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Community Celebration Stories Stories from Native Men's Retreat
Community Celebration Stories Stories from Native Men's Retreat
| Stories from Native Men's Retreat |
| Building Community - Celebration Stories |
 On May 5 - 7, I was involved in a Native Men's Retreat held at the Omak Longhouse on the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation. We began early in the morning on the 5th with introductions of the men, with names, Indian names and tribal affiliation. The 'theme' of our gathering was Responsible Fatherhood. On the first day, only 5 men showed up. Many of us leaders had invited numerous young men who would benefit from the gathering. On the second evening, we held a Purification Lodge (Sweat Lodge) for the men on the property of a tribal member in Omak, Washington. There were about 16-18 young men present. The lodge is "run" by tribal member, Tinker Watt. Some had drums and sang traditional songs. This was an opportunity to invite them to the gathering. The next morning, we divided into "clans" and held "talking circles" where we discussed such issues as alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence and "Spirituality." My input on "spiritually" was the kind of spirituality that is rooted in Jesus as Savior and healer of our sin nature. A significant moment on the second and part of the third day was an angry outburst from a young man from the Okanogan Nation of the First Nations of Canada. He did not like the fact that we were using a workbook which is a "white man's" way. He spoke his language, the Okanogan, and told the group that he hated the English language and he hated the word "Jesus." Following his comments were more from several other young men. They associated what the "missionaries" had done "in the name of Jesus." Of course, they do not know Jesus now, the Jesus of the New Testament. I led one "clan" and was assisted by a good friend, Steve Emerson, who is Nez Perce and from the Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes. Steve drove up from Oregon City, Oregon. He is a direct descendant of Lookinglass from the Nez Perce 1887 war in defense of their way of life and traditional lands. He is a good brother in Christ.  The gathering was sponsored by the Colville Tribe. The facilitator was Clayton Small, PhD, CEO of Native PRIDE (Prevention , Research, Intervention, Development, Education). Mr. Small is from the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Montana. One night we had invited a man who lives in Omak, Washington. Gil Brown (Cheyenne River "Sioux" of the Sioux Nation). Gil taught a lesson in the old style of "flint napping," making arrow heads and knives out of obsidian. Gil has been with us for the ten years we've worked in the Methow Valley Healing - Reconciliation Movement and traditional Powwows at Twist, Washington We've had other such gatherings in various venues on the Reservation, hoping the young men deal with the issues of their lives, mainly focused on Responsible Fatherhood. Thank you for your supportive prayers, John GrosVenor American Indian Ministries Director Northwest District |