Daagot’ee! My name is Pastor Leroy Elgo. I was born and raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
Standing Firm in Life’s Battles
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.
Out of the Darkness
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.
The Lord is My Helper
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.
Transformed
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.”
I Should Be Dead
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.
The Blessed Life
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.
A Navajo Code Talker’s Most Important Message
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.
Which Road Are You On?
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.
God’s Pathway to Freedom
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!
Pursued by Hope
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.
Freedom From Addiction!
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. I had a decent family and attended a religious school. I excelled academically and athletically as an urban Indian. But growing up as a marginalized, stigmatized Indian caused me to experience great shame and unnecessary oppression.
Bright Hope For Tomorrow
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.
Thinking Suicide?
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.
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.
My Search For Acceptance
My name is Jack Cochise. My birthplace and home is the beautiful town of Mescalero, New Mexico—home of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Finding Harmony With Our Creator
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.
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.