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Indian Life Ministries is excited to announce two new books available October 21: Indigenous Faith This is Craig Stephen Smith's newest book, in which he unpackages scripture to help Indigenous believers discover how to live biblically healthy lives in the context of their cultures. Smith seeks to answer questions that not only Indigenous believers have, but also those asked by missionaries, pastors, educators, and others seeking to reach Indigenous people with the gospel in...
WASHINGTON-Native American artists say they continue to struggle with the theft of their work, and tribal leaders are urging Congress to strengthen the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. IACA was passed in 1990 to prohibit any advertisement and all sales of counterfeit Indian arts and crafts. Choctaw Nation artist D.G. Smalling says the act must adapt to the new ways of buying and selling art through online sales. "We have just a very different kind of engagement with intellectual...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Keeleigh Sanders, 21, of Westville, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2023-2024 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Saturday. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassadors, all of whom will serve in their roles for the next year. As Miss Cherokee, Sanders will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the government, history, language and culture of the tribe. She also received a...
Regina, Sask.-Wildfire affects us all. Differently. This is the central message from research about the social dimensions of climate hazards. Considerable research has calculated potential land area burned, counted the dollars spent in evacuation and recovery and proposed technical and infrastructural adaptation measures to cope with longer and more intense fire seasons. However, less attention has been paid to how different groups of people are affected and the intangible...
OTTAWA, Ont.-Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram started blocking Canadian news, including Indigenous groups, on their social media platforms on August 1. Meta has acknowledged the action as a response to the Online News Act (Bill C-18), which became law on June 22. The law was designed to "level the playing field" between global platforms and Canadian news outlets by requiring tech companies to pay Canadian publishers when sharing the publishers' news content...
TORONTO, Ont.-Zoom recently attempted to rewrite its Terms of Service with ambiguous language that would permit the extraction of user data for the purpose of training AI. However, after public pushback, Zoom began to rectify that clause the very next day, fully committing to a "no AI training" set of policies by Aug. 11. Even though Zoom pedalled back this time, their drive to gather data highlights the possibility of future hidden data extraction by them and other big tech...
TUCSON, Ariz.-A mentoring program is using talking circles, adventure outings and overnight camping trips to help young men develop positive and healthy relationships. The Boys to Men Mentoring Network, founded 27 years ago in La Mesa, California, has grown to cities in 11 states, including three in Arizona, and internationally. Its mission is to strengthen communities by nurturing intentional spaces for boys and men to practice honest and mindful relationships. The goal is...
If you're attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Krystal at admin@IndianLife.org STEER Conference-Oct. 6–7, Bismarck, ND ILM Banquet-Oct. 21, Winnipeg, MB Seattle Missionfest-Nov. 3–4, Seattle, WA Indigenous Couples' Getaway-Nov. 17–19, Rock Nest Ranch, Houston, BC...
CALGARY, Alb.-By some measurements, the quality of life for Canadian children-especially Indigenous children-has diminished, according to the sixth annual "Raising Canada" report revealed. The report, written by Children First Canada and university researchers from Calgary, McGill, and Toronto showed that Indigenous children are more susceptible to many of the issues researchers identified. "They're more likely to become injured, become ill, or even die from preventable...
MAYER, Ariz.-Some Indigenous farmers are trying to bring traditional food back to their communities. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a farmer from the Hopi Tribe, is focusing on bringing Hopi corn back to the dining table – not only for the health benefits but also to connect his people to their culture. Johnson, who also is a faculty member at the University of Arizona's School of Natural Resources and the Environment, refers to corn as "our mother." "Corn represents our mother, a...
BUSBY, Alb.-On May 18-21, 2023, 187 youth gathered at Camp Nakamun in Alberta, Canada, for the Native Youth Conference (NYC). The students came from 17 communities and four provinces. Students were joined by 40 chaperones of varying ages. "The mission at Indian Life Ministries is to restore hope, healing, and honor within Indigenous communities across North America through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ," said Todd Wawrzyniak, director of Indian Life Ministries. "Being...
The ministry impact of the Cass Lake Alliance Church continues to go on strong! Started as a Native church plant in the 1930s, it continues to reach out locally while celebrating its historical impact globally. The church, located on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, has raised over the years two gifted musical singing families-The Smith Family and The Berge Family-whose collective ministries span almost a century. Both families have traveled and have sung...
In 1957, Harvey Gabriel heard scripture read out loud in Kanien'kéha for the first time. When he got home, he asked his mother why Kanien'kehá:ka didn't have a Bible in their own language. "Oh, that's a big project," she replied. "And who's going to translate it?" Those words stuck with him, but it wasn't until 1974, as he was firing up his lawnmower after supper one day, that the idea finally came to him. "When I retire, I'm going to translate the Bible," he told himself. "...
