“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has commenced its Truth and Healing Movement, inspiring us to grow in better and right relationships with Indigenous people and tribal nations on Turtle Island. We will explore the truths we seek to learn and the healing we hope to experience, as well as how the movement began, among Indigenous people and within the ELCA.”
The ELCA’s Truth & Healing Movement is an opportunity for our denomination to increase our understanding of our colonizing impacts on Indigenous people in the past and present. Over the next several months, there will be opportunities to learn, raise awareness and engage in other ways to impact hearts and lives across the church.
A basic concept of the Truth and Healing Movement: we believe that the truth, and our knowing and embracing it, is the first step toward healing for all of us.
The next two weeks my friend Vance Blackfox will be hosting “Indian 101.” The course description: “The general population knows very little about the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. Even the most basic topics are often grand mysteries. This is by design; for centuries the colonial project has prioritized the complete erasure of Native people. “Indian 101” explains some of these basics to build a foundation for students to stand in solidarity with Indian people across the United States as we work together to dismantle longstanding systems of oppression.”
Vance is offering the course four different times the next two weeks (April 18, 20, 25, 27 always 7-9 p.m.). I’m encouraging everyone, and especially all members of our congregation, to attend one of the four sessions. You can attend individually, or you can attend as a family or small group.
In May (May 9th or 11th, 7-8 p.m.), there will be an additional session, “Introduction to the Truth and Healing Movement.” This will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Truth and Healing Movement and the ELCA’s place within that larger informal movement.
To learn more and see additional opportunities visit https://elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Ethnic-Specific-and-Multicultural-Ministries/Indigenous-Ministries-and-Tribal-Relations/Truth-and-Healing-Movement