Wisdom From Our Elders
Can These Wounds Be Healed?
Every generation matters in our Native community. We honor the wisdom of our elders and protect our children as our greatest resource. Family ties are strong. Our land has been our home for generations, and our culture values each generation.
The Lord is My Helper
Naomi Colelay – Apache
My name is Naomi Colelay. I’ve lived on the White Mountain Apache Reservation all my life. As a child, I had both parents in the home. My mom was a very busy lady.
The Blessed Life
Merritt Youngdeer – Cherokee
My name is Merritt Youngdeer. I’m a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina. My grandparents, like many tribal members from all across our country, attended Carlisle Indian Boarding School. My grandfather met and played baseball with Jim Thorpe
An Apache Prisoner Finds Freedom
Allen Early – Apache
I was born on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. My parents raised me in the traditional ways of our Apache people, and we worshiped at a place we called “holy ground.”
Bright Hope For Tomorrow
George & Kathy Ross – Abenaki
It was the winter of 1979. My wife Kathy and I were rejoicing in the birth of our first-born son. We named him Nathaniel Ara Ross. I was working in a factory on night shift to make ends meet. At night when I came home, I would check on Nathaniel. Those precious days were filled with joy and wonder.
Freedom From Addiction
Morgan Longjohn – Plains Cree
Before Christ, my life was a mess, and I grew up a screw up. My life went against all society’s standards of normality. I grew up off-reserve in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. But growing up as a marginalized, stigmatized Indian caused me to experience great shame and unnecessary oppression.
Out of the Darkness
jasper jones – Apache
My name is Jasper K. Jones, and I am from the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. I was born on May 6th, 1941, in a small community called “Farm Station” in Upper Peridot.
Anchor for the Soul
Ray Perry – Navajo
I come from a family with a long history of military service. My father was a WWI veteran with the U.S. Army (17th Cavalry) under Commander Lieutenant Patton. My brothers were in WWII and the Korean War respectively. My Uncle James Maloney was a WWII Navajo Code Talker with the U.S. Marines.
My Call of Duty
Byron Sarracino – LAguna Pueblo
I grew up greatly admiring all those who have served in the Armed Forces. I knew that many Native Americans (including my father and uncles) had served this country with distinct honor and fulfilled their call of duty.
My Search For Acceptance
Jack Cochise – Apache
My name is Jack Cochise. My birth place and home is the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico. My grandmother was Amelia Naiche, daughter of the great Apache leader Naiche.
An Apache Warrior Chooses A New Name
Christian Naiche – Apache
Cochise, Geronimo, and Naiche were warriors. They will remain legends in Apache history. The Apache fought against the Spanish, Mexican, and United States governments for hundreds of years to keep their way of life in their homeland.
Pursued by Hope
John Downs
I stood before the judge as a desperate 24-year-old, overwhelmed by the consequences of my life choices. I felt completely defeated by addiction, and the word “hope” had no meaning in my life. All of society’s efforts to reform me had failed.
No Turning Back
Hanson Bullis – Apache
The year was 1934, and I was six months old. My father, mother, and I lived in a small settlement in the foothills of the mountains 100 miles northwest of San Carlos. Our home was a wickiup that my father had built for us.
Standing Firm in Life’s Battles
rhonda juarez – choctaw
My name is Rhonda Juarez. I am from Antlers, Oklahoma. I am a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I have always loved the land of my Choctaw people, where the land is green.
When Faith Leads Through Fire
Novak Armstrong – Apache
My home is the small community of Cibecue on the Fort Apache Reservation. Our White Mountain Apache people have lived here for many generations. We still speak our language.
Living on Purpose
Buster Beatty – Apache
My name is Buster Beatty. My home is here on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mountains of Arizona. I want to share my story with you. I believe that every human being is born for a reason and that there is a purpose for each of our lives that is planned by our Creator.
Look to the Hills
Leroy Elgo – Apache
Daagot’ee! My name is Pastor Leroy Elgo. I was born and raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
Which Road Are You On?
scott franklin – navajo
Life wasn’t easy for me. There were temptations and troubles in my home. There were tears and sorrows in my heart, and my pride was very hurt by my failures. But I tried to keep faith in the Indian religion of my fathers.
Transformed
Huron Claus – Mohawk and Kiowa
I am a living story of generations transformed by hand of God. The journey begins in 1780’s when the Queen Ann of England built the first Chapel for the indigenous peoples of Canada known as “The Mohawk Chapel.”
Recounting God’s Blessings
Randy JOhnston – Choctaw
I am a member of the Choctaw Nation. Our Nation is headquartered in Durant, Oklahoma, and is the country’s third largest tribe. I want to take this opportunity to share with you what God has done in my life.
Finding the One True God
Eric Johnson – Apache
I am happy to share my testimony (Revelation 12:11), to give all the Glory, Honor, Power, and Praise, in the name of Jesus, to my Lord my God. I am Apache from the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona.
I Should Be Dead
Bobby Tom – Dakelh First Nation
Before I became a Christian, I was wild and didn’t respect myself or anyone else. I was a pretty ignorant person. I had begun drinking and smoking heavily at a young age.
