Lutheran Student Movement-USA

1988

 

1988-8Resolution to Openly Affirm Native American Spirituality and Right to Religious Practice

 

WHEREAS, for over 400 years of North American history, the non-indigenous people

living in America, especially those of European descent, have mistrusted the indigenous peoples, hereafter referred to as the Native Americans or Indians.  This mistreatment took the form of oppressive economic, political, military, and sociological actions and policies;1 and

 

WHEREAS, by 1921 it was official policy of the United States government to forbid

rituals, ceremonies, dances, and religious acts of Native Americas.  It established legal punishments for these “Indian offences”; 2 and

 

WHEREAS, in 1978, the U.S. Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom

Act of 1978 as a response to increasing tensions between Native people and federal and state agencies over the denial of access to sacred sites on public lands for purposes of worship.  It was an attempt to halt abuses; 3 and

 

WHEREAS, recent controversies over Native religious freedom issues have made it clear

that Native Americans are still being denied rights to religious freedom due primarily to economic, sociological, legal and racist forces; 4 and

 

WHEREAS, legal attempt to correct abuses have not proved effective, since “the          existence of the Native American culture is still threatened by the United States

government’s tendency to unilaterally abrogate long standingtreaties”5; and

 

WHEREAS, members form the Lummi Indian community, a Washington State tribe       located 40 miles from the Canadian border, requested that the Church Council of

Greater Seattle respond to these abuses of religious freedom; 6 and

 

WHEREAS, seven months later ten bishops and executives representing nine different

religious bodies issued a united response entitled “A PUPLIC DECLARATION

TO THE TRIBLA COUNCILS AND TRADITIONAL SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE INDIAN AND ESKIMO PEOPLES OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST”, hereafter referred to as “The Apology”7; and

 

WHEREAS, the Apology, along with monetary gifts of good faith, “confesses the

church’s participation in the destruction of Native spiritual religions”; admits to

tolerating racism and prejudice of a dominant culture; commits the curch leaders to respect and “affirm the rights of Native people to practice and participate in traditional ceremonies and rituals,” including use of religious symbols; and encourages church members to stand in solidarity through advocacy for such rights in negotiations with state and federal agencies;8 and

 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians officially recognized and            accepted the Apology and resolved to admonish the churches and their leaders to

            continue to educate their constituency on Native American concerns;9 and

 

 

WHEREAS, the Native American Right Fund (NARF) of Boulder, Colorado, a national

advocacy organization founded by Native peoples to provide assistance with

litigation in matters of legal right and Native spiritual practices, also sanctioned

the Apology as a “positive step in recognizing the right of Native Americans to

practice their traditional religions. 

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LSM-USA do the following:

 

  1. Accept the Apology as a document reflecting of our official sentiment, position, and intent.

 

  1. Take steps to affirm our Native American sisters and brothers as people with a unique and valuable culture by:

 

    1. Educating ourselves as to the history of our relationships with the Native Indian and Eskimo peoples, and the conditions of their current rights and lives. 

 

    1. Using as far as possible educational materials and literature which are “by Indians/Eskimos about Indians/Eskimos”.

 

    1. Encouraging and committing ourselves to using Native American concerns as topics fro study in our regional and national events.

 

  1. Encourage all churches, but especially those of Lutheran tradition, to:

 

    1. Work with their national offices and leadership towards the attainment of a NATIONAL APOLOGY.

 

    1. Continue to engage in further conversation and dialogue with the tribes within their geographic boundaries.

 

    1. Link their efforts in such dialogue with those of other denominations as an ecumenical response to Native American concerns. 

 

    1. And work at education their constituency as to the history of their relationships with Native Indian and Eskimo peoples, and the conditions of their current rights and lives.

 

Sponsored by the LSM-Pacific Northwest General Assembly.  (Philip Kempff, author)

 

References

 

  1. Dee Brown, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the

American West, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc, Book I (1970).

 

  1. Circular Number 1665, Office of Indian Affairs, U.S. Government Publications

Office, April 26, 1921.

 

  1. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, U.S. congress, (P.L. 95-

135, 1978.

 

  1. Rev. Jon Magnuson, “Affirming Native Spirituality: A Call to Justice:, The

 Christian Century, Dec. 9, 1987; p. 1116. (proved)

 

  1. “Resolution Concerning Native Americans”, The Washington North Idaho

Conference of the United Church of Christ, Adopted, 1987-88.

 

  1. Op. ct. Magnuson, p. 1114.

 

  1. The Rev. Thomas L. Bevins, et. al., “A Public Declaration to the Tribal Councils

and Traditional Spiritual Leaders of the Indian and Eskimo Peoples of the Pacific Northwest: c/o Jewell Praying Wolf James, Lummi”, Thanksgiving Day, 1987.

 

  1. op. ct. Magnuson, p. 1114.

 

  1. “Resolution number 88-11”, 1987 Winter Conference of the Affiliated Tribes of

the Northwest Indians, Joe De LA Cruz; adopted Dec. 1987.

 

  1. “Church Leaders Issue Apology to Indians”, NARF Legal Review Native

American Rights Fund; Winter 1988; p,.2.