Smoke Signals from June 29, 2010

Hau kola (“hello friend”),

I hope your summer has started off with much to be thankful for! Time with family and friends is totally the best… and again I say amen! While time away from home has not been what I prefer, it has nevertheless, has been a whirlwind of very exciting trips and events! One was likely a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. Creator has opened many remarkable doors of opportunity for me to speak to people across the land about the historic shift of global missions and the emerging profound role indigenous people are having in reshaping the face of Christendom worldwide, and in particular Native North American people.

When Katherine and I, in simple faith, launched Wiconi International thirteen years ago with nothing but a big dream, we had no idea where that dream would take us! With the support of our friends and partners, much has happened in these few years that continues to amaze us!

For example, I am soooo happy to report that I have submitted my final draft for my doctoral dissertation to Asbury Theological Seminary. If all goes well, I will defend my dissertation and receive my diploma later this year. Beginning a doctoral program as a 50-year-old has been an intense adventure and I’m so glad it’s over!

The North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies signed a formal agreement with George Fox University and Seminary to partner together to create a new Masters of Arts in Intercultural Studies Degree. On June 12, 2010, in Newberg, OR, we formally began a historic journey together. At the ceremony a traditional pipe was smoked by all the board members and official signers present as a symbol of covenant and truth-telling. It was a beautiful moment! I serve as Vice-chair of NAIITS and am so proud and grateful to say it will be our indigenous faculty who will write and teach the courses for the first ever degree of it’s kind. We will begin informally this fall and formally launch the course in January of 2011. For more details click here.

 I was in Edmonton, Alberta this month with my friend Harold Roscher and his “Hear the Call of the Drum Conference.” I spoke about how ministry among Native people in the past twenty years has, and continues, to change from a paternalistic model to a contextual model. We are no longer dependant on the theologies of the missionaries that have defined us as a mission field, dependant on their interpretations of scripture that inform our understandings of who Creator is. Native theologians, scholars and leaders have been developing their own theologies, as do all peoples, and finding new understandings in scripture that affirms identity, culture and worldview perspectives as genuine expressions of a biblical faith. People shared very moving stories of their faith journey about reclaiming their native ways to once again become whole people in Jesus. 

From Edmonton I flew to Grand Rapids, MI where, at Calvin College, I was a keynote speaker at a history-making event. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council rejoined together after a many decades old split to create the new World Communion of Reformed Churches. The new communion represents 230 denominations and 40 million people in 103 countries. I delivered a message that invited them to both reconsider the negative impact of their mission history among indigenous people worldwide and challenged them to repent of their presumed cultural/theological superiority over Native people and embrace us as co-equal participants in the life, word and mission of Jesus among the nations. I even went so far to appeal to them to create a “truth and reconciliation commission” to redress the colonial injustices perpetrated against native people in the name of God, the bible and country. Honestly, I was shocked that the leadership of the new WCRC accepted my suggestions and in some form will incorporate them into their official documents. What was especially affirming was that dozens of international, especially global south church leaders came up to me saying they heard their stories in my story and were deeply grateful that I played a part in setting the stage for a new day in global missions in their respective worlds, and the Reformed Church world. I talked with leaders from a dozen nations (Scotland, Indonesian, South Africa, Ghana, etc.) about coming to teach in their seminaries, churches and universities. This is part of what I have been saying for nearly twenty years that Native North American followers of Jesus have much to contribute to “building up the Body of Christ” here and internationally. In the years ahead NAIITS will begin forming partnerships and alliances with institutions globally. All I can say was that it was a deeply humbling experience!! Click here to read various press releases.

From there I flew to Lawton, OK to participate in the “Sing to the Mountain Music Festival.” What made this so wonderful is that it is part of the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams for the past twenty years to see First Nations people worshipping together, using traditional music, drum songs, dance, regalia, stories and ceremony that resulted in Jesus being “lifted up,” honored among the nations. It was really refreshing to my soul and encouraging to see many friends I had not seen for many years, especially their children, who are all growing up. I gave a short overview of the past twenty-years of how a new movement of the Gospel has been birthed in the Native North American native community, the fruit of many years of our enduring relationships.

As you read this I will be on a plane to Pretoria, South Africa to participate in several events where I will speak to the issue of reconciliation in light of growing violence between black and white South Africans. While Apartied may be demolished as a system, as a way of thinking it is still alive in hearts of many and at the root of new violence in the land. My friend, J.R. Nomee, a Kalispel Tribal member and Northern Traditional dancer and I will be dancing and sharing stories of hope in black townships outside Pretoria. In addition we will participate in “cultural outreaches” in venues surrounding the World Cup cultural performing arts presentations, as well as teaching in a conference on justice and urban community development. Visit www. For details. 

From South Africa I return home and two days later (July 8^th) Katherine and I fly to my reservation, the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Reservation in South Dakota to teach our annual “Cross-cultural Immersion Course.” We will have about 15 students and 20 people on the team. This will be our fourth year of a ten-year partnership. For details click here.

Then on July 29 our 6^th Annual Mni Wiconi Wacipi “Living Waters Powwow” and Family Camp begins in Turner, Oregon. We’d love to have as many of you as are able to join us, especially for the powwow on Saturday, July 31^st! We are almost sold out for rooms/lodging and only campsites left for this year. It is a fantastic time of fun, relationship building and, uh huh, eating together!! For details click here.

Your prayers and support help make all these things possible. For Katherine and myself, I want to say how much we appreciate your taking the time to read these ramblings and supporting our humble efforts!!

Richard Twiss, Sicangu Lakota Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)

President, Wiconi International

360-546-1867

www.wiconi.com