Finding Harmony With Our Creator
Harold Noble – Navajo
When I smell the smoke from the wood fire in the winter, it reminds me of the times when I was a little boy living in our hogan. It was during the winter season that the stories of the elders were passed down to the younger generation. I would listen to my grandfather teach us the history and ways of our people. Now I am an elder, and it is my responsibility to pass along the important truths for this life and the life to come.
The Way of Worship
Ray Perry – Navajo
I grew up surrounded by the traditional ways of our people. In my youth, I heard the old stories handed down by our elders. They differed depending on a person’s recollection, but they focused mostly on the creation around us. I was told we came from the earth. As a young man I had so many questions.
Lessons For Life
A descendent of Cherokee grandparents, Carlos lived in Miami, Arizona, for a period of time as a young boy, not far from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Carlos faced some difficult challenges. With an often–absent alcoholic father and a mother working hard to pay the bills and put food on the table, Carlos learned that life can be tough.
Direction For Life
The “Man in the Maze” design of the ancient indigenous people of the southwest reminds us of the many choices we make along the journey of life.
roy hawthorne – Navajo
My name is Roy Hawthorne. I am a proud member of the Navajo Nation. I am honored to have served my country through my military service in both World War II and the Korean War. I volunteered to serve in an elite group known as the Navajo Code Talkers.
Relationship Or Religion?
Byron Sarracino – Laguna Pueblo
Most newlyweds start out their wedding day with a passionate love for one another. In certain cases, it is interesting to see how a marriage that once thrived with passion, in time, turns into a performance-based relationship. The difference is one is carried out of love and the other out of duty. Which would you prefer?
Finding Purpose in the Storms
Byron Sarracino – Laguna Pueblo
Storms and trials are part of the human experience on this earth. It has been said that you are either just entering a storm, enduring a storm, or just coming out of a storm.
God’s Pathway to Freedom
Byron Sarracino – LAguna Pueblo
The Christian life is a battleground. Even though we are forgiven by God’s grace, we are still prone to yield to our sinful nature. As Christians, we do not have to continue living in sin, because through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can live victorious over self-destruction!
Keeping Pure!
Byron Sarracino – Laguna Pueblo
In Psalm 119:9 we see a question posed by the Psalmist: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” Is it important to stay pure? How can we stay pure in an impure world?
Are You A Peacemaker?
Byron Sarracino – LAguna Pueblo
God’s way of handling strife goes against what the world says. The world tells us to get even. With God’s help, let’s be peacemakers!
Thinking Suicide?
Byron Sarracino – Laguna Pueblo
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know this article is intended to help you, but it might also serve as a trigger. Please consider reading this with a close friend or family member who can help you process this information.
Story Telling & Nature
Parry Stelter – Alexander First Nation
God’s way of handling strife goes against what the world says. The world tells us to get even. With God’s help, let’s be peacemakers!
God’s Love Is…
We all yearn to love and be loved. And yet, as we grow in our life experiences, we can grow disillusioned with love. Maybe we have yet to feel truly loved and accepted by our family or community. Maybe we have struggled to love those that are closest to us.
Our Passion and Priorities
The love of basketball and the support of our local players is on everyone’s minds. It inspires hundreds of people from our communities to be in attendance at the big game – even though it is many miles away!
Helping Hurting People
We live in a broken world. People are hurting. As Native Americans, our communities have the highest rates of suicide of any people group in the country.
A Unique Tribal Enrollment Opportunity
There are over 500 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Each tribe has its own government, typically outlined in its respective constitution. When the tribe is federally recognized, then it is awarded a “sovereign nation” status. This means the tribe possesses its own set of laws – including adoption laws.
Spanish Language Articles
Perseguido Por La Esperanza
John Downs
A los 24 años, me paré en un tribunal frente a mi octavo cargo de delito. Miré fijamente en el piso mientras el estado de Texas decidía mi sentencia de 20 años de prisión por falsificar miles de recetas para obtener medicamentos.
Manteniéndose Firme En Las Batallas De La Vida
Rhonda Juarez
Me llamo Rhonda Juarez. Soy de Antlers, Oklahoma. Soy miembro de la Nación Choctaw de Oklahoma. Siempre he amado la tierra de mi pueblo Choctaw, donde la tierra es verde.
Un Prisionero Apache Encuentra Libertad
Allen Early
Nací en la reserva Apache de San Carlos en Arizona. Mis padres me criaron en las formas tradicionales de nuestro pueblo apache, y adorábamos en un lugar que llamábamos “tierra santa”.
Un Mañana Lleno De Esperanza
George & Kathy Ross
Era el invierno de 1979. Mi esposa Kathy y yo estábamos regocijándonos por el nacimiento de nuestro primer hijo. Lo llamamos Nathaniel Ara Ross.
¿Hacia dónde nos lleva la tecnología?
En los años cincuenta algunos científicos de los Estados Unidos conectaron una computadora con otra para compartir la información. Dentro de unas décadas, millones de computadoras se habían conectado, resultando en un nuevo mar de información.
¿Quién es Jesús en la historia?
Comúnmente se escucha que el Jesús histórico (real) es distinto del Jesús bíblico.
El Ancla para Tu Alma
En la madrugada del 18 de Marzo de 1990, unos ladrones disfrazados de policías entraron en un museo de Boston, Massachusetts en los Estados Unidos.