"Let us say NO to forms of colonialism old and new. Let us say YES to the encounter between peoples and cultures. Blessed are the peacemakers. Here I wish to bring up an important issue. Some may rightly say, “When the Pope speaks of colonialism, he overlooks certain actions of the Church”. I say this to you with regret: many grave sins were committed against the native peoples of America in the name of God. My predecessors acknowledged this, CELAM has said it, and I too wish to say it. Like Saint John Paul II, I ask that the Church “kneel before God and implore forgiveness for the past and present sins of her sons and daughters”. I would also say, and here I wish to be quite clear, as was Saint John Paul II: I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offenses of the Church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.

I also ask everyone, believers and nonbelievers alike, to think of those many bishops, priests and laity who preached and continue to preach the Good News of Jesus with courage and meekness, respectfully and pacifically; who left behind them impressive works of human promotion and of love, often standing alongside the native peoples or accompanying their popular movements even to the point of martyrdom." 

-Pope Francis, Two Rivers Report

 

Upcoming Events

We commemorate Orange Shirt Day on the 30th of September to honor the indigenous children who were sent to residential/ boarding schools in the US and Canada. The idea to mark this day by wearing orange comes from Phyllis Webstad, a member of the Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) First Nation in British Columbia. Phyllis is a residential school survivor who remembers very vividly how everything of personal value (including her orange T-shirt) was taken away from her upon her arrival. Phyllis is one of the thousands of Native children sent to American and Canadian boarding schools.

On September 30 (Tuesday), we ask you to join us in prayer for those who have been affected by the era of forced assimilation through boarding schools. Consider wearing orange that day as an expression of solidarity with those who mourn the children that were taken away from their homes. Lastly, check out the following information from De La Salle Blackfeet School (a member of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network). You can join them virtually for many of the events they have scheduled for Orange Shirt Day this year. 

September 30- De La Salle Blackfeet School (DLSBS) invites all to join us in commemorating Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters this September 2025; help support our school ministry’s operations and secure our future growth and our students’ impact on the Blackfeet Nation Reservation community. For more information, check out: https://dlsbs.org/every-child-matters/

October 18- The Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, in conjunction with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are holding a one-day conference for Natives and non-Natives entitled, Walking the Red Road- Overcoming Obstacles on the Path. Registration ends on Wednesday, Oct. 8. For more information, contact Sister Sue Gardner at (231) 271-6651 or visit: Walking the Red Road: Overcoming Obstacles on the Path | Diocese of Gaylord

November 23rd- The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, in conjunction with the American Indian Catholic Outreach, will be hosting a Native American Mass at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City on November 23rd, at 3PM. This very special Mass will incorporate some of the original languages of this continent. Procession/ Recession will be sung in Kiowa by singers from Riverside Indian School. 1st & 2nd Readings will be in Cherokee & Kiowa. Prayers of the Faithful will be read in Comanche, Kiowa, and Potawatomi. On the altar concelebrating the Mass with the Archbishop will be the abbots of both Oklahoma monasteries and Fr. Bailey from the USCCB Native Affairs Subcommittee. For more information, go to: American Indian Catholic Outreach | Archdiocese of Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK

The Church & Indian Country Podcast on YouTube

The month of The Church & Indian Country Podcast, we sat down with Deacon Roy Callison (Cherokee), and Michael Scaperlanda, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, to discuss the Boarding School healing initiatives in the state of Oklahoma. Check it out, and please share. https://youtu.be/VEGTT-R7kqc?si=0w4MBk1_QG3uqmeG

 

For a full list of all episodes of The Church & Indian Country Podcast, click the link: The Church & Indian Country Podcast - YouTube

 

Keeping Christ’s Sacred Promise

Dear friends in Christ,

Welcome to the work of The Bishop's Subcommittee on Native American Affairs and its website.  The Subcommittee's mission and ministry is to assist and support each other in the challenges and joys that the ministry to the First People present.

Jesus Christ guides us in healing the history of injuries and many historical past conflicts of our Country toward the Native American Nations.  We as our diverse Church community embrace this mission with all of the saints who have gone before us especially Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Through Catholic Education, Parish leadership and Church evangelization ministry we develop mutual trust and cultural respect.

For those Christ has called to this ministry there is joy and wonder in encountering Christ in the people and families that make up such a rich tapestry of culture, spirituality and grace.


 

SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

The Subcommittee Mandate

The subcommittee on Native American Affairs is under the direction of and assists the Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church by working directly with the standing committee and collaboratively with other USCCB committees to address the pastoral concerns of Native American (North American Aboriginals) Catholics to affirm the gifts and contributions of Native American Catholics and to provide more opportunities for Native American Catholics to engage in the life of the Church and help shape its evangelization mission.


This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:
The subcommittee is directly responsible for outreach to Native American Catholics under the direction of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.

 

 

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