The Inter-Ethnic Strategy & Development Group (IESDG), representing the five racial ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church (UMC), believes that God calls all members of the human family to recognize, honor and protect the dignity and worth of Indigenous peoples and Native American tribes of the United States.
CALL TO ACTION:
The Native American International Caucus (NAIC) has called for a public response to the March 2020 disestablished of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal status by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Removing indigenous sovereignty for one tribe threatens not only the existence of one native community but jeopardizes the welfare of every native community. The Government Administration’s action stands in opposition to the historic position of The United Methodist Church and further marginalizes. We must respect for the right to sovereignty which undergirds the struggle of Indigenous people’s spiritual, cultural, political and economic self-determination. The timing of this decision is particularly egregious as the coronavirus continues to inordinately ravage already vulnerable peoples who reside on tribal lands.
As racial and ethnic caucuses, IESDG is concerned that this shift in public policy impacts not only already fragile tribal communities but also has implications for the treatment of other racial and ethnic communities in their struggle for recognition, and full and equitable access to justice resources necessary for them to thrive. As an act of faith, we speak in solidarity with the NAIC and The National Congress of American Indians and all tribes in their decades long steadfast struggle to retain recognition as sovereign nations and exercise self-determination for their land, their people and their future and we demand that state and federal legislators reverse this unjust action done to the Mashpee Wampanoag people with all expediency.
IESDG calls on the Council of Bishops and Annual Conference leadership where tribal lands are located to remain vigilant and live up to the promise of our General Conference actions and with urgency to advocate for the full recognition, sovereignty, health and well-being of tribal peoples and their lands.
IESDG calls on the General Board of Church and Society to advocate with legislative representatives and with Conference leadership to support this cause.
Rationale
The United Methodist General Conference in 1992 has confessed that The United Methodist Church (and its predecessor bodies) has sinned and continues to sin against its Native American brothers and sisters and offers this formal apology for its participation, intended and unintended, in the violent colonization of their land and called for increased awareness about the role of “Christian churches, including The United Methodist Church and its predecessor in the destruction of Native American people, culture and religious practices and in 2012 stated that The United Methodist Church will work toward eliminating the Doctrine of Discovery as a means to subjugate Indigenous peoples of property and land.
The 2016 United Methodist Resolution 3321 affirmed that, “The General Conference of The United Methodist Church affirms the sacredness of American Indian people, their languages, cultures, and gifts to the church and the world…Treaties are regarded as binding, sacred, and enduring texts by American Indians and Alaska Natives, comparable to the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Therefore, it is disturbing that the US government ignored its trust responsibilities by violating treaties and other promises. Tribal sovereignty is an inherent international right of Native nations.”
The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Article 26 is clear: “Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired” and Article 28 affirms indigenous peoples right to redress and seek restitution for lands and resources that have been confiscated, taken or occupied without their consent.
IESDG represents the five (5) national racial ethnic caucuses of The United Methodist Church:
- Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR)
- Methodist Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino American (MARCHA)
- National Federation of Asian American United Methodists (NFAAUM)
- Native American International Caucus (NAIC)
- Pacific Islander National Caucus of United Methodists (PINCUM)
Since its inception in 1992, IESDG have endeavored to remain true to the charge, “to strategize toward the renewal of The UMC in recognition of the gifts of racial/ethnic minority persons and to advocate for justice ministries within the Church and the world,” among other things. IESDG feels the great urgency of the time and it is committed to continue to seek God’s preferred future.
For more reference on this matter, see the following articles:
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/native-caucus-sounds-alarm-over-tribal-land-dispute