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When I was child, January 1 was the one time of year I could stay up late without grownups reprimanding me. They were nice to us all day. Especially if we stayed outdoors. And we did. We ice skated and built massive snow forts and pelted each other with snowballs. One year, we built the world's greatest snow fort, complete with three tunnels and windows you could poke your head through just in time to be plastered by a snowball. The fort was so big I think it caused an...
What is your life story? Wait; I will get us a cup of tea. Would you rather have coffee? That would be fun if I could make our visit happen. I wish I could learn how you walked through your dark valleys or climbed to the top of life's mountains. I would like to hear how the stories of others intersected with your life story. My husband, Wes, has been working on writing his life story for our family. He realized that he not only needs to tell his story, but he also needs to...
Many years ago, I knew an old man named Regret. He was 93 years old, had to walk with two canes and weighed less than a hundred pounds. When young, he'd been a cowboy; later he was a rancher. He was a treasure, had wonderful stories to tell and had a heart of gold. Regret was born in 1931. His mother gave birth to him at home and died moments after he was born. Her final word was, "Regret." His father blamed him for his mother's death and named the boy, "Regret." Regret grew...
In 1967, when Lee Hamelin was just four years old, he and several of his siblings were forcibly removed from their Aboriginal family's home in northern Alberta, Canada, never to return again. With the authorities labelling his mother as "morally depraved and of no benefit to society," Lee and his siblings became wards of the government, part of the Sixties Scoop-the mass removal of Aboriginal children from their families into Canada's child welfare system from the mid 1950s to...
I like the story of how I got my name. My mother was sitting in a hospital waiting room. Nearby, a couple of ladies were talking about baby names, and one woman said she hated the name “Sonia.” When my mom heard it, she loved it. She decided to grab hold of that name for me. Our name, or title, gives us our identity. And depending on who calls, hearing our name can bring a sense of favor and power. I love to hear my children call me “Mom.” They have my full attention. When certain people call me, I answer with enthusi...
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.-The Sac and Fox Nation, in collaboration with the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), wants to make sure that Tribal members remember the importance of seeking help when facing mental health challenges through the 988 Mental Health Lifeline's Tribal Response service. This resource offers 24/7 free and confidential support to those in Native communities who face crisis. "Native American communities have experienced historical oppression,...
RAPID CITY, S.D.-The statistics are alarming. The life expectancy for Native Americans is more than two decades lower than for non-Indigenous citizens, and often the causes are preventable. In an effort to help combat health disparities, the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health is bringing Native-focused health care to Rapid City, S.D. Great Plains Native Health Hub blends traditional and modern medical approaches, all while centering Indigenous values and knowledge...
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-Raised in Lapwai, Idaho, and a proud member of the Nez Perce Tribal Nation, Xavier Guillory comes from a family full of Native American athletes, which made the Arizona State wide receiver the ideal person to address about a hundred children from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community at the Fiesta Bowl Legacy Youth Football Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. Guillory's grandfather played for the University of Idaho, and his father, who played safety at...
TRURO, N.S.-A new pilot project with The Millbrook First Nation is helping members receive funding to build their own homes through a program that allows mortgages on-reserve for the first time. Called the on-reserve housing loan, it's a partnership between Millbrook First Nation and the Royal Bank of Canada that grants a mortgage of up to $250,000 to approved band members, with the band as a co-signer. The Mi'kmaw band has already been trying to get members into new housing...
STEPHENVILLE, N.L.-This fall, participants marked the ceremonial opening of Ne'ata'q Place, a shelter for Indigenous women and children in Newfoundland. An initiative of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network Inc. (NAWN), the shelter will provide a safe, supportive community for Indigenous women and children affected by family violence. "We are supporting the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and children affected by family violence," said The Honorable Patty...
EEYOU ISTCHEE, Que.-The Cree Nation Government's Department of Commerce and Industry (CNG/DCI), in partnership with the communities of Eeyou Istchee, recently announced the launch of Keep It Local, a new mobile app that rewards community members for shopping in Eeyou Istchee. Promoted with the tagline "When you buy local, we all win," the app is an innovative way to encourage support for businesses in Eeyou Istchee. Community members can use the Keep It Local app to enter a...
Moose hunting requires a hunter to be patient and to not be discouraged. It is about wind direction, body scent, camouflage, how to push a moose out of the bush and, most of all, have a careful aim. Moose are very large animals and have very thick hides, so if you are going to harvest a moose, you need to make sure that your kill shot is very accurate. But the most important thing in harvesting a moose is patience. The Scripture verse above (Romans 15:1) reminds us to be...
