “Corrosive of the human spirit”
Minute from Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) 2016
Truth and Reconciliation 16-08-30 At Yearly Meeting 2015 Friends approved Minute 2015.08.33 calling on individualFriends to read the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Calls to Action. The Minute asks Friends to listen expectantly to the Spirit for guidance on what steps they may be personally led to take. It alsoContinue reading “Minute from Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) 2016”
Great Plains Action Society-Residential Schools
Hi Friend, Thank you for being a supporter of Great Plains Actions Society and all our work on behalf of the Indigenous and Native communities. We recently supported our community through an awful tragedy that I will talk more about below. We need your help to keep fighting for our equality and basic human rights. Please consider donating $25, $50,Continue reading “Great Plains Action Society-Residential Schools”
LANDBACK Friends 