National Resolution of Apology - Native Insights
and Prayer Focus

September 24th, 2005
By Richard Pyle
Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama

INSIGHTS FROM A NATIVE PERSPECTIVE

As I have been considering the dynamics of everything that surrounds the proposed National Resolution of Apology to the Native peoples, the hardest obstacle I have contended with has been where to begin. However, if I am honest with myself, I must realize that I have in some ways, tried to distance myself from it – for, being of Native blood, to dig these things up again, breeds in me a great deal of conflicting emotions. Perhaps that may at first seem a bit odd to you. After all, who would have mixed feeling over something that seems to possess the potential for so much positive impact upon Native and non-native alike?

Perhaps I can explain it this way; as I have been allowing God to speak to my heart concerning this, I have as well been looking back over a few of the treaties made between the United States and the Cherokee and Creek nations. As I have done so, I cannot help but have the thought cross my mind that this is perhaps the next chapter in a continuing book of worthless promises. And that thought is not without substance, for the oldest of the treaties in my possession is dated November 28, 1785. It and all successive treaties made between the United State and the indigenous nations of this land have been violated. To say the least, there is not a positive history of promise in the past affairs of our people with the government of this land. However, the problem did not start with broken treaties – it started long before the first one was ever penned, for within the next year (1786), Thomas Jefferson would write in a letter entitled “To Mr. Hawkins”:

The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them, they cannot love us, which leaves us no alternative but that of fear to keep them from attacking us. But justice is what we should never lose sight of and, in time, it may recover their esteem.

Mr. Jefferson’s statement is both reflective of what had past and in some regard, prophetic about what was to take place. For from the attitude of George Washington, who viewed our people as mere beasts of the field – sub human at best, to Theodore Roosevelt who felt it best if we were all dead - volumes could and have been written of one offence after another. History is littered with the need for such a resolution and as such, answers anyone’s question of why.

However, I believe that the most important question that needs asking in this time needs to be ask of the church:

What will we do within the body of Christ to walk this out together – regardless of the outcome of this resolution?

One of two things will take place. It could pass or fail. And if it were to fail in passage, America will continue to cover up her past sins of oppression while at the same time trying to justify defending the oppressed in other nations. The question in regard to the nation then becomes; will God continue to tolerate this country if it chooses to walk forth in that type of hypocrisy? Or, the resolution could pass. And if so, could very well pave the way for a continuing season of healing for Native and non-native peoples alike, for the nation and for the church - ushering in that which could be far beyond what we have yet to imagine.

Either way, we who are the body of Christ, native and non native must walk this out together, doing all that we can to bring forth the healing we all need regardless of the progress of the resolution. If in no other place, it is here among Gods own that there needs to begin now to be an understanding of our diversity - a sharing of the gifts that God intended to be brought together so long ago – but were never joined. For ultimately that will be the salvation of America. The body of Christ – joined and fitted together with all the gifts given to each - in place, moving as God desires – being “the body” controlled by the head – who is Christ. We can no longer afford to keep limping!

So what shall we as believers both native and non-native do now in light of what is known of our past – in light of what is at stake for our future? We must look within ourselves for the divine revelation of who we are and who the Father intended us to be and be just that. God has never created a group of clones – one look at creation itself is more than enough evidence that our God is a God who both created diversity and loves diversity. And the body of Christ is no different. We are a diverse group of multi-colored, multi-cultural individuals, each created with a special gifting that is uniquely our own.

We are much like a jigsaw puzzle – a beautiful picture waiting to be connected together, all made up of unique pieces of differing shape, size and color. Some differences are slight – some quite large but as we interconnect those pieces, the picture we desire to see (which is usually reflected on the box) begins to come to life. And this life comes only as we carefully seek to find the place that fits only that one piece we hold in our hand and carefully snap it in. Oh, it is frustrating some times – and there are times you really want to cut that little tab off of the piece you are holding and make it fit – but if you did, as you moved along, you would soon find out that your picture – the image you desired to see – had within it a gaping hole. The image is blemished – scarred.

It is the same way within the body of Christ – each diverse member must be allowed to “fit” where God has uniquely gifted them to fit - and to share the gifting that is uniquely their own, with the rest of the body. It is not “one piece” of the puzzle that makes the picture so beautiful, it is all the pieces in the proper place. That is how we walk these things out. Not by trying to take those who differ from us and conform them into our image of what we think they should be – but by allowing them to share with us - and for us to share with them the unique gifts we all posses from the Holy Spirit – for the glory of the Father.

For too long now, the Native gifts have been left out. I don’t mean that to sound harsh, it is just a fact. I have been to a great many services in a great many churches. I have seen Christian Rock, Rap and Hip Hop used in ministry and yet, I have rarely if ever walked into a church where they were using the native drum or flute along side other means of worship. I have seen mission emphasis on various cultures around the world, but little if any evidence within the churches of America of the indigenous – the foundational culture of this land.

Not that it is required I suppose and perhaps there are many who are not aware that these gifts even exist – but it is odd that in countries throughout the world, indigenous expressions of worship are welcomed and encouraged – except for here. It is still as though there is a denial that there is even an indigenous culture of this land. How many of you reading this, know of the traditional protocols of Native worship and the impact they can have on healing in the land? As I mentioned earlier, I am not meaning to be harsh – it is just an observation that we need to all learn from each other.

