Pray, Study, Act for the upcoming 4th week of Advent, Dec. 18-24

PRAYER - STUDY - ACTION

Fourth Week of Advent, Dec. 18-24

Acting for Indigenous Solidarity

Friday, December 16, 2022

Greetings of peace!

For the fourth week of Advent, we offer prayer, study, and action compiled by the members of Pax Christi USA's Indigenous Solidarity Working Group (ISWG). These resources were created to complement the evolving resource guide on Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery that the ISWG organized after Pax Christi USA's 50th Anniversary Conference.

If you would like to collaborate with the ISWG, please reach out to our staff liaison, John Noble, at jnoble@paxchristiusa.org.

In justice,

The Pax Christi USA

Indigenous Solidarity Working Group

PRAYER

Prayer of Repentance

by Mary Beth DiMarco, Indigenous Solidarity Working Group

Jesus, Prince of Peace, as we prepare for your birth,

We repent of our participation in systems of domination, destruction, and death.

We lament that the Church was the author of the Doctrine of Discovery, legitimizing colonization and oppression in your name.

We pray in deep humility, opening our hearts to understanding and change;

Help us to heed the call to resist forces of domination and empire as we read the Prophets and the Gospel.

Help us to listen to our Indigenous neighbors whose lands, lives, and ways of life have been and continue to be stolen.

Help us to notice how the inherent sovereignty and very existence of our Indigenous siblings is erased in our society.

Help us to recognize the ways we benefit from the taking of lands past and present.

Help us to see through our privileged desire to fix and help and save.

Help us to walk in right relationship with our Indigenous siblings and all creation, that we might turn away from the darkness we have created.

Let us walk together with humility, hope, and love into the light of your birth.

Amen.

>> Join us for the Dec. 22nd PAX Mass to close our 50th anniversary year. All of the Pax Christi USA community — members, local groups, state chapters and regions, partners, friends, parishes, religious communities, Catholic Workers, EVERYONE! — is invited to join us on December 22nd at 8pm ET for our seasonal PAX Mass. This special Mass will include presider Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. and officially serve to close the Pax Christi USA 50th anniversary year!

Click here for more information and to register.

STUDY

Book Recommendations from the

Indigenous Solidarity Working Group

compiled by Carrie Hansen, Indigenous Solidarity Working Group

As local Pax Christi groups consider how we can act for justice, towards Indigenous solidarity, and against the ongoing harmful effects of the Doctrine of Discovery, we offer two book recommendations:

Think Indigenous: Native American Spirituality for a Modern World (2021) by Doug Good Feather, (read more about the book at this link) and The Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery (2021), by Sarah Augustine (read more about the book at this link).

As we continue to reflect on the history and relationships we have with our Indigenous siblings, these books can be essential resources in your library. Many of us have begun to learn more about the harmful outcomes of the Doctrine of Discovery. We know change is needed. A critical aspect of making change is to develop ‘right’ relationships. Studying these books, as a local group or as individuals, can help.

Good Feather’s book helps us learn, understand, and honor the spiritual practices of Indigenous people. In addition to increasing basic knowledge, one is guided to connect with their own ancient wisdom, “spiritual intelligence”, and realize the divine connections in today’s world. Through this book, we can focus on a positive dimension of our relationships: the connection to the divine that we all share.

Augustine’s book helps unpack the origins and present impact of the Doctrine of Discovery. It explores the harm done through a rich discussion of history, current issues, personal stories and theology. “What was done in the name of Christ must be undone in the name of Christ...The good news of Jesus means there is still hope for the righting of wrongs.”(excerpt from book description)

ACTION

Support the Dakota 38+2 Ride:

Reflections from Melissa Chapman Skinner, Indigenous Solidarity Working Group

A concrete way that Pax Christi USA members can support Indigenous solidarity is by learning more about and offering support for the Dakota 38+2 Ride, especially if members are near any of the Ride stops in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Today, riders begin Day 7 of the final 38+2 Ride, the "last year of their wintery trek to remember those hanged on December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota, upon President Abraham Lincoln’s order. This execution served as the U.S. government’s punishment of the Dakota people for their uprising in the Dakota War of 1862. Prior to the execution, the military held 498 Dakota men prisoners for raids on settlers’ villages in the area. Trials took place—trials with no representation, no preparation, and numerous communication barriers. Ultimately, 38 men paid the price for the war in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. Another two men were captured later and hanged as well.

In 2005, Jim Miller of Porcupine, SD, had a dream. He dreamt of riding on horseback across the plains of South Dakota to the riverbank in Minnesota, where, in his dream, he witnessed his Dakota relatives executed. Jim's vision inspired him. He contacted various horse riders to come together for a 16-day reconciliation ride, now known as the Dakota 38 Memorial ride. Each December 10, riders set out to traverse the 330 miles between Lower Brule, South Dakota, and Mankato, Minnesota." (description from Native Hope).

To encourage Pax Christi members to support the last Dakota 38+2 Ride, I'm including their schedule (below), which is a great way to follow along or meet up with their group if you are available, and a way to donate items or funds to their ride.

I'm also including the link to the Dakota 38 movie on YouTube by Smooth Feather (see below). In brief, it explains Jim Miller’s dream & vision, how he saw our Ancestors being hung in Mankato, MN. He needed to do this ride to remember & honor those 38 men who were hung at the direction of Abraham Lincoln. Originally, Lincoln sentenced 300 to be hanged but later decreased to 38. The +2 were later hanged at a different site. This documentary-style story follows the riders from start to finish.

Please be mindful of the emotions this will bring up, the pain you will hear as each person shares their story. You will also see the joy and good feelings that come with this ride. The way it ties the riders to the horse nation, our Dakota history and our Ancestors – some even share how they take that time to think about the past, what they must have gone through or felt as they walked up to the gallows to be hanged.

>> Watch a short video where Melissa reflects on why it's so important to learn true histories instead of whitewashed lies.

>> Watch Smooth Feather's documentary, Dakota 38, and then check the ride schedule if you're in South Dakota or Minnesota.

>>Check out the Ride schedule and donate items or funds to the Ride at their GoFundMe.

A personal note from Melissa: We have familial ties to the Dakota 38+2 through our Grandma Sarah Dumarce. Upon learning this some years ago, I took a deeper dive into our family history to learn everything I could about where we come from – originally, before our Ancestors were forcibly removed & relocated. From there, I felt the call to be there with our family and friends… So, in 2015, my daughter, my mother & nephew traveled over to Mankato, MN. It was one of the most powerful moments I have ever experienced. Not only did I feel them with us at Land of Memories Park but saw them along with the riders as they arrived to the hanging site. It was also a very emotional moment. We will go again this year.