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As I was putting together a sermon on the topic of peace, I went back in history to the year 1805 in Alberta, Canada. That was the year when a great Indigenous man was born. He became known as Chief Broken Arm. Why? Because right after he was born, his mother left her baby boy lying in the grass. The desperate mother thought she wouldn't be able to raise him herself. At the same time, a horse race was taking place at that spot and the baby's arm got broken. Broken Arm...
As summer arrives, I remember times at camps and retreats where we did a worship walk. I'll share the idea with you and hope, if you try it, you are as blessed as we were. A worship walk is simply an opportunity to worship our Lord in His outdoor world. God's creation offers a glimpse into His character and nature. He is imaginative, artistic, powerful and fun. He cares for big things like galaxies, the earth's ecological systems, and small things like forest animals,...
This past January I got a new vacuum cleaner. It's a special kind that vacuums and washes the floor at the same time. It's great for taking care of pet hair. Lately I was noticing that a light has been flashing with a message that would say, "Empty dirty water cup." Then the machine would stop working. It was frustrating, and I couldn't truly figure out what was wrong. I would empty the cup, clean everything out, and the light would eventually come on again, and then the...
I'm at the age where I think about the hereafter more than ever. I arrive at the fridge and wonder what I'm here after. Seriously, Heaven is looking sweeter all the time, partly because so many family and friends are there sooner than we thought they'd be. Some believe heaven is a myth, the creation of delusional wishful thinkers. I'm well acquainted with myths. I grew up on them. Here are five of them, the first two my mother used on me. Myth #1: Swimming after eating causes...
When I was five years old, a kind neighbor gave me a snow globe with a figure of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer inside. When I shook it, Rudolph was in a blizzard of snow. I received few gifts when I was a child, and this was a treasure beyond words. I kept it for 50 years. Other possessions came and went but Rudolph was always with me. I'd shake the globe and watch the snow swirl around Rudolph, and for a few minutes, I was a child again. One day I picked up the globe and...
She was the tiniest puppy of the litter. Her brothers and sisters would push her away and mama wouldn't let her eat. One of the kids in the house tried to feed her with a doll bottle, but that didn't work out so well. When I first saw this skinny little "runt of the litter," I wanted her. It didn't matter that she was malnourished, thin and kind of sickly-I still wanted her! After the "rescue operation," and when this impoverished puppy finally made her home at our place,...
QUESTION: Some people use traditional medicine for healing when they are sick, and some go to a medicine man to put curses on people. Is it right for a Christian to go to a medicine man for healing or is it wrong. Since becoming a Christian I have gone for healing because our family needed help to live, but I prayed for the Lord to forgive me if it is wrong. ANSWER: Your question is one that, to answer it as thoroughly as possible, would take the whole of this newspaper and...
In early March of 1972, an 8354 ton freighter, the Vanlene, left the docks of Nagoya, Japan heading for the California coast. On board were 300 Dodge Colts that Mitsubishi had rebadged and were on their way to a new home in America. Lo Chung Hung, the 29-year-old captain, set off from Japan with most of his navigational gear not working. The radar, radio direction finder, deep-sea leader, taffrail log and mechanical log were nonfunctional. Even the depth finder wasn't working...
A good friend of ours has had a lingering cough for two years. At first, it was just a cough-you know the kind. The one that is pesky, but not a big deal. Over time, it got more bothersome, people noticed it and it kept him up at night. He decided to visit his doctor, thinking maybe it wasn't just a tickle in his throat. After he went through all the testing the doctors asked of him, they came back to him with good news-they had an answer! But they also had bad news: It was...
Back in 2004, Facebook started as a social media platform. People were making more friends than they could ever have imagined. I was getting into the swing of connecting with people. My self-esteem seemed to go up a notch when I reached 450 friends. Then, as time went on it felt exhausting trying to read other people's timelines and faithfully read the posts that came scrolling in. Since then many other social media platforms have arisen that people use to connect with...
I have been writing for Indian Life, now Intertribal Life, for over 21 years. I recently read the March/April 2026 issue and felt humbled to be a part of such gifted leaders, reporters, columnists and staff who develop this uniquely meaningful newspaper. I appreciate the editor, and I marvel at how Todd and Krystal and Kene not only contribute to and manage a newspaper and the publishing business but also share God's truth and encouragement through youth and community events...
I'm hoping that the title of this article has gotten your attention! Fortunately, the word "arrested" has more than one meaning. Arrested can mean, "taken into custody by officials" or it can also mean, "to capture and hold someone's attention." I'm happy to report that law enforcement agents at the Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, Canada did not arrest me. But I was caught off guard during a day trip. I had left during the late morning to visit First Nation communities...