SAINT PAUL, Minn.-Four Minnesota Tribes recently received significant federal funding for public safety initiatives, as part of a broader effort to reduce crime and combat the opioid epidemic. The U.S. Department of Justice is giving grants from $450,000 to $900,000 to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and White Earth Nation. These funds will support various Tribal programs, empowering the Tribes to address violent crime, opio...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Cherokee Nation recently invested $10,000 into each of 10 women-owned Cherokee companies in a partnership with The University of Tulsa to help Cherokee businesses thrive. The Cherokee Women's AcceleratHER Fellowship, supported by the ayana Foundation, empowers businesses led by Cherokee women. The initiative includes a 12-week program and long-term support to launch, build and scale early-stage businesses. "Native American women represent the lowest rates of...
Q: "Fifteen years ago I became a Christian, but I fell back into drinking and other things about a year ago and dropped out of church. I am sorry for what I have done, and I want to start over. Do you think it is possible for me to get back in fellowship at our Native church and serve the Lord again? I don't know where to begin." A: It's encouraging to hear of your concern and desire today. Your changed mind reminds me of the Prodigal Son. He had a change of mind and...
I was born and raised near Kamsack, Saskatchewan, in a place called Cote First Nation. It is home to Saulteaux people, related to Ojibway. When I was a toddler, something happened that would change everything for me. My mother, Charlotte, lived with a man who was fine when he was sober but very mean when he was drinking. When I was almost four years old, my mother died at his hands. I was old enough to see and know what had happened. My grandfather came to check on us the...
Everything we do at Indian Life Ministries is focused on restoring hope, healing and honor within Indigenous communities, through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We do what we do because we care about the hearts and souls of every First Nations, Native American and Indigenous person. If the Lord isn't using this ministry to make an impact on the lives of our readers and friends, what are we doing? Hear what our readers and friends have to say: • "I have been giving Council...
Jordan's a friend of mine who lives up along the Yukon River in central Alaska. He's a sled dog musher and invited me to his place to check out his team. Pointing to his lead dog, he proudly commented, "He ran the Iditarod." Wow, now that's a canine compliment!! You see, the Iditarod is the Everest of dog races. Snaking along 998 miles of tundra, forest, mountain passes, frozen rivers and sea ice, the trail follows the old (modified) freight run to Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod r...
Change is a constant in life. No matter how hard I have tried to keep things the same, the more I have noticed that change slips through my fingers like sand . . . or snow. Whether you are reading this from the United States or Canada, your political landscape will be changing in 2025; we will all celebrate another birthday (unless we leave this earth to spend an eternity with Jesus); if you have young children, they will start another year in school; maybe it's time to...
EDMONTON, Alb.- In November 2024, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI) Chief Executive Officer John Gordon and Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, Patty Hajdu, announced the recipients of NICHI's expression of need process to address the critical need for safe and affordable urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing projects in Alberta. The initiative announced more than $22.3 million in funding for 5 projects in...
WASHINGTON D.C.-A new technological partnership may help Native American Tribes pursue and secure funding sources in an easier manner for the next ten years, hoping to help Tribal nations access a capital stack they've historically been unable to access. In late December, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP), Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Network, and Syncurrent announced the historic, 10-year partnership to...
OTTAWA, Ont.-In recent months, Tribal leaders across Canada have expressed frustrations and concerns over implementation of Jordan's Principle, a nation-wide program created to help Indigenous children. The Principle stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services, he or she should receive these services from the government first, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward. The Jordan's Principle was implemented after...
WASHINGTON, D.C-During 2024, the U.S. Senate passed 16 bills and helped secure historic investments, which will benefit Native communities nationwide to the tune of $15 billion dollars. The benefits include delivering record funding for Native housing, totaling more than $1.3 billion, as well as more than $7 billion to strengthen Native health care. Additionally, four bills were enacted into law, and several others-including the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding...
TORONTO, Ont.-In recent weeks, two more Canadian organizations have come forward with apologies to the Indigenous people for their roles in discrimination and programs that supported colonization and assimilation. In mid December, the YWCA Canada announced, "As we have embarked on a journey towards meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, YWCA Canada is taking ownership of the harms caused as part of our legacy as a historically colonial institution with faith-based...
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.—Diné bizaad is now the official language of the Navajo Nation after Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed long-awaited legislation to have the Navajo language used, taught and supported by appropriations. "One of my priorities coming in as president has always been to make sure that we make Navajo cool again," he said. "It's exciting to see the work that's being done. And, so, I commend the Navajo Nation Council for doing that." The legislation to ma...
