In 2015, the World Council of Churches issued a call to its 350 member churches “to encourage all member parishes and congregations … to support Indigenous Peoples in their ongoing efforts to exercise their inherent sovereignty and fundamental human rights, … and to develop advocacy campaigns to support the rights, aspirations and needs of Indigenous Peoples."

In making this call, the Council noted, “the patterns of domination and oppression that continue to afflict Indigenous Peoples today throughout the world are found in numerous historical documents such as Papal Bulls, Royal Charters and court rulings. For example, the church documents Dum Diversas (1452) and Romanus Pontifex (1455) called for non-Christian peoples to be invaded, captured, vanquished, subdued, reduced to perpetual slavery and to have their possessions and property seized by Christian monarchs.”

Please read the words from the Council of Churches in the preceding paragraph a second time. Non-Christian people were to be “ invaded, captured, vanquished, subdued, reduced to perpetual slavery.” This is part of our history – part of the heritage – for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus.

One response to the Council's call is the action of a Quaker meeting in Boulder, Colorado. The Boulder Friends Meeting has created workshops and other programs that Native and non-Native facilitators have given in some two hundred communities.

You have the opportunity to experience one of these programs – to learn not only about the oppression of Indigenous People – but how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is bringing hope. You will discover how you can challenge the authority structures that perpetuate injustice and support changes that will help to redress the wrongs of the past.

You can experience

Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change

Toward Right Relationship with Native People

All are welcome at this free program, which is offered to the community by the Saratoga and Easton Friends meetings. Here is the schedule.

10 a.m. to noon Introduction, program, and discussion
Noon to 12:30 p.m. Lunch set-up and information tables
12:30 to 1:30 pm Potluck Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Optional Follow-up Workshop

Reserve your space at this free event by emailing Ruth at j_ralston@roadrunner.comor by calling her at 518-863-4041.