https://youtu.be/T9RSYHdk3g8
My Grandfather, Vine Deloria Sr., shared with me to always honor and respect the Cultural and Spiritual Teachings and Faiths of all Tribes, Peoples, and Nations. He also encouraged me to always make Allies with other Tribes and Nations!
In Coral Harbor, Nunavut, the Anglican, Catholic, and the Evangelical Churches are at the Center of Community Life. Every Sunday, there was a youth night at the Anglican Church. Young People attended all three churches.
The whole community spoke Intuit, many only Intuit. I enjoyed attending each of the three church services. For example, when we shared Talking Circles, the Talking Stone, represented to the Elders, St. Peter, who Jesus said was the stone upon who he would build his Church. This symbolism and meaning of the "Talking Stone" were accepted by the members of all three churches.
Other relatives from the South had come to the Arctic with Sweetgrass, Sage, Talking Sicks (There are no trees in the High Arctic), and Pipe Ceremonies. At that time, these spiritual healing processes and symbols had no spiritual meaning to the Inuit communities, which I had the privilege and honor to work with over the years.
Of course, I have also deeply felt and have been inspired and healed by our Indigenous Cultural and Spiritual Teachings and Ceremonies. I have also been spiritually been inspired, healed, and uplifted in studying and attending Buddhist, Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, Sufi, Sikh, and other Faith's Spiritual Gatherings and learn about thier Spiritual Teachings. I have found and experienced that the core Spiritual Teachings of all these Faiths to be One.
Along with thier Inuit culture, language, and spiritual teachings, thier primary spiritual reference was the Sacred Teachings and Actions of Jesus. What they understood were the Spiritual Teachings and Stories and Actions of Jesus. I call what happened in Residential Schools and other related actions Churchianity.
What was done to the Indigenous peoples by the churches, and governments of Canada, the US, across the Americas, and beyond, was not Christianity. It was Blasphemy. But, on the other hand, the Indigenous peoples that are Christians that I have known over many years truly live by the Spiritual Example and Teachings of Jesus.
For instance, during the early days of WWI, before the United States entered the conflict, they donated generously to Belgium and Armenian relief efforts. Earlier, the Standing Rock Sioux made dramatic contributions to the victims of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906; and later to flood victims in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Oceti Sakowin charities also contributed to Chinese relief programs. Every Indigenous resident of the Standing Rock Agency was a member of the Red Cross in 1917. A total of more than 5,000 young Oceti Sakowin men were in the United States Army by 1917.
In addition, they donated to the building of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Generosity and helping those less fortunate was one the highest qualities and duties of the Oceti Sakowin.
When I was working in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, speaking and sharing from Indigenous, Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, and Christian Spiritual Teachings and Ways at the heart of all Spiritual Faiths.
I love all of our Creators Spiritual Teachings. As my father always shared with me, "Son, with love in your heart, there is no wrong way to pray."
I do not believe in proselytizing, trying to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another, of any form. Our sacred relationship with our Creator or Higher Power is between our Creator and us or Higher Power.
When we try to convert another member of our Human Family from one religion and belief to another, in essence, we are telling them that our religion and belief are better than theirs.
If we wish to share our spiritual and religious perspectives, let our actions of love, compassion, integrity, justice, respect, and service to the People demonstrate our Faith in action. Actions speak far more than words.
For me, these are the spiritual actions and behavior I strive for,
“Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of your relatives, and look upon them with a bright and friendly face.
Over the years, I have also enjoyed and been inspired by Indigenous Cultural and Spiritual Teachings and Ceremonies. I also enjoyed and have been inspired to attend Buddhist, Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, Sufi, Sikh, and other Faith's Spiritual Gatherings and learn about thier Spiritual Teachings. I have found and experienced that the core Spiritual Teachings of all these Faiths to be One.
Along with thier Inuit culture, language, and spiritual teachings, thier primary spiritual reference was the Sacred Teachings and Actions of Jesus. What they understood were the Spiritual Teachings and Stories and Actions of Jesus. I call what happened in Residential Schools and other related actions Churchianity.
What was done to the Indigenous peoples by the churches, and governments of Canada, the US, across the Americas, and beyond, was not Christianity. It was Blasphemy. But, on the other hand, the Indigenous peoples that are Christians that I have known over many years truly live by the Spiritual Example and Teachings of Jesus.
For instance, during the early days of WWI, before the United States entered the conflict, they donated generously to Belgium and Armenian relief efforts. Earlier, the Standing Rock Sioux made dramatic contributions to the victims of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906; and later to flood victims in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Sioux charities also contributed to Chinese relief programs. Every Sioux resident of the Standing Rock Agency was a member of the Red Cross in 1917, and a total of 5,000 young Sioux men were in the United States Army that year.
In addition, they donated to the building of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Generosity and helping those less fortunate was one the highest qualities and duties of the Ihanktonwan.
When I was working in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, speaking and sharing from Indigenous, Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, and Christian Spiritual Teachings and Ways at the heart of all Spiritual Faiths.
I love all of our Creators Spiritual Teachings. As my father always shared with me, "Son, with love in your heart, there is no wrong way to pray."
I do not believe in proselytizing, trying to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another, of any form. Our sacred relationship with our Creator or Higher Power is between our Creator and us or Higher Power.
When we try to convert another member of our Human Family from one religion and belief to another, in essence, we are telling them that our religion and belief are better than theirs. If we wish to share our spiritual and religious perspectives, let our actions of love, compassion, integrity, justice, respect, and service to the People demonstrate our Faith in action. Actions speak far more than words.
"Be unjust to no one, and show all meekness to all. Be as a lamp to them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all your acts.
Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, and a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind and a guiding light to the feet of the erring.
Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of humankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of your generation, fruit upon the tree of humility.” The Ancient of Days
Although I have a long way to go to reach this vision, as our Elders teach us, "No Vision, No Development" and " Be the Change You Wish to See