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”
Category Archives: Truth and Reconciliation
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”
Continued erasure of Indigenous peoples
How can the atrocities of the Native residential institutions of forced assimilation, continue to be ignored by the mainstream media, governments, and the public? (These institutions should not be referred to as “schools”. ) How can faith communities, some of whom were involved with these institutions, not advocate to have the truth revealed, and workContinue reading “Continued erasure of Indigenous peoples”
Native American Legislative Update
Following are legislative updates for October from Portia K. Skenandore-Wheelock, Congressional Advocate, Native American Advocacy Program, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). This is a link to information from FCNL related to Native Americans. On that page you can sign up to receive these legislative updates. https://www.fcnl.org/issues/native-americans The Friends Committee on National Legislation is aContinue reading “Native American Legislative Update”
We fight for our children
I avoid too many quotations and media from other sources in these blog posts. But there are stories that need to be told by those most affected, those doing the work for truth and justice. The stories here are by and about the Wet’suwet’en peoples who have been working for years to protect their landsContinue reading “We fight for our children”
Listen with open ears
These past several days have brought attention to the concepts of truth and reconciliation as the land known as Canada held its first observation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. September 30th was also Orange Shirt Day, which focuses on those who were forced to attend the Indian Boarding Schools, those institutions ofContinue reading “Listen with open ears”
Orange Shirts and Wet’suwet’en Arrests
It is good that the land called Canada went through years of work related to the Indigenous residential schools. Passed legislation and budgeted funds. Has designated September 30th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, celebrated for the first time a few days ago. Many wore orange shirts that symbolize the children who wereContinue reading “Orange Shirts and Wet’suwet’en Arrests”
Listen…to the story
Many tragic stories were told yesterday, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the land called Canada. Although rooted in tragedy, it felt like the time has come to begin to bring these stories into the light. A sense of relief, in a way, that these deeply buried traumas are being told. YetContinue reading “Listen…to the story”
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”
UNeducate Yourself!
I have purchased a number of books and graphic novels from Jason Eaglespeaker. https://www.eaglespeaker.com/ In honor of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (September 30th, in Canada), Jason is offering all three versions of UNeducation, A Residential School Graphic Novel, Vol 1 for free! See where to get them below. This offer is good forContinue reading “UNeducate Yourself!”
LANDBACK Friends 