Forgiveness

[Ribs]

Just to start things off, I am Blackfeet. I was raised on a reservation. I grew up in powwows. Thought/think Native American. When I was little I thought everyone was Native American. I was one of those kids that fell asleep in a pile of coats next to the drum at powwows.

I keep hearing how Native Americans (I know we are called Indians alot, but the Indians from India get offended by that, so I will use the term Native Americans) are so hurt. How the white people stole the land. How Native American's need to be re-payed what was lost. How the white people basically need to apologize so much and even if they apologize for the rest of their lives they will still be considered evil in so many Native American eyes. I'm not saying all, just the ones that bring up the past to rub in the white people's faces whenever possible.

But really, what I think needs to happen, is not that the white people have to constantly apologize, but for the Native Americans to rise up and accept that apology. There are soo many people rotting away in bitterness when we could be soo much more.

Extra money doesn't help, that disappears in a few months then we are left with nothing again. So suing the government again is not going to help.

Abolishing Native American culture won't help either, that's just burying the problem. And I believe culture was God's gift to us and can totally be redeemed for Him.

But instead, I think it's time for the Native Americans to forgive. I know it won't be easy. But if we can let go of the past, let go of all those balls and chains, we can rise up to what God has truly called us to be. Warriors.

My tribe was a great and powerful tribe. We never lost to the white people, we did, however, get defeated by small pox. A nation of thousands were brought down to hundreds. What was left were hit the hardest with boarding schools and extreme abuse. They fell so hard.



So I challenge all you Native Americans and even the other indigenous people out there, forgive. Just as Christ forgave you.

And to the white people, I forgive what you're ancestors have done. No more need to apologize to me.

 

[Nothinbuttheblood]

In Canada we have been dealing with the legacy of the Residential School system and how the government took children from away from their families and homes and placed them in residential schools where they were separated from their own siblings and kin, punished if they spoke their language or dared to pray or interact in any familiar way with the Creator. On top of that there was a lot of abuse. This was specifically done to erase the Indian people - their language, culture and beliefs, and recreate them as 'white' people who would fit into 'normal' society and leave off being Indian forever. It went on from the late 1800s to the late 1900s - the last school closed in 1998 I believe. for us this did more damage than any war ever could, but it did not erase the people, thank God!
Today there is a group that are very angry with pretty much everyone and they want to blame, to be compensated, and above to eradicate Christianty from Reserves. These people suffer much frustration. However, there is another side and that is the many more who want reconcilliation, love and healing - these elders and people are working hard to tell not only their story of hardship but also their hopes for mercy and forgiveness. It is a beautiful thing. The media prefer to dwell on the angry voices, ( and I do believe they have a right to be heard) but there is a quiet but strong voice of hope that is spreading and in most cases is comes from those who believe and serve the Creator and want the same for thsie children and grandchildren. Please pray for these wise brothers and sisters in Christ that their witness will not be lost in the clutter of sensational media stories and bitterness. I always tell people not to feel guilty about what their ancestors or the government has done, but focus instead on the good they can do now by listening, understanding and fellowship.