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When I think of everything that I've been through in my 57 years on this earth, it sometimes overwhelms me. At other times, I feel like a warrior for surviving all these years. Through the ups and downs and all of the hairpin turns. There were seasons when I felt that I was in complete rebellion with our Creator. There were seasons when, just like the gospel song, "Trust and Obey," says, "When we walk with Lord in the light of his words, what a glory he sheds on our way." As...
Have you ever become filled with anxiety because you knew you were running out of something? Maybe your battery power on your phone was low during an awesome concert, and you didn't have any way to charge your phone so you could take pictures of your favorite entertainer. Or have you ever been low on bread, eggs, or milk, knowing that funds wouldn't be coming in for another couple of weeks? Or maybe you have a deadline for a certain type of work you have been hired to do, and...
I've been reading a book called The Book of Lists. It includes things like "10 Celebrities who have seen UFOs." These include Muhammed Ali and William Shatner of "Star Trek" fame. Another list is "11 Cats Who Traveled Long Distances to Come Home." At the top of the list is a two-year-old part-Persian named Sugar who was left behind with a neighbor when her owners moved 1,500 miles from Anderson, Cali. to Gage, Okla. Two weeks later, Sugar disappeared. Fourteen month after...
Ingredients For the salad: 4 sprigs fresh thyme 1½ cups whole wild rice 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 1 cup cooked black beans (if using dried beans, 1/3 cup dried yields 1 cup cooked) 2 bunches (about 8 cups) kale 1 cup baby tomatoes or ground cherries, rinsed and halved ½ cup grated pecorino Romano cheese or parmesan cheese For the dressing: Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice) 1 tablespoon fresh grated lemon zest ¼ cup extra virgin olive...
It's not just about a New Year because every morning when we wake up, we have the opportunity to begin again, start over, change our lives, change ourselves. We will not make the same mistakes we made last year. We can pray with the psalmist, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Isaiah 43:18 tells us, "Remember ye not former things, neither consider the things of old." Forgetting those things which are behind, I reach...
Recently, Intertribal Life Ministries and Northern Canada Evangelical Mission partnered to create a new, expanded edition of Maskipiton: Peace Chief. Maskipiton is an encouraging true story about a great Indigenous leader who chose peace over war when he decided to follow the Creator God and begin a relationship with His son, Jesus. With nearly three dozen illustrations, this story is not only for younger people, it is encouraging for readers of all ages. We've included an...
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Many people are not living for today. That includes me, at times. The enemy would love for us to live either in the past or in the future. It is so easy to live in the past, and we could be living with much regret . . . "If I only I had done it this way, if only I hadn't done that." You can be so busy thinking about what you did or didn't...
1. Prepare. While the Council Fire daily devotional is printed in a handy size that you can carry and read anywhere, we suggest you make it part of a special time with the Lord. If at all possible, it’s good to choose the same time each day so you can get into a routine (it only takes three weeks to develop a habit!). Try to choose a time when you will not face as many interruptions, and take steps to limit distractions (like turning off your phone or television for a while). Gather your materials—your Council Fire daily dev...
Washington, D.C.-Two of the state's largest tribes are hoping that new lawsuits, aimed at holding social media companies accountable, will help address mental health issues sweeping youth across their reservations. The lawsuits, filed this fall in the U.S. Northern District Court of California by the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations against Meta Platforms and a host of other social media companies, come amid alarming statistics. In 2022, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives...
LONGMONT, Colo.-In November 2025, the First Nations' Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments program sponsored the first-ever Young Women's Buffalo Harvest at the DuBray Buffalo Ranch in Mobridge, S.D. The event brought together 15 young women, ages 17 to 28, of various tribal nations and experience levels. Attendees represented a wide range of educational paths, from high school students to those completing master's degrees. For some, it was their first experience in...
Ada, Okla.-Katie Kelley is a storyteller, but instead of words she uses movement. There are many things that Kelley loves about ballet, but her favorite is the chance to portray a character and connect with an audience through dance. While ballet showcases the grace and physicality of the dancers, ultimately, when done right, it is about telling a story. Kelley started dancing at age four. Like most children, she started with the combo classes where she would get to try a bit...
Langdon, Alb.-On December 5–6, Intertribal Life Ministries participated in a Christmas Outreach at the Chief Goodstoney Rodeo Centre in Mînî Thnî, a First Nations settlement in the Stoney Nakoda reserve in Alberta. Organized by Kenny Hunter, Duane Wesley, Olivia Daniels, Intertribal Life Ministries, Belinda Simeon, and Muriel Labelle, the event featured speakers, music, and testimonies. Gospel musicians Ian and Tanya Lavalee, Vanessa Beaudry, Amos Badger, Ernie Kematch and...
