Episode 102 :: Jane Kirkpartrick :: Stories of Re-Centering History and Cultivating Empathy with Indigenous Peoples
Today on the podcast, we have a much beloved returning guest, Jane Kirkpatrick. Jane was my guest on episode 53. Her books explore women in history that may not be more readily featured in the average history book. Her most recent book The Healing of Natalie Curtis, is based on a woman who left New York City after a successful professional music career, but experienced a meltdown, and headed west in pursuit of healing her body and soul. What Natalie Curtis found there was a people group that used music in every part of their life, and it spoke to her weary soul… but she soon learned, sharing their music was illegal because of something called the Code of Offenses. These laws which were established in 1883 were designed to erase, silence and assimilate to the point of destruction Indigenous Peoples' practices and any part of their way of life. Natalie ultimately received permission from the U.S. government to record some of their songs and practices so that they would not be lost forever.
Jane shares a fictionalized account of Natalie’s life and experiences, as well as chronicling much of the often untold or ignored experience of Indigenous Peoples, including the atrocities surrounding boarding schools, where the literal motto was “kill the Indian, save the man.” Mixed with some of her own personal experiences with the Indigenous Peoples in her life from when she worked with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, this book and our conversation is incredibly eye opening about this complicated and painful part of our American history that is still carrying many lingering effects today. Jane and I discuss questions such as what do we do with all of this presently, especially as white Christians, and how do we better engage the ministry of presence and share the gift of empathy. These are deep and often uncomfortable places to dive into, friends, but these stories matter, and the stories of the past and the present of all God’s image bearers matters.
This week in our kitchen I wrote down the verse from Matthew 5 that says: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Then I asked the question of myself and the kids “How can I be the light of Christ this week?” In that same vein, I know that learning about the dark things people have done in Jesus’ name can be really difficult. But I really believe that when we learn about people’s experiences, it can help us shine a brighter light for Christ because we can share about who God truly is and how He intersects every type of pain on Earth, and every single story can find hope in Jesus. There is so much to learn, not just about this, but in so many areas of life. So we keep telling our stories, we keep listening to these stories, and we remind each other that they matter. You matter. And your story matters.
Connecting with Jane:
Most recent book: The Healing of Natalie Curtis
References:
Jane’s first visit on the podcast, episode 53
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Abraham Lincoln’s autopsy (Natalie’s father was Army Surgeon Edward Curtis)
The book I shared the story from is Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America, the story of the Peltiers
Residential Schools // Boarding Schools -- This article is from the NY Times BEFORE the mass grave findings truly began. It estimates in the hundreds… we know now its in the thousands
Natalie’s book she wrote (the real Natalie): The Indians' book; an offering by the American Indians of Indian lore, musical and narrative, to form a record of the songs and legends of their race
Rwanda and South African Apartheid
The findings of the mass graves from the residential schools in Canada (and they’re just getting started, that doesn’t even count what hasn’t happened in the U.S.) : Just in Canada, the latest count of recovered bodies: 6,509
The Secretary of Interior: Deb Haaland
A Tiny Toe-Dip into Resources and Ways you can learn about the history of the Indigenous Peoples and Residential Schools in particular:
Film & TV:
- “Unseen Tears”
- “We Were Children”
- “Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools”
- “Our Spirits Don't Speak English”
- “Dawnland”
Articles:
Boarding School Healing(dot)org
*If you’d ever like to find out if you are living on tribal land and which nation it belonged to go here.
Other Books for Adults and Kids:
-Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing, Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery- Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
-Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God- Kaitlin B. Curtice
Kids
We are the Water Protectors- Written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade
Stolen Words - Written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story- Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
When We Were Alone - Written by David Alexander Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett
IP Instagram Accounts to Follow for Learning:
-- Let me say that there are a lot of Indigineous Peoples that really, really, really struggle with Christianity because of their history and intergenerational trauma from the methods being used, namely the Doctrine of Discovery and the abuses of Residential Schools, to assimilate them into white culture in the name of Jesus. With the exception of Red Road, most of these accounts do not encounter the world from a Biblical worldview. However. I have learned a lot about their history, their present, and what it looks like when they encounter the world, particularly white Christians and it is very humbling, eye opening, and it has pushed me to try and navigate this conversation differently. Xo- Em
Red Road Official (Also featured on Annie F Downs’ podcast this week!)
Native American Indian Association of Tennessee
National Museum of the American Indian
James Jones -He uses his platform to share his own experience, the significance and history of various tribal dances, and more.
The Indigineous Foundation- Shares a lot about the experience of women and children.
Neon Moon Hi*Voltage Saloon- A local to TN business that is the first IP owned coffee house in the area. They support products made by other IP, particularly coffee.
Scripture References:
Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 12,Matthew 23,Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, -moments where Jesus confronted people
Luke 19 ,Matthew 9:10-17,Mark 2:15-22,Luke 5:29-39-Jesus came alongside the every day people He encountered
Matthew 5:14-16-The Light inside of us
Mark 12:30-Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength
Mark 12:31-Love your neighbor as yourself
Ephesians 6:12-we have one enemy who seeks to destroy
Matthew 5:14-16- You are the light of the world
Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com