Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival
2008 and 2009 Mission Study Theme
Nowhere else in the theology and praxis of mission has there been more change in what was formally called "home mission" than the ways in which The United Methodist Church relates to Native American peoples. From a history of collaboration with war on native peoples and the attempt to eliminate native religion and culture, The United Methodist Church has moved to a spirit that strives for understanding and acceptance.
The purposes of this study are to learn about the inter-relatedness between the indigenous peoples and their land, to identify selected key issues affecting the Native Americans in the United States and to examine the root causes of these issues, to understand and appreciate the "Give Away" culture of the Native Americans in the areas of spirituality, ecology, language, storytelling, food, and to lead the participants to act
as responsible US citizens and Christians in accompaniment and solidarity with Native Americans.Some important issues to be discussed include: Myths concerning Native Americans, sovereignty issues and definition of tribe, economic development and gaming, unemployment and alcoholism, the place of the church in Native American spirituality.
Rev. Thomas Fassett begins our study book for 2008-9 "The title of this [study] was inspired by a communication written by Ferdinand Columbus to his sovereigns on one of his four voyages to the "new world." He wrote that the Natives were a kind, gentle and generous people who would give him their hearts if he asked them to do so. ( ) At first it wasn't their hearts he asked for but their gold. But before Columbus concluded his excursions into the Americas, he set into motion such depravations as would astound modem readers of history by demanding both gold and the hearts and lives of the indigenous peoples. This process continues even in our own times
as military forces, sophisticated weaponry and legal actions take the very hearts of Native peoples by claiming their land—the very center of Native spiritual reality.'The study will search for appropriate ways for United Methodists to be engaged in mission with Native Americans. What are contemporary needs and how best can those needs be met? How do we cooperate with tribal structures and be sensitive to cultural issues?
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