Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 567
Indian Life Ministries is excited to announce two new books available October 21: Indigenous Faith This is Craig Stephen Smith's newest book, in which he unpackages scripture to help Indigenous believers discover how to live biblically healthy lives in the context of their cultures. Smith seeks to answer questions that not only Indigenous believers have, but also those asked by missionaries, pastors, educators, and others seeking to reach Indigenous people with the gospel in...
WASHINGTON-Native American artists say they continue to struggle with the theft of their work, and tribal leaders are urging Congress to strengthen the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. IACA was passed in 1990 to prohibit any advertisement and all sales of counterfeit Indian arts and crafts. Choctaw Nation artist D.G. Smalling says the act must adapt to the new ways of buying and selling art through online sales. "We have just a very different kind of engagement with intellectual...
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.-Keeleigh Sanders, 21, of Westville, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2023-2024 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Saturday. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassadors, all of whom will serve in their roles for the next year. As Miss Cherokee, Sanders will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the government, history, language and culture of the tribe. She also received a...
TORONTO, Ont.-Zoom recently attempted to rewrite its Terms of Service with ambiguous language that would permit the extraction of user data for the purpose of training AI. However, after public pushback, Zoom began to rectify that clause the very next day, fully committing to a "no AI training" set of policies by Aug. 11. Even though Zoom pedalled back this time, their drive to gather data highlights the possibility of future hidden data extraction by them and other big tech...
TUCSON, Ariz.-A mentoring program is using talking circles, adventure outings and overnight camping trips to help young men develop positive and healthy relationships. The Boys to Men Mentoring Network, founded 27 years ago in La Mesa, California, has grown to cities in 11 states, including three in Arizona, and internationally. Its mission is to strengthen communities by nurturing intentional spaces for boys and men to practice honest and mindful relationships. The goal is...
If you're attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Krystal at admin@IndianLife.org STEER Conference-Oct. 6–7, Bismarck, ND ILM Banquet-Oct. 21, Winnipeg, MB Seattle Missionfest-Nov. 3–4, Seattle, WA Indigenous Couples' Getaway-Nov. 17–19, Rock Nest Ranch, Houston, BC...
MAYER, Ariz.-Some Indigenous farmers are trying to bring traditional food back to their communities. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a farmer from the Hopi Tribe, is focusing on bringing Hopi corn back to the dining table – not only for the health benefits but also to connect his people to their culture. Johnson, who also is a faculty member at the University of Arizona's School of Natural Resources and the Environment, refers to corn as "our mother." "Corn represents our mother, a...
BUSBY, Alb.-On May 18-21, 2023, 187 youth gathered at Camp Nakamun in Alberta, Canada, for the Native Youth Conference (NYC). The students came from 17 communities and four provinces. Students were joined by 40 chaperones of varying ages. "The mission at Indian Life Ministries is to restore hope, healing, and honor within Indigenous communities across North America through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ," said Todd Wawrzyniak, director of Indian Life Ministries. "Being...
The ministry impact of the Cass Lake Alliance Church continues to go on strong! Started as a Native church plant in the 1930s, it continues to reach out locally while celebrating its historical impact globally. The church, located on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, has raised over the years two gifted musical singing families-The Smith Family and The Berge Family-whose collective ministries span almost a century. Both families have traveled and have sung...
In 1957, Harvey Gabriel heard scripture read out loud in Kanien'kéha for the first time. When he got home, he asked his mother why Kanien'kehá:ka didn't have a Bible in their own language. "Oh, that's a big project," she replied. "And who's going to translate it?" Those words stuck with him, but it wasn't until 1974, as he was firing up his lawnmower after supper one day, that the idea finally came to him. "When I retire, I'm going to translate the Bible," he told himself. "...
Todd and Krystal, our director team, are looking forward to helping facilitate the Bighorn Vacation Bible School (VBS) in Bighorn, Alb., July 17–21. The theme is "Jesus is the Greatest Chief!" Two dedicated believers, Wacey and Violet, have graciously opened their land for the event in the Bighorn Community, and a leader named Tyson will teach the children. We are so excited to assist in this outreach! When we are able to reach children of a family for Jesus, this often l...
If you haven't heard the news yet, we're excited to announce that we at Indian Life we are working on putting together a 365-day devotional! The devotional will be split into three volumes to make it more accessible. It will include submissions from 42 indigenous followers of Jesus, who are from 15 indigenous nations, 30 indigenous communities, 8 provinces and 4 states! Can you believe it! Wow! We are so excited! We ask for prayer regarding the development of this devotional....
If you’re attending these events, come by and meet us! If you would like ILM to participate in your event, contact Krystal at admin@IndianLife.org Jesus the Greatest Chief VBS—July 17–21, Bighorn, AB Every Story Matters Conference (ILM hosted)—Sept. 15–17, North Battleford, SK STEER Conference—Oct. 6–7, Bismarck, ND ILM Banquet—Oct. 21, Winnipeg, MB Indigenous Couples’ Getaway—Nov. 17–19, Rock Nest Ranch, Houston, BC Seattle Missionfest—Nov. 3–4, Seattle, WA...