OTTAWA, Ont.-In June 2022, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs began a study on emergency preparedness, and security and sovereignty in the Arctic. In June of 2023, the standing committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs released its report studying Arctic Security and Sovereignty and Emergency Preparedness of Indigenous communities. Among other findings, the committee says that Indigenous Services Canada is failing to provide First...
Todd and Krystal, our director team, are looking forward to helping facilitate the Bighorn Vacation Bible School (VBS) in Bighorn, Alb., July 17–21. The theme is "Jesus is the Greatest Chief!" Two dedicated believers, Wacey and Violet, have graciously opened their land for the event in the Bighorn Community, and a leader named Tyson will teach the children. We are so excited to assist in this outreach! When we are able to reach children of a family for Jesus, this often l...
If you haven't heard the news yet, we're excited to announce that we at Indian Life we are working on putting together a 365-day devotional! The devotional will be split into three volumes to make it more accessible. It will include submissions from 42 indigenous followers of Jesus, who are from 15 indigenous nations, 30 indigenous communities, 8 provinces and 4 states! Can you believe it! Wow! We are so excited! We ask for prayer regarding the development of this devotional....
If you’re attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Krystal at admin@IndianLife.org Jesus the Greatest Chief VBS—July 17–21, Bighorn, AB Every Story Matters Conference (ILM hosted)—Sept. 15–17, North Battleford, SK STEER Conference—Oct. 6–7, Bismarck, ND ILM Banquet—Oct. 21, Winnipeg, MB Indigenous Couples’ Getaway—Nov. 17–19, Rock Nest Ranch, Houston, BC Seattle Missionfest—Nov. 3–4, Seattle, WA...
WASHINGTON-A divided Supreme Court ruled recently that the federal government is not required to take "affirmative steps" to guarantee water for the Navajo Nation beyond the water rights that were granted in an 1868 treaty. The 5-4 ruling said that if the court agreed with the Navajo, it could lead to a situation where the government is forced to build "pipelines, pumps, wells or other water infrastructure" that were not specified in the treaty. "It is not the Judiciary's...
LUMMI NATION, Wash.- Leaders from hundreds of Alaska Tribes and First Nations from British Columbia came together at the fourth Annual Indigenous Leaders Summit held in Lummi Nation, hosted by Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC) to resolve issues threatening salmon, territories, and ways of life. "Our people no longer have salmon running in our streams. Salmon only live in our stories. I wanted to come here to share that with the leaders; to show them...
LANGDON, Alb.-Indian Life is excited to announce our annual banquet occurring on October 21 in Winnipeg, Manitoba! Craig and LaDonna Smith will be the speakers and lead worship for the gala event, focusing on the theme "Trauma, Trials and Timeless Truths." Kene and Milly Jackson will minister through Native gospel songs. The banquet will take place in The Meeting Place, in downtown Winnipeg. Individual tickets are $50 per person and include a traditional meal. Corporate...
Everybody has a story. That story, if kept inside and not given the freedom to be shared, can hinder us. If the story is a positive, good one, we share to bless others, give them hope and give praise to God together. After all, Psalm 107:2 (NIV) tells us, "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story." If the story has some hard twists and turns, it's even more important to share it. We need a safe place to talk with others who understand the difficulties of healing and...
The Chickasaw Nation Chikashshanompa' (Chickasaw Language) keyboard is now available for iPhone, iPad and Mac with the releases of iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 operating systems. "We welcome this collaboration with Apple," Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said. "Our language is critically vital to maintaining our unique cultural identity as Chickasaw people. The Chickasaw keyboard included in this recent update is a positive step in our efforts to...
WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court recently upheld a federal law that requires tribal families to get priority in the adoption or foster placement of an Indigenous child, a law aimed at stopping what one justice called the "nightmare" of family separation. Advocates have called the Indian Child Welfare Act the gold standard of child welfare laws, but it was challenged by three families and the state of Texas, which claimed the law steps on state's rights and unlawfully uses race to...
WATERLOO, Ont.-The University of Waterloo in Ontario will become the first Canadian university to waive tuition starting this fall for students who are members of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation or Six Nations of the Grand River. In a press release, the university announced, "Indigenous students who are members of these bands (on whose traditional territory the University of Waterloo is situated) and who are pursuing studies in a graduate or undergraduate program a...
OTTAWA, Ont.-Two days before his coronation, King Charles III met with Canadian Indigenous leaders for a conversation that many people hope will bring a new chapter in the relationship between the Crown and Canada's Indigenous people. While King Charles previously met with Canadian Indigenous leaders during a May 2022 visit to Canada, this was the first time a British monarch met with First Nations, Inuit and Métis representatives together. The meeting at Buckingham Palace was...
