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NAIC Presents Native Tie to Rev. Arroyo 

At the recent celebration installing Rev. Giovanni Arroyo as the new General Secretary of General Commission on Race and Religion (GCORR), representatives from the Native American International Caucus (NAIC) of the UMC presented a hand-crafted Native tie to honor his work and commitment to justice and equality for all people.

​Rev. Arroyo has worked for many years with the NAIC, and the Caucus members look forward to many years ahead of fruitful ministry together.

lease note how well the tie matches his suit – HA! Such is the providence of Creator that even wardrobe design can be coordinated!

​The tie is one of many crafts designed and sewn by Nanticoke Lenni Lenape member, Cory Ridgeway of Bridgeton, NJ.
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​Trauma Support Groups Offer Hope

With a NEW Native American focused supplement, faith communities can bring hope to persons who are healing from trauma by offering an ongoing support group in their community. People have endured loss, experienced violence, and many of other wounding events. A new edition of Triumph Over Trauma that has just been released for use in faith communities is downloadable and free of charge. A three-hour online workshop is provided for facilitators to be trained in using the curriculum. The curriculum has accompanying supplements for unique groups (Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and Native American).   
 
Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin (IGRC elder and pastoral counselor) and Rev. Michelle Oberwise Lacock (N. IL elder and clinical pastoral educator) have co-authored the Native American supplement.  
 
Triumph Over Trauma is a facilitator-led group model created by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) in partnership with Harper Hill Global, a non-profit based in Nashville, TN. The program is based on the NASMHPD’s TAMAR (Trauma, Addictions, Mental health, And Recovery) curriculum, which has been used for two decades, providing mental health support to individuals who otherwise do not have access. As part of the program, the public is invited to text HOPE to 615-933-5387 to receive messages of encouragement and support. 
 
For the downloadable resources go to: https://www.triumphovertrauma.info/. For more information, please contact Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin at lakotaeastin@gmail.com

First Native American Rev. David Wilson Elected as Bishop in the UMC


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By David Burke
Nov. 2, 2022 | HOUSTON (UM News)

The Rev. David Wilson, assistant to the bishop of the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, has been elected as bishop in The United Methodist Church’s South Central Jurisdictional Conference, becoming the denomination’s first Native American bishop.

Wilson has since been appointed to serve as Bishop of the Great Plains Annual Conference. His Service of Assignment will be celebrated Saturday, February 11 at the
Countryside UMC in Topeka KS.

Prior to his appointment as assistant to the bishop, Wilson served for 19 years as a conference superintendent. He was lead coordinator for the North Oklahoma City Native American Ministry for eight years, following eight years as a pastor of a church in Norman, OK. He served seven years as director of promotions/interpretations for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, after being pastor of a church in Tahlequah, OK, and campus minister for the Native American Campus Ministry program at Northeastern State University.
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He received an undergraduate degree in mass communications from Oklahoma City University, a master’s degree in divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK, and an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Bacone College in Muskogee, OK.
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Minnesota Native American Ministry Goes on a Pilgrimage!

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, a group of 25 United Methodists from across the Minnesota Annual Conference went on a pilgrimage to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Reservation in Onamia, Minnesota. The Minnesota Annual Conference Committee on Native American Ministry coordinated the pilgrimage and the Minnesota Annual Conference Social Justice Organizer, Dana Neuhauser.

​​Read more.

NAIC Applauds Indigenous Peoples Day

The Native American International Caucus (NAIC) applauds the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day on October 10, 2022 and President Biden’s proclamation recognizing
Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday for the first time starting in 2021. At this time many states and cities have joined in this recognition, but it has yet to be approved
as a national holiday by Congress through House Bill 5473 and Senate Bill 2919, still under consideration.

This year, we call on all members of Congress to publicly recognize Native people’s human dignity and sacred worth by voting to approve Indigenous Peoples Day as a time
to celebrate our culture, affirm our human rights as sovereign tribal nations, and continue the work of repairing the damaging legacy of colonialism and racism. We ask
every United Methodist Agency and Board to prominently promote this effort with their networks and every UMC congregational member to contact their congressional
representatives to advocate for this legislation now.