WASHINGTON-A divided Supreme Court ruled recently that the federal government is not required to take "affirmative steps" to guarantee water for the Navajo Nation beyond the water rights that were granted in an 1868 treaty. The 5-4 ruling said that if the court agreed with the Navajo, it could lead to a situation where the government is forced to build "pipelines, pumps, wells or other water infrastructure" that were not specified in the treaty. "It is not the Judiciary's...
LANGDON, Alb.-Indian Life is excited to announce our annual banquet occurring on October 21 in Winnipeg, Manitoba! Craig and LaDonna Smith will be the speakers and lead worship for the gala event, focusing on the theme "Trauma, Trials and Timeless Truths." Kene and Milly Jackson will minister through Native gospel songs. The banquet will take place in The Meeting Place, in downtown Winnipeg. Individual tickets are $50 per person and include a traditional meal. Corporate...
Everybody has a story. That story, if kept inside and not given the freedom to be shared, can hinder us. If the story is a positive, good one, we share to bless others, give them hope and give praise to God together. After all, Psalm 107:2 (NIV) tells us, "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story." If the story has some hard twists and turns, it's even more important to share it. We need a safe place to talk with others who understand the difficulties of healing and...
WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court recently upheld a federal law that requires tribal families to get priority in the adoption or foster placement of an Indigenous child, a law aimed at stopping what one justice called the "nightmare" of family separation. Advocates have called the Indian Child Welfare Act the gold standard of child welfare laws, but it was challenged by three families and the state of Texas, which claimed the law steps on state's rights and unlawfully uses race to...
WATERLOO, Ont.-The University of Waterloo in Ontario will become the first Canadian university to waive tuition starting this fall for students who are members of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation or Six Nations of the Grand River. In a press release, the university announced, "Indigenous students who are members of these bands (on whose traditional territory the University of Waterloo is situated) and who are pursuing studies in a graduate or undergraduate program a...
As a chaplain in our prison system, we provide a continuum of therapeutic care to people currently incarcerated or in transition from incarceration, and their families, as well as to those who are struggling with mental health issues, addiction, and or criminal behaviour. Our services are transformative and transitional in nature, supporting individuals towards positive life changes. In support of receiving Intertribal Life newspapers, our participants are hungry for the next...
Our vision at Indian Life ministries is to restore hope, healing and honor within indigenous communities through a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In addition to our newspaper, books, and exciting partnerships, we work towards achieving our vision through hosting conferences. In 2021, we hosted Indian Life Ministries’ first conference. It was titled, “Let’s Talk About Reconcilation.” The next year our focus was “The Gift of Reconciliation.” Both years, a number of Indigenous followers of Jesus were asked to share their...
OTTAWA, Ont.—Federal ministers recently announced that Indigenous women's shelters in Canada will receive $103 million in funding from the federal government, to help women and girls who have been victims of violence. The investment is intended to provide at least 178 shelter spaces and transitional houses. The funding will support 22 projects in 21 communities across the country, off and on reserves, in the north and in urban areas. The funding does come with a couple of prob...
OTTAWA, Ont.-In March 2023, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, announced that the Government of Canada has signed Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund agreements with 24 Indigenous governments and organizations. These grant agreements, totalling $120.7 million, will support traditional hunting, harvesting, food-sharing, and community food programs in 112 eligible isolated and northern communities. "This new...
CHESTERMERE, Alb.-Indian Life Ministries is excited to announce a new book in their line-up: Stories from the North, by Bill Jackson. "Bill told us that any time he entertained people at his home, he always asked for stories and asked if it was okay if these stories were someday shared in a book," says Krystal Wawrzyniack of the Indian Life Ministries director team. "He knew this could be the last time he saw these people, and wanted to make sure he heard their stories. I...
WASHINGTON-Supreme Court justices pressed government attorneys in March on their argument that the treaties that put the Navajo on reservation lands implied an intent-but not a duty-for the government to provide water to the tribe. "Could I bring a good breach-of-contract claim for someone who promised me a permanent home, the right to conduct agriculture and raise animals, if it turns out it's the Sahara Desert?" Justice Neil Gorsuch asked Frederick Liu, the assistant to the...
CHESTERMERE, Alb.-A Saskatchewan First Nations woman has won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for best audio journalism. Journalist Connie Walker, who is from Okanese First Nation, won the award for her Gimlet Media podcast: Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's. The concept began when Walker learned a surprising story about her late father. She discovered that while performing a routine traffic stop as a RMCP officer (Mountie), her dad recognized the driver as the priest from St. Michael's...
