This November, ReconcilingWorks celebrates Indigenous Heritage Month by honoring the histories, cultures, spiritual traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples. We also lift up the important work of ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations.
As people of faith committed to welcome, inclusion, racial equity, and justice, we recognize that honoring Indigenous communities requires more than acknowledgment. It calls us to listen, learn, build relationships, confront harmful histories, and take meaningful action.
The ELCA’s Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations works alongside Indigenous peoples to advance truth, healing, and partnership. Through Indigenous leadership, education, advocacy, and the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement, this ministry invites the wider church to confront its colonial legacy while honoring the resilience, wisdom, and faith of Indigenous communities.
This work reminds us that reconciliation is not simply a destination. It is an ongoing commitment to relationships rooted in truth, respect, accountability, and justice.
Explore ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations and its resources:
https://www.elca.org/how-we-serve/elca-in-society/mdcc/indigenous-ministries-and-tribal-relations
We encourage Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Partners, congregations, and individuals to explore the resources offered through ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations:
- Truth and Healing Movement: Learn about the church’s history with Indigenous peoples and opportunities for education, reflection, and healing.
- Doctrine of Discovery: Explore the historical teachings and systems that helped justify colonization and the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
- Indian Boarding Schools: Learn about the history and lasting impacts of boarding schools on Indigenous children, families, and communities.
- Recognize Tribal Lands: Discover ways to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples and tribal nations connected to the land where we live, work, and worship.
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Deepen awareness of violence affecting Indigenous women and communities and explore opportunities for advocacy.
- Declaration to Native Peoples: Engage the ELCA’s commitments to Indigenous peoples and consider what accountability and reconciliation require of the church.
An Invitation to Our RIC Community
As we continue working toward communities of faith where all people experience belonging, we invite you to consider:
Whose voices are we listening to? Whose histories are we learning? How are we building relationships that honor the dignity and leadership of Indigenous peoples?
This month, consider incorporating Indigenous-led educational resources into adult forums, learning about the tribal nations in your community, or exploring how your congregation can support Indigenous-led ministries.
May our commitment to racial equity and LGBTQIA+ inclusion deepen our understanding of the interconnected work of justice, healing, and belonging.