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Monday marks the third day of ceremonies held by the Presbyterian church in Juneau, Alaska to apologize for its racism towards Alaska Native people.
As Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports, for more than a half century, the loss of the Memorial Presbyterian Church in downtown Juneau has been an open wound.
Over the weekend, the sounds of gospel sung in both English and Lingít brought healing.
This choir sang in a fire station where Dr. Walter Soboleff’s church once stood when he preached in the Lingít language and led a mostly Native congregation.
But in 1962, Presbyterian church leaders closed it down to make way for a new church to be led by a white minister.
That church has since been renamed the Kunéix Hídi Northern Light United Church, which means healing house.
It’s where national church leaders like Rev. Bronwen Boswell made formal apologies.
“The Presbyterian Church USA apologizes for the act of spiritual abuse committed by the Presbyterian Church’s decision of closure, which was sadly aligned with nationwide racism toward Alaska Natives.”
Dr. Walter Soboleff. (Courtesy Northern Light Presbyterian Church / Facebook)
Dr. Soboleff lived to be 102, but never spoke of the deep hurt he experienced.
His son Sasha says the whole family suffered yet never received an apology.
“Hearing the illustrious speakers bring their word graciously, brought tears to my eyes for the first time in 52 years. Gunalchéesh for that.”
Sasha Soboleff offered forgiveness, a blessing he says is necessary to build a better future.
“Lift our eyes so we can grow into this new vessel, this new world that is offered to us today, which comes perhaps once in a lifetime.”
The national church is also offering reparations, which Richard (Chalyee Éesh) Peterson, president of Tlingit and Haida, says is equally important.
“And today for the first time in my young 47 years, it is the first time I’ve seen an apology go along with reparation.”
The church has offered $900,000 in reparations to be used for language and cultural revitalization.
Read the Presbyterian Church’s press release
Courtesy All Pueblo Council of Governors
The All Pueblo Council of Governors in New Mexico is condemning violence in the town of Española, where a recent celebration was taking place by Native people and their allies over the pause of the reinstallation of a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan De Oñate.
At the prayer event, a 23-year-old man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat is accused of shooting an Indigenous man.
In a statement Friday, All Pueblo Council of Governors Vice Chairman Jerome Lucero (Zia Pueblo) said, “it’s unfortunate that, during a prayer filled ceremony, an individual was seriously harmed over this issue.”
Lucero goes on to state this shows historical trauma and pain inflicted on Pueblo people by Oñate is still here.
Pueblo people say Oñate represents violence – remembered for his cruelty.
Courtesy Nathana Bird / LinkedIn
Nathana Bird (Ohkay Owingeh and Kewa Pueblos) was among those at the event who witnessed the shooting.
In an interview with New Mexico PBS, she reflected on the deep historical trauma.
“The genocide, the cultural washing, or the banning of traditional practices was done by folks that were brought to really colonize our communities. And so Oñate was sort of like the lead in that piece, along with other folks that came before him. It was basically to colonize and to convert Native people. A lot of our historical documents really, really state that there was a lot of destruction. There was a lot of violence. There was greed. A lot of our folks were really pushed to convert.”
Pueblo leaders say they’re concerned about the possibility of continued violence against Native people who oppose the statue.
Meanwhile, the alleged shooter, Ryan David Martinez, is charged with first-degree attempted murder, as well as a fourth-degree felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
A fundraiser has been set up for Jacob Johns who was shot in the chest and is recovering.
The online fundraising page says Johns is an Indigenous climate activist, artist, musician, and father.
NNN anchor and New Mexico in Focus correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with two Indigenous community leaders about the shooting and the violent history surrounding colonial monuments like the Oñate statue:
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