The native people have significant gifts to bring to the body of Christ in things such as prayer, indigenous authority, healing of the land and prophecy and it is my belief that the church needs that perspective – that gifting. Likewise, there are gifts within the other diverse members of the body of Christ that we do not posses – and need. It will take us all walking this out together sharing that gifting for the body of our Lord to reign upon the earth and move in the authority in which it should move throughout our land. There is much I would share – and much that needs to be shared, for we have not yet begun to imagine the many wonders that could come forth from such a divine unity.

What we must realize now however, in regard to this resolution, is that what will be has already been set in motion – it cannot now be stopped and as such, no matter the outcome of the proposal, a consequence awaits us either good or bad and the church will have to deal with it – to walk it out under the divine mandate God gives us. But we need not wait until that overtakes us to begin!

SPECIFIC PRAYER FOCUS

The following are some areas of prayer upon which I believe we may want to focus specifically in regard to this resolution – and as well on how we walk out the healing that God desires within the body of Christ, regardless of the outcome of this resolution.

1. Pray that the Native peoples of this land will receive this apology.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, it cannot help but cross our minds, that this is just another chapter in a long book of broken promises.

2. Pray that the Native people see the worth of this apology.

It is not offering them anything other than words – and those have come and gone before. To many a native, words are the way the “white man” appeases his own conscience. They need to see the worth behind this!

3. Pray that the United States is serious about walking out this resolution.

This doesn’t need to be a lip service apology and then it all goes away – even outside the church; this will need to be walked out.

4. Pray for wisdom within the United States government on how to not only approach this resolution – but how to effectively live it beyond its passage.

5. Pray that the church in America sense the seriousness of the division between native and non-native cultures and that she begin to bleed with the heart of God over the absence of the indigenous presence in our worship.

6. Pray for Native believers that we all we be more open to sharing with the whole body of Christ – that remnants of fear will be removed and a new freedom will emerge.

7. Pray for native believers to be at peace with who they are and feel the freedom of Christ to express that through their varied cultures.

8. Pray for a new spirit of unity to be birthed within the body of Christ – as Paul put it in Ephesians, that the dividing walls of hostility will be destroyed.

9. Pray that more avenues are opened for ministry in the land with and through our Native peoples and that all believers will walk in and through these things with boldness and receptiveness in the Holy Spirit.

RESOLUTION OF APOLOGY TO THE NATIVE PEOPLES
To Visit the Resolution of Apology Website <click here>

U.S. SENATOR BROWNBACK REINTRODUCES NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY S.J. Res 15 April 19, 2005 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback reintroduced legislation to offer an apology from the government of the United States to American Indians. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) cosponsored the legislation. "This resolution recognizes and honors the importance of Native Americans to this land and to our nation - in the past and today - and offers an official apology to the Native peoples for the poor and painful past choices our government sometimes made to disregard its solemn word," Brownback said. "This is a resolution of apology and a resolution of reconciliation. It is a step toward healing the wounds that have divided us for so long - a potential foundation for a new era of positive relations between Tribal governments and the federal government. It is past time for us to heal our land of division, and bring us together as one people." The legislation, S.J.Res. 15, commends and honors the Native peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land, and apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by citizens of the United States. It also commits to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward a brighter future "where all the people of this land live reconciled as brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together." Brownback continued, "The resolution I am introducing today does not dismiss the valiance of our American soldiers who bravely fought for their families in wars between the United States and a number of the Indian Tribes. Nor does this resolution cast all the blame for the various battles on one side or another. "Martin Luther King once said, 'The end is reconciliation, the end is redemption, the end is the creation of the beloved community.' This resolution is not the end. But perhaps it signals the beginning of the end of division and the faint first light and first fruits of the creation of beloved community." The resolution of apology does not authorize or serve as a settlement of any claim against the United States and does not resolve many challenges still facing Native peoples, however, it does recognize the negative impact of numerous federal policies on Native peoples and cultures and strives to progress the process of reconciliation. (April 19, 2005) To Visit the Resolution of Apology to the Native Peoples website <click here> Resolution of Apology To The Native Peoples Feature Video Presentation: Time - 09:30 Real Video: <click here to view> MAY 25, 2005 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on the S.J. Res 15 Resolution of Apology Senate Hearing Video: Real Video: Full Hearing Introduction - 2:10 * Opening Statement by Sen. John McCain Sen. Sam Brownback - 9:17 * Testimony by Sen. Sam Brownback, Sponsor of Resolution Panel I - 33:30 * Discussion and testimony Tex Hall, President, National Congress of American Indians Ed Thomas, President, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Tribes Dr. Negiel Bigpond Sr., President, Two Rivers Native American Training Center Full Hearing - Audio Only- 44:57 * * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on the S.J. Res 15  Resolution of Apology Real Audio Streams are linked from http://www.indianz.com PDF Transcripts May 25, 2005 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing The Honorable Sam Brownback (PDF), United States Senate, Washington, DC The Honorable Tex Hall (PDF), President, National Congress of American Indian , Washington, D.C. The Honorable Edward K. Thomas (PDF), President, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska Dr. Negiel Bigpond, Sr. (PDF), President, Two Rivers Native American Training Center, Bixby, Oklahoma "Beyond the News" Radio Broadcast Dr. Jay Swallow and Dr. Negiel Bigpond Aired: April 30th, 2005 Salem Communications Dr. Jay Swallow Dr. Negiel Bigpond Senator Sam Brownback