S2, E8, Christianity and Spirituality in the Native American Community: Monroe Tsatoke, Kiowa Pastor

Prior to non-Natives settling in what is now the United States, Native American spirituality had solidified over centuries, differing within each tribe. That spirituality included rituals and inner meditations around nature, harmony, community and more.

But it wasn’t long after the settlers arrived that missionaries felt called (or were sometimes appointed) to spread the gospel of Jesus to the Indigenous people. Some missionaries grew to love their friendships with the Natives, even adopting some of their culture, language and ways of life, some even creating dictionaries which thankfully today can be attributed to the preservation of languages that otherwise would have become “dust in the wind”.

The darker side to the infiltration of the missionaries was displayed by those who had a more sinister goal in mind, “beating” the spirituality, language, culture and traditions out of the Indigenous people so that the non-Natives would be more easily able assimilate them into their own culture and grab their land and resources.

You may recall my friend and guest who appeared in Season 1 - Monroe Tsatoke (Kiowa), descendent of Hunting Horse and Monroe Tsatoke of the well-known artist of The Kiowa 5/Kiowa 6. He joins us again to share about:

• How some Native Christians still practice their traditional spirituality but face judgement from both the Christian community and the Native community for doing both
• The history of the United Methodist Church among Native Americans
• His own experience of being talked down to by outside missionaries
• How Stumbling Bear was one of the first Methodist Kiowas to convert to Christianity
• About his grandparents who would walk 5 miles to church every Sunday to preach
• How Monroe almost ruined the Christmas pageant and other hilarious stories from Kiowa country
• Monroe himself also sings for us in his Native tongue (Kiowa)

You’re invited to hear Monroe preach at Hunting Horse United Methodist Church: 611 S 25th, Lawton, OK at 11:00 am on Sundays.

 

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