Dear Relatives, Cante Waste ya Nape Ciyu zape ye (I greet you from my heart).  As we celebrate November as Native American Month, I am grateful for so many partners in ministry who continue to work toward reconciliation and endeavor for today and the generation after us… always honoring our ancestors who have come before us. Thank you for the difficult and important work you are doing in your homeland, your church, and your diocese for your people in so many ways from feeding the homeless; gathering youth, men’s, or women’s groups; providing cultural education; theological reflections; and advocacy.

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You know the pattern – every year, families and friends gather at the end of November to kick off the Christmas season. Often, people lament the fact that the symbolic start to this season is a day known for unabashed consumerism, wherein we purchase more and more stuff. Black Friday, they call it. Its newer counterpart, Cyber Monday, follows – people who are returning to their offices indulge in online deals (also to purchase more and more stuff).

Yet, perhaps you are unaware of an emerging movement to have a day that highlights our selflessness: It’s called #GivingTuesday and this year it falls on Dec. 2. The Episcopal Church is a participating partner this year and we are raising money in support of one of our most unique, beautiful, promising, and in-need missions: Navajoland.

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September 2014 sees the Bishops’ Native Collaborative (BNC), whose mission is to raise up and train Indigenous clergy and leaders for the Episcopal Church, has begun in earnest. A group of trainer/mentors traveled to Camp Allen outside of Houston, Texas, to experience and learn about the Iona Initiative (Sept. 5-7).  This is a program developed by the Diocese of Texas and the Seminary of the Southwest that provides local training in remote locations. The BNC is collaborating with the Iona Initiative to see how we can use this program in our remote locations.

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Resolution for Ongoing Work in the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery has been passed by Executive Council on Oct. 24-27 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

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Call for U.S. Congress to investigate and report on the effects of forcible removal of Indian children as a result of the Boarding School Policy or Peace Policy adopted during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

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Read more stories on the Indigenous Ministries blog.

Upcoming Events

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
March 9-20, 2015, New York, NY

Anglican Indigenous Network
April 15-18, 2015, hosted by The Episcopal Church in New York, NY

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
April 20-May 1, New York, NY

General Convention 2015
June 25-July 3, Salt Lake City, UT

Opportunities

Episcopal Church Foundation – Fellowship applications now available here.

Episcopal Service Corps – Applications available here.

Young Adult Service Corps – applications available here.