NAIITS Conference

Can a Christian worship with a powwow drum? And can we burn sage-grass (according to traditional Native American practice) when we pray? This kind of questions was up at the North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies seminar, 29 Nov-1 Dec at Sioux Falls Seminary, South Dakota.

The answers to the questions above must be: yes. That is my conviction. God never gave western culture any privileges above other cultures. Burning incense or candles as symbols of prayer, or kneeling down or closing your eyes are Western culture habits - nothing wrong with that. Church organs and guitars are also western (and very beautiful) instruments for worhipping. But they are not more holy than native drums. And our prayer habits are not better than traditional native prayer symbols.

Native and non-native theologians/workers gathered a few days to talk around the themes of reconciliation and decolonization. I had the privilege to be one of the speakers at this conference, focussing on the road of reconciliation in Sámi culture in Sweden. We spoke about the wounds in native communities, caused by the churches in the name of the Christian God. We heard about abuses, and I understand why many natives despise Christianity. I understand the need of contextualised christian work. I am convinced that God has meant Native Americans to become followers of Jesus in their own way, and that He enjoys their worship through their own culture.

For me, it was a strong experience to pray with my Native American brothers and sisters in their own traditional way. It made me even more aware of the richness and diversity in Gods creation, and, really, in the Creator himself. It strengthens us in the quest for a Sámi way of worhipping and doing church.

NAIITS is doing a great job, not only for Native Indians but for all the indigenous peoples in the world. And, not the least, for the worldwide Church.