Question: I prayed the prayer to be saved. Now what? Answer: Rejoice! The Bible says in Luke 15:10 (NLT), "In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." There is a celebration of angels rejoicing over you when you put your faith in Jesus. How exciting is that! You made the most important decision that you will ever make. You have also become a child of God when you believed and accepted in Jesus Christ. John 1:12 (NLT) says, "But...
I was raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in Eagle Butte, S.D. area. My parents were ranchers, my grandparents were ranchers, and I grew up in the lifestyle of ranching and rodeo. I learned how to ride when I was very young. When I was born, my mother bought me a saddle, so I grew up on horseback; I grew up with stories of the Old West, and enjoyed life in the country. I'm the oldest of eight children, and Mom worked very hard to make ends meet when we were kids....
Intertribal Life Ministries is a faith-supported ministry and totally depends on the Lord to see the people of Indigenous North America restored through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to have sufficient resources needed to carry on the work. Only through the prayers and gifts of God's people can this ministry continue and expand. In 2025, because of the faithfulness of the Lord and His people, we were able to be involved in working alongside communities to: • Host t...
"... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live," Deuteronomy 30:19, ESV A while back, I had the chance to drive my 11-year-old grandson to his hockey practice (about 130 km away). It was a real good time to talk and catch up on where he was in life! We talked about everything from dinosaurs to hockey equipment and Bible verses. Then we ended up talking about the future-his future, and what that would l...
"Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” Philip Stanhope is credited with first writing a form of this quote to his son in 1746. I heard it many years back, likely from my parents, and I found myself repeating it to our adult son just the other day. He is studying to write his third-year test for an apprenticeship program at a polytechnic school close to home. Upon hearing me say this, he smirked and jokingly rolled his eyes at me, followed with, “I know, Mom.” I guess I’ve...
Starting a new year, 2026, we look forward with anticipation as we consider the doors that are open for Intertribal Life Ministries. We’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on why we do what we do. What various endeavors are Intertribal Life Ministries involved in, and why are we involved in them? Simply put, the love of Christ compels us. When Jesus walked this earth, He was intentional about truly seeing people. About looking beyond what he could see with his eyes, and going deeper, into the heart of the matter, teaching other...
Lac La Biche, Alb.-On January 12, the doors opened for Keywatin Discipleship Centre (KDC) in Lac La Biche, Alberta. The eight-week, on-site program, designed especially for Indigenous people, will offer Bible classes, including an overview of the Bible, ministry opportunities, activities, and life skills training. Students will also receive "mentoring and help working through past problems to come to a place of healing from Jesus and growing in the Lord," says Lori Ward, one...
Washington, D.C.-The U.S. Marshals Service will be permitted to partner with tribal law enforcement in cases involving missing indigenous children under legislation proposed by two senators who represent states with numerous tribes. The efforts of Senators Markwayne Mullin (R, Oklahoma) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D, Nevada) were applauded by LaRenda Morgan, who helped lead the effort that led to passage in Oklahoma of "Ida's Law," named for her cousin Ida Beard, who went...
Washington, D. C.-In mid-December, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced at the meeting of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) two final pro-growth and deregulatory tax regulations that support the prosperity of Tribal businesses and families and recognize the sovereignty of Tribal governments. The first rule implements the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014, which confirms that Tribes may provide assistance...
Ottawa, Ont.-The Canadian government is presenting a new plan of more than $35.5 billion to support Indigenous children. The reform would prevent child maltreatment, keep children connected to their families and culture, and ensure that services for children are culturally based and community led. The initiative, led by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and presented to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, offers First Nations regional deals for community-driven...
Wounded Knee, S.D.—In mid-December, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, was signed into law. "It has been almost 135 years to the day of the tragedy that unfolded at Wounded Knee and [now], the president signed my bill into law to preserve the land where hundreds of lives were lost," said U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), who sponsored the bill. "I am grateful the Oglala and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes will be able to hold this land in p... Full story
Swanton, Vt.-The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs has announced that an American Abenaki curriculum is now available for Vermont educators. This curriculum has been designed by the four Abenaki communities in Vermont. Commission Vice Chair Jeff Benay, who also chairs the American Abenaki Curriculum Planning Committee, told reporter Pat Bradley and WAMC Northeast Public Radio that the idea of creating a curriculum focused on the state-recognized tribe has taken yea... Full story
Langdon, Alb.—Intertribal Life Ministries is thrilled to announce that Council Fire devotionals are now available in podcast form, and www.councilfire365.org went live on January 1, 2026. A new podcast is published daily, not only online, but also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and anywhere podcasts are presented. You will find links on www.councilfire365.org. Over the past two years, more than 30,000 printed copies of Council Fire daily devotionals, written exclusively by I... Full story