Read this letter in its entirety here.
PictureMarilynn 'Lynn" Malerba. Photo: Jessica Hill/AP
Biden Appoints Mohegan Tribal Chief as Nation's First Native American U.S. Treasury Secretary

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​The White House on Tuesday June 21, 2022 announced President Joe Biden's intent to appoint Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba as his administration establishes an Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at the Treasury Department, which will be overseen by the U.S. treasurer.

Malerba, who is the lifetime chief of the Mohegan Indian Tribe, previously worked as a registered nurse, according to the tribe's website, and has served in various tribal government roles. The tribe's reservation is located on the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut.

​“With this announcement, we are making an even deeper commitment to Indian Country,” Yellen said in prepared remarks to be delivered at the Rosebud Sioux reservation. “Chief Malerba will expand our unique relationship with tribal nations, continuing our joint efforts to support the development of tribal economies and economic opportunities for tribal citizens.”


PictureDeborah Parker, CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Photo: House Committee on Natural Resources, Democrats
NAIC Supports Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies

​Jesus once said, "The truth will set you free." It is the truth, this release from the bondage that has strangled our people and their opportunity to thrive for generations, that we are hoping to achieve with the passage of H.R. 5444: Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act.

​Read more of this letter written on June 7, 2022.


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White House MMIP Awareness Proclamation

On May 4th, 2022 U.S. President Joseph R. Biden issued a proclamation on Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons that made May 5th "Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Day" in the United States. This proclamation by the White House is a huge step forward in bringing this issue to the forefront where it rightfully belongs. To view or read the White House Proclamation, please click below:

White House Proclamation on Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons


PictureSource: Deb Haaland's Twitter
Report on federal Indian boarding schools

The Interior Department is on the verge of releasing a report on its investigation into the federal government’s past oversight of Native American boarding schools.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, told journalists during a March call that the report will come out in April but didn't specify a date. She first outlined the initiative last June, saying it would uncover the truth about the loss of life and the lasting consequences of boarding schools.

The work on boarding schools will include compiling and reviewing records to identify past schools, locate known and possible burial sites at or near those schools, and uncover the names and tribal affiliations of students, Haaland said.

It is unclear, however, how much information will actually be included in the report.

Read the Full Article by Mary Annette Pember in "Indian County Today" HERE


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​Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness​

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). The Native American International Caucus encourages you to bring awareness through events and education. 

​Throughout May, we will honor and remember all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.  We will gather to pray for those missing and their families. May 5 is also known as Red Dress Day.  Wear a red dress or red shirt to raise awareness. Take Action! See our MMIW Resource Page for Ideas, and Downloadable materials for promotion and worship.

Keep watching….more is being added. 
 
Consider Mothers Day as a time to remember MMIW in your worship gatherings.  

A Liturgy for the day can be found here.

​Please also consider following and/or liking our MMIW Awareness Facebook page here:

MMIW Awareness Facebook


A Dance for Ukraine ​
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HeadLady Dancer of Nanticoke Tribe held a Healing/Prayer Dance for Ukraine and the Indigenous Relatives, Adrienne Harmon (Purple Outfit) and her niece, Cheyenne Wright.

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NAIC Standing in Solidarity with Ukraine 
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We are distraught at the recent events in Ukraine. We, the First People of North America stand in solidarity with the indigenous people of the Ukraine as they once again face reprehensible acts of violence from their neighbor Russia and its disregard and denial of their right to sovereign governance. As indigenous people, we understand and denounce all acts of imperialistic expansionism as time and again, native people are those who suffer most desperately from the loss of life, livelihood and land.

Today, we stand with the indigenous people of the Ukraine known as Crimean Tatars, Karaims and Krymchaks. We particularly stand in support of our Ukrainian relatives who have a long and honorable history in North America of standing in solidarity with us, as celebrated in the Native story below.  

​Read our Full Letter Here


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