As a professional humor guy, who has made a living on laughter since way back in the 1900s, I get emails or actually-written-with-a-pen letters from listeners who are interested in knowing more about what I do. Here's one from Zach in Manitoba: "Why would you tell a joke about staying in a nice hotel where the only complaint you had was that the towels were so fluffy you couldn't get your suitcase closed? What's next, funny jokes about robbing banks?" Good question, Zach. The...
We had a wonderful farm. It had green pastures, two ponds, lots of big shade trees, and a huge barn. Although we had some animals-we had several ponies and thirty goats and assorted cats and dogs-we discovered several of our neighbors had animals they didn't want anymore. We decided to start a "retirement home" for unwanted animals. We put a big sign on our front gate that read, "Free retirement home for unwanted animals. Animals will be loved, fed, well cared for, given...
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 (NKJV) I have had to come to God many times to help me forgive someone who has hurt me or wronged me in some way-not so much physically, but certainly emotionally. For instance, when I was quite young, I had a special cat I loved. At that time, living on the reserve, we had a day-school teacher who was boarding in our home. He decided one Sunday...
Question: "My life and my community have faced a lot of loss. At times, it feels like the grief is overwhelming. Does God give us any tools in His Word to deal with deep grief?" Answer: I'm sorry to hear about the grief you and your community are enduring. That's the exact way to describe it-enduring! Enduring signifies that strength still prevails, that there is much hope and that God's Word still commands your thoughts! James' epistle says, "My brethren, count it all joy...
"God bless you all for the hard work all over the world; you all do an excellent job! I have learned lots of inspiring stories. . . . I will be praying for you all every night, every day."-Rosemary S. "I met a sweet little Cree granny in the hospital in Regina and gave her some [Intertribal Life] papers. She seemed grateful and I promised her some more. Could you please send a year's subscription to her?" -Patricia G....
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17 My mosoom (grandfather), Thomas Jackson, was a future-focused individual. Back in 1939, he was the first one on our reservation to own a radio. As near as I can figure, it would have been a 1939 Zenith 9S367. My dad talks about that time, remembering how people would come over to their place to listen and marvel at this box that talked-with no "real" person speaking! Some would check carefully behind the...
This season has been a full one. With travelling to Sioux Lookout for a testimony conference, planning two dessert night fundraisers (one for a mission trip and one for Intertribal Life Ministries), regular Native Youth Conference planning meetings, and planning for the Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child First Nations Shoebox Packing Party, our time has been rather full. This, in addition to being parents, spouses, friends, active church members and loving children to...
The worldview of an Indigenous people comes from all aspects of life being connected physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Today, I want to look at the title of this column through spiritual eyes. How can we realize that a certain amount of healing is possible on this side of the grave? Even when harsh and unimaginable things happen to us? Even when we feel like our hearts have been broken? As someone who has lived for 57 years, I can testify to the fact that...
What are some of your favorite experiences of feeling our Creator's presence and knowing for certain that He is there and that He cares about you personally? It is a powerful feeling! At this point it is extremely important to know our Creator's name. So how can we know who our Creator really is? What are His ways? How does He want us to worship Him? If He truly created the stars and our planet, the earth, then He probably has His own thoughts. I've had many encounters with ou...
In May 2013, Harrison Okene's boat of 12 crew members capsized off the coast of Nigeria and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Harrison, who was the cook on the boat, spent 72 hours in a watery grave 100 feet underwater, in complete darkness and isolation from the outside world. He was the only survivor who managed to find a small air pocket in a bathroom. Because he saw some movement and light in the water from a recovery diver who was looking for bodies, he reached out to the...
You don't meet many musicians who would sooner play to a handful of people than to a thousand, but my friend Mark is one. He's been my friend since the day I spoke at a church where he pressed a business card into my hand and said those three magic words, "Let's golf sometime." And so, we did. Together with our sons, we hacked and duffed and mulliganed our way around a golf course; it was the thing of which friendships are made. Recently, Mark and his wife, Cori, took my wife...
Many people believe in "luck" but don't really believe they are "lucky." I've survived fires, floods, and car accidents and almost drowned twice. When I was a teenager, I walked into a store and saw a man using a knife to rob the owner. I turned and ran and was stabbed in the back. The police arrived, arrested the thief and drove me to the hospital, where I was "stitched up." I'm a survivor, even though I could have died a dozen times. Moku was a rabbit. He would have been an...
January 1, 2026 marked the launch of the Council Fire podcast. With 1638 downloads in the past 60 days, we have been hearing story after story coming in from listeners, letting us know how they have been encouraged by it. Read what a few have to say: Peter writes, “I have lived as a Christian all my life. Always read or heard devotionals. Council Fire is special! Simple, inspiring and addictive! Thank you, Council Fire creators.” Gary called us to say, “I was on my way to th...
