Heritage month

By the Rev’d Canon Debbie Royals, Canon for Native American Ministry

November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month. During Native American Heritage Month, we are invited to explore the heritage, culture, and experience of Native Americans both historically and in America today, while also sharing the various ways Native Americans contribute to our present life. America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land. More than 5 million Native Americans live in the United States as members of 574 federally recognized and 63 state-recognized tribes. That number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2060. A federally recognized tribe is a sovereign entity with a government-to-government relationship with the United States, as well as the rights of self-governance in such areas as tribal law and taxation. About half of Native Americans live on reservations, of which there are about 326, comprising roughly 56.2 million acres.

Arizona is home to 22 Federally recognized tribes and about 332,273 members according to the 2020 US Census. That puts us as the state with the largest number of Native Americans followed by California and Oklahoma. Arizona also has the highest proportion of land allocated to Native American reservations, at 28%, five of the twelve largest reservations in the US and the largest number of Native American language speakers in the United States

It is not unusual to hear mixed reactions from Native Americans about this month and its significance. Some celebrate the opportunity to share the deep richness of our identity. While others continue to be frustrated with the invisibility, objectification, and ongoing racism we experience every month of the year – dishonoring our history.

We must ask ourselves this question then. “Is November the only month that we are called to Remember, Recognize, Reconcile and engage in Relationships with our Native American siblings?

We are challenged by systems that continue to minimalize, marginalize and even erase our history in Arizona. Even as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, a story that misrepresents the encounters and interactions of the settlers with those whose origins have always been here, persists. We face challenges to be good stewards of the earth while also failing to preserve sacred sites and the resources our Creator gifted to all – the two-legged, the four-legged, those that swim, and those that fly. We are challenged to listen to the stories first-hand, up-close and personal opting instead for reading books and watching movies as a way to know our neighbors. We attend cultural presentations, powwows, and markets seeing them as entertainment rather than intentionally engaging in the deep spiritual meaning and connectedness within God’s creation. 

The Diocese of Arizona has been a leader in putting into action steps toward building relationships with our Native American siblings. In 2016, we passed a resolution requiring all congregations to include a Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of every gathering and worship service. Not all congregations have implemented this as yet. In 2019, we added a prayer for each of the forms of Prayers of the People found in the Book of Common Prayer, but not many have included them as a part of our worship services. These are both primary steps of living into our mission to Remember, Recognize, Reconcile and Relate. 

Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland has published a report on the Boarding School history in the United States. It revealed Arizona as having the second-largest number of boarding schools in the US. This year at our Diocesan Convention a resolution passed unanimously to research and listen to how Arizona contributed to historical trauma caused by Boarding Schools. We have already begun this research and it will continue through 2023. 

The Council for Native American Ministry has grown from the initial two or three congregations with Native American Ministry to more than 10. It is open to everyone (Episcopal or not—Native or not). We meet quarterly and are hosted by congregations who share their Native American ministry with us. 

Our Diocese continues the work of Remembering, Recognizing, Reconciling, and Relationships through our Anti-racism training which has been designed to include Arizona’s history with Native Americans (and others). Honoring Native American history, culture and tradition is not only a November commemoration, but one that requires our intentionality every month if we are to be a Beloved community of God.