The United Methodist Church recognized November as Native American Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the Indigenous people to our society and church.
The traditions of Indigenous communities, especially their respect for creation, influence The United Methodist Church's approach to caring for people, communities, and the environment.
This month offers a chance to expand our knowledge about our Indigenous brothers and sisters by reading books about our shared past, uplifting storytellers, and engaging in other meaningful activities, providing a pathway to justice and healing.
Rev. Fred Shaw’ Poem Holding Space for the Trauma of Indigenous People
Opening the Business Session of the West Ohio Annual Conference, Rev. Fred Shaw, a Shawnee descendant storyteller, invited attendees to a sacred moment of holding space for the grief and trauma of the Indigenous people.
Shaw presented Bishop Jung with a split child’s drum with a red hand; the split representing God’s broken heart and the red hand symbolizing the missing indigenous women and children.