Healing through Truth
Vance Blackfox's Address on Indigenous Histories and ELCA's Efforts
Submitted by Pastor Samantha Drennan, co-convenor of Racial Justice Team
On November 20 at Muhlenberg College, the Red Door Roots speaker series at Muhlenberg College featured Vance Blackfox, Indigenous Theologian. He began his presentation by thanking his ancestors – the ones he knows, and the ones he can’t know because of their history being erased by colonization. As he said, “I know so much about your history. You know nothing about mine.”
From an early age Blackfox was very involved in the ELCA’s Lutheran Youth Organization, and now serves as the ELCA Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations. He gave a history of some of the work that the ELCA has done to increase understanding of the impact of colonizing on Indigenous people past and present. This includes the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, adopted by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. Among other resolutions, this document directs “the Domestic Mission unit, together with the American Indian and Alaska Native community and ecumenical partners, to develop resources to educate members of the ELCA and the wider community about the doctrine of discovery and its consequences for native peoples” and to “affirm that this church will eliminate the doctrine of discovery from its contemporary rhetoric and programs, electing to practice accompaniment with native peoples instead of a missionary endeavor to them, allowing these partnerships to mutually enrich indigenous communities and the ministries of the ELCA.”
Blackfox also spoke about the history of Indian boarding schools in the US, and their systematic erasure of Indian language, religion, customs, and clothing. Indian children were forcibly abducted by government agents, sent to schools hundreds of miles away, and beaten, starved, or otherwise abused when they spoke their Native languages. There were more than 523 government-funded, and often church-run, Indian Boarding schools across the US, and by 1925, 60,889 Indian children were in these schools. Yet most people don’t know any of this happened, because the true history has been suppressed. In this way whites also have been colonized, by lies and misinformation. This is why white people also need to heal.
The truth and healing process must begin with learning the truth, and for this there are many resources. Go to www.elca.org/indigenous and click on the Resources link in the green bar at top. He gave a book recommendation: “Custer Died for Your Sins - An Indian Manifesto” by Vine Deloria. He also recommended the Hulu TV series Reservation Dogs, the first American series to feature all Indigenous writers and directors and an almost entirely Indigenous North American cast and crew, calling it “the first time we’ve gotten to see ourselves.”
Going forward, the Synod Racial Justice Team will continue to follow the work of the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement, and update everyone via the NEPS website, newsletter and social media. If you would like to join or hear more about the Synod Racial Justice Team, please contact co-conveners Samantha Drennan or Deborah Graf.
Did you know NEPA Synod has a Racial Justice Team?
Visit the Racial Justice Team webpage for resources and ways you can make a change
Anti Racism Training for Rostered Leaders
All Northeastern PA Synod rostered leaders (pastors, deacons, and synodically-authorized lay leaders) are required to have Anti-Racism at least once every three years. The Racial Justice Team has scheduled five training events in the last two years. If you still have not attended one, this session is for you.
