Francis is the first pope to come to the Amazon region, and he insisted that his first event and major speech of his visit to Peru should be to this place.
Indigenous peoples
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Indigenous communities in Australia press for a national voice despite setbacks
The Uluru Statement proposed a constitutionally embedded, national Indigenous body (“the voice”) that would advise parliament on matters relating to Indigenous peoples.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Canada considers practical demands of U.N. declaration on indigenous rights
In 2010, Canada endorsed the declaration as “aspirational” without beginning a process for its practical implementation.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Church in Chiapas asks for help as violence displaces thousands of indigenous farmers
Approximately 5,000 indigenous Tzotzil Mayans have been scattered in small refugee camps in the area surrounding the town of Chalchihuitán, in Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas. They say they were chased out of their homes by unknown gunmen after the escalation of an old land dispute.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Priest makes documentary with survivors of Canada’s residential schools
An estimated 150,000 aboriginal children were taken from their families and placed into residential schools. The residential schools were funded by the government of Canada and run by various church groups, including the Catholic Church.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Canadian court clears way for ski resort on mountain sacred to indigenous people
The Ktunaxa First Nation says their way of life is threatened by commercial development in Qat’muk, a mountain region in British Columbia inhabited by the Grizzly Bear Spirit.
Posted inFaith, News
Canonization process begins for Black Elk, the Native American who merged Lakota and Catholic culture
For 50 years, Nicholas Black Elk led others to Christ, often melding his Lakota culture into his Christian life.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Black Elk’s journey to Catholicism
This week’s guest is Damian Costello, the author of Black Elk: Colonialism and Lakota Catholicism. Informed by four years of work on the Navajo Reservation, Dr. Costello’s latest piece for America is “Black Elk, the Lakota medicine man turned Catholic teacher, is promoted for sainthood.” Damian Costello describes the iconic biography of Black Elk, a […]
Posted inFaith, News
Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala recalled for their devotion to faith
Blessed Cristobal, along with two other indigenous Tlaxcalteca youths, Blessed Antonio and Blessed Juan, will be canonized Oct. 15 at the Vatican
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Building indigenous relations remains a priority for Canadian bishops
Bishop Lionel Gendron of Saint-Jean-Lonueuil, Quebec, said a possible papal visit was not a major topic at the bishops’ plenary gathering Sept. 25-29, but reconciliation with indigenous people remains high on the conference’s agenda.