HERE is a link to an organization called Indian Life Ministries. It supports missionary work for the evangelical church in aboriginal communities, like NDN country. Is this something to be concerned about? Is assimilation policy over? Are religious missions an active form of assimilation?
First, I see this issue "spiritual choice" as an individual choice issue, unless, these missionaries, preachers, and crusaders are using the poor economic conditions of NDN families as a tool to recruit. What I mean by this is: 1) do they offer child care to working parents for free, as long as spiritual training is provided the child; 2) are meals, money, or other assistance offered to hungry families on the condition of spiritual mentoring or spiritual salvation or spiritual mentoring. Why this issue removed from the category of individual choice under these or similar constraints is primarily the work of Maslow (
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). If food and water, as well as adequate shelter are conditional upon some type of spiritual training, mentor, or salvation; then I see this more as a coercive act then a giving act.
Second, is assimilation policy over? Well technically federal assimilation policy has ended on the books but what about externalities from it? what about the long lasting effects of the forced dependence of NDN people on the federal government? is this program a continuation of the early BIA programs which contracted the churches to assimilate?
I suggest that assimilation efforts of NDN people are NOT over, nor has there been any focused effort from outside NDN country to end the assimilation practices developed under the former federal policy. In effect, the removal of the federal policy was a
Faux attempt to divert national attention away from never ending practices to assimilate NDNs into modern or mainstream US culture. I mentioned the BIA's programs. Originally when the US government was still very small, it (the BIA) contracted churches throughout the country to do the assimilation work for the government. The difference today, if merely the funding source for the activities; particularly under the aforementioned situations.
It is imperative I do not represent a bias against religions. I am not against any religious view which you may choose for yourself. I am opposed to coercive use of scare resources to indoctrinate my brothers and sisters, cousins, aunties, and uncles. If you believe this article may be somewhat of an outlandish statement about economic condition in NDN country, then your last trip to the reservation was too long ago. Commodity cheese, institutional dependence, and inadequate funding to provide essential services remain high on the list of topics discussed throughout my homelands. Generations have fought to break cycles of negative consequences (externalities) from poor federal policy decisions over the last 300 years.
So, if you are like me in anyway. Think about the consequences of allowing your child to attend a church which uses scare resources as bait to bring you into the herd. Think of ways which you can provide for yourself, independent of NDN nation, independent of your Tribe, independent of the government, and think about what comes next. I always reach a similar conclusion. FREEDOM!!!! And with that freedom comes an opportunity to assist others in your family, tribe, and the world. With that freedom comes, hope, healing, and the resources to preserve our history, family, and ways.
If you have any comments, please feel free.
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