The Indigenous People, The First Americans, Continue the Struggle for Respect

The struggle for recognition and respect for indigenous people, both in the secular world and in the Christian community, is an ongoing reality. The racist attitudes, behavior, and policies that the first generations of Northern Europeans arriving on the American continent held toward America's first people are still alive.

Among the many issues facing the Native American community in the U.S., the use of Indian mascots and symbols is a painful and difficult one, to which the Native American community has been drawing attention for a long time. Yet, it seems that their voices are not heard and their pain is disregarded. The reality is that artificial Native Americans are continually used as mascots for professional and college/school sports teams. Native American traditions and spirituality seem to be easily borrowed by the majority culture without taking the time to really understand it. In most cases, the use of Native American traditions and spirituality is based on knowledge acquired from books, photos, and even from old Hollywood films. Rather than honoring Native American culture, this type of knowledge dehumanizes it.

We continue to use Native American names and symbols as mascots, though the Native American community has expressed its feelings repeatedly. No matter what good intentions may be behind such usage, it is demeaning and inappropriate, perpetuating negative stereotypes and diminishing Native Americans by denying them recognition as human beings.

This issue is not new to the Native American, nor is our unwillingness to hear and understand the Native American cry for respect of their culture. Native Americans know in their hearts and souls about rejection and denial of their existence. They know about being displaced, with no regard for their roots and their needs. They are aware of the lack of support and understanding that is needed from the church, but not provided. One Native American said, "Early missionaries were of little help when others made fun of the young Native American converts. Why is it so difficult to understand that we do not want to be honored by the use of our symbols, our names, and our spirituality? Why is it so difficult to understand that we do not want to become a mascot? We are human beings."

Christian Native Americans hold faithfully to their baptismal covenant. They hold dear to their hearts the covenant they made with their church at the time of their admission. They believe that when the church responds to the pastor's words, "I commend these people to your love and care, do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope and perfect them in love," they are a part of a community whose members will sustain one another with love. Yet at times it seems that, rather than nurturing the Native American community, with our denial of their pain we pull them away from their faith. In spite of this travesty, there are strong Native American Christians who continue their faith journey, overcoming barriers and difficulties. Native Americans remain in the church and will be here with us lifting up their voices and helping us to be more sensitive to them. It is the patience and perseverance that come only from an indigenous people that keep them coming back to the church, despite not being fully accepted. Native Americans will always endure, under any and all circumstances, as their true history reveals. And their spiritual beauty shall enable them always to follow the Creator.

The Rev. Kenneth J. Deere served as associate general secretary of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race for 27 years. He was a leader in addressing Native American concerns.