The Episcopal Church, which originated from the Church of England, has a complex and at times harmful history regarding Native American communities, including the Piscataway, an Indigenous nation historically inhabiting the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland. This relationship began with European colonization and the spread of Christianity. In some cases, the church was involved in operating boarding schools that forcibly assimilated Indigenous children.

In recent years, the Episcopal Church has been seeking a “new covenant of faith” with Indigenous peoples. This involves a process of truth and reconciliation, acknowledging our church’s historical role in harming Native Americans and repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery. It includes upholding Indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights, addressing inequities in healthcare, education, and housing, and following Indigenous peoples’ lead on their self-defined justice priorities, such as land rights and eco-justice initiatives.

One such eco-justice initiative is advocating for the protection of Oak Flat near Phoenix, AZ. Oak Flat is a sacred area where the Apache and other Native nations have gathered since time immemorial to participate in ceremonies, to pray, to honor the ancestors buried there, and to heal. The site is also an important recreation area that forms part of the Tonto National Forest. The land is to the Apache what a church, synagogue, or mosque would be to other faiths.

But in 2014, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange was included in a defense bill in Congress that authorized the transfer of that land to the Resolution Mining Company, with destructive and devastating consequences. Since then, numerous Indigenous, environmental, and religious groups have fought legally to save this sacred land. The Episcopal Church has passed two Resolutions supporting eorts to protect Oak Flat from destruction, in support of religious liberty and environmental justice.

Speaking about why we should observe Indigenous Peoples Day, The Rev. Dr. Bradley S. Hauff, Missioner for Indigenous Ministries, wrote, “Replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day allows for the acknowledgment of Indigenous people in this country and what happened to us… It tells Indigenous people that we are not relics of the past, that we are very much still here, and we are a significant part of the American story. The church should be a central part of making this transition happen.” Join us on October 12, when Adam Greene, Emissary of the Piscataway Nation, will preach and share his people’s vision of Indigenous justice.