Hennepin Church is starting to connect with Native Americans through the Land Acknowledgement Process.
By Ann Carlson

Click here to view the Powwow Poster Invite!

The White Earth Nation, part of the Anishinaabe Nation, is inviting Hennepin Church members
to a Powwow on May 16 at the American Indian Center, located at 1530 Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. The grand entry dance kicks off between 12 and 4 PM, followed by a feast from 4 to 6 PM. This invitation marks the beginning of a journey for Hennepin Church people and White Earth Native Americans to forge relationships and explore ways to work together.

Why is collaboration so important? It’s because there’s still much to be done between Christian Churches and Native American Communities. This unfinished business dates back to the early days of European settlement in America, when Europeans sought to colonize and profit from the land’s resources. The “Doctrine of Discovery,” a papal decree, declared lands not inhabited by Christians as “uninhabited,” allowing them to be seized. This led to centuries of land theft, cultural destruction, and the enslavement of indigenous peoples by European colonists. The Doctrine of Discovery has resulted in centuries of impoverishment and discrimination against Native peoples, issues that have largely not been resolved.

About a year ago, Hennepin Church formed a Land Acknowledgement Committee to begin learning about Native American History and crafting a Land Acknowledgement statement that acknowledges the harm caused to Native Peoples by Christian Churches and the United States Government. Members of Hennepin Church offered several classes on Native American Issues and a Sacred Site tour. The Land Acknowledgement Committee is now working on writing a Land Acknowledgement Statement for Hennepin Church and determining how Hennepin Church members can build relationships with Native Communities. To achieve this, a group of Hennepin members met with the mental health and chemical dependency treatment staff at the White Earth Nation program, which is located across the street from Hennepin Church. During the initial meeting, we discussed Hennepin Church members’ intention to support White Earth Nation’s programming and explore potential partnerships. The next step is to host a potluck dinner at Hennepin Church with the White Earth Nation to get to know each other better and brainstorm ideas for collaboration.

Please attend the Powwow at the American Indian Center on May 16 from 12:00-6:00! Keep posted about a date for the potluck dinner between Hennepin Church members and White Earth Nation people.