Native Americans Archives

Another statue of St. Junipero Serra vandalized in California
- Church in the US
- September 13, 2017
Another statue of St. Junipero Serra has been defaced in California. The founder of the California missions has been criticized for his treatment of native populations in the 18th century. However, when Pope Francis made him a saint, he said Serra “sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it.”
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Amid monument debate, statue of St. Junipero Serra defaced in L.A.
- Church in the US
- August 20, 2017
Many people are debating whether or not to remove statues considered offensive by many from public places after the violence in Charlottesville. In the wake of that debate, a statue of St. Junipero Serra, praised as the “Apostle of California” but linked by critics with abuses of Native Americans, was defaced last week near the San Fernando Mission in northern Los Angeles.
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Jesuits to return 525 acres of South Dakota land to Rosebud Sioux
- Catholic News Service, Church in the US
- May 10, 2017
The Jesuits are returning more than 500 acres, dotted throughout 900,000 acres on a Rosebud reservation in South Dakota, to the Rosebud Sioux. “It’s now time to give back to the tribe all of those pieces of land that were given to the church for church purposes,” a representative said.
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Standing Rock activists see Pope Francis as spiritual ally

Pope Francis may be an ally to the of the Native American-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline. A careful look at the encyclical “Laudato Sì” shows how Francis strongly supports the arguments of Native-American communities at Standing Rock.

Catholic nuns join Sioux in opposing Dakota oil pipeline

The Sioux tribe has been joined by other indigenous people and hundreds of supporters at a camp near a proposed $3.8 billion pipeline route for months, arguing it endangers their reservation’s water supply and infringes on sacred tribal grounds. Recently, they were joined by the Sisters of Mercy.

Photos from the Tekakwitha Conference

Faith

September 3, 2014

The Tekakwitha Conference is a gathering of Native American Catholics that has met annually since 1939 and provides an opportunity for individuals to worship together and strengthen the fusion of their native culture and spirituality with their faith. Read more about the conference from national reporter Mike O’Loughlin.