"In Light of the Doctrine of Discovery, Contending with Our Past in the Present"

“An Invitation to a Commemoration of David Pendleton Oakerhater and Talking Circle: In Light of the Doctrine of Discovery, Contending with Our Past in the Present” was hosted by the First Nations Committee for the Diocese of Olympia at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle on Thursday, Sept. 1. Nearly 30 people attended the ecumenical event including participants from the Lutheran, Mennonite and Quaker faith communities.

A group of young adults had joined quietly during the Four Directions Prayer at the front entrance to the cathedral that began the celebration. Participants were smudged with sage for cleansing before entering the nave. For the homily, people were seated in a Talking Circle and shared their reflections on the Doctrine of Discovery and Oakerhater, Cheyenne, the first recognized Native American saint in The Episcopal Church.

A poignant moment occurred when the young adults shared that they had just come from the Eco-Justice Immersion Experience, a national gathering focused on eco-theology and climate justice, and could see how the Doctrine of Discovery related to environmental racism.

“Many and Great” was sung as the final hymn following the Eucharist. The explanation that the U.S. President who ended slavery was the same president who approved the largest one-day mass execution in U.S. history, the hanging of the Dakota 38 in Mankato, MN, brought tears to a few eyes.

The First Nations Committee began in 1990 as the Native American Committee, an ecumenical group with members from Puget Sound-area faith communities. In 1998 the committee name was changed and the following Mission Statement was adopted: “The Mission of the First Nations Committee of the Diocese of Olympia is to encourage an appreciation of the presence of Peoples of the First Nations, their spirituality, and their ministry within the Diocese of Olympia.”

From a 2001 document: “To that end, the First Nations Committee (FNC) seeks to keep the people of the Diocese of Olympia informed about current First Nations issues and concerns through networking with key people in various congregations. By sharing religious traditions and symbols in worship, by open discourse, and by showing in word and deed that First Nations peoples are welcome in the Episcopal fellowship, the FNC believes that the mistrust and misunderstanding of generations, between Indian and non-Indian alike, may be impacted.”

In addition to the Oakerhater Celebration, as a resource for information, the First Nations Committee in the Diocese of Olympia will host a display table at diocesan convention on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 in Lynnwood, WA. For more information on the Diocese of Olympia, visit www.ecww.org.