Mdewa Videos

Christian Narcissism: Attack on Indigenous heritage, cultureRacism, spiritual terrorism and the loss of Indigenous culture are among numerous social issues being targeted by the Turtle Island Project - founded in northern Michigan in August 2007. A pair of Midwest pastors launched the Turtle Island Project because they believe the world is sitting on the brink of important cultural, economic and religious issues that will either allow humans to prosper in harmony with the Earth or become the only species to cause its own extinction. Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard and Rev. Dr. George Cairns say some - if not many - Christians belittle the knowledge and heritage of Indigenous cultures like Native Americans, Celts and other centuries-old religions and beliefs that are aligned closely with nature and the environment. They believe we can all learn a lot about nature and the environment by listening to these Earth-based cultures. Rev. Hubbard is a Lutheran pastor, and Rev. Cairns is an ordained United Church of Christ minister. Both have extensive backgrounds in interfaith and multi-cultural work. The Turtle Island Project (TIP), based in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, promotes respect for the environment and Native Americans. Turtle Island Project volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson has more on the founders and their goals. Time: 9:56 In Sept. 25, 2007 Rev. Hubbard spoke to college students, tribal educators and others during the annual United Conference at Northern Michigan University. Conference topics included diversity and other issues like the abuse and sexual mutilation of girls and women in Africa - and racism against Native Americans Rev. Hubbard said some Christians are too quick to dismiss the teachings of Native Americans. Hubbard said whites can learn a lot from NA storytellers, myths and other Earth based teachings. Rev. Hubbard says Native Americans know that not everything can be described in words alone. In August 11, 2007 - Dr. Hubbard spoke to religious scholars and authors in Ann Arbor - during the kick off of the Read the Spirit project. Hubbard warned that some Christians think their beliefs are perfect to the exclusion of all others. In August 28, 2007, Rev. Hubbard was invited to join a national Native American radio talk show conversation on racism by whites who live in towns bordering reservations - the same issue that Nimrod Nation highlighted as Watermeet Michigan is on the edge of a reservation. During Native America Calling, Rev. Hubbard told host Harlan McKosato that racism in northern Michigan is insidious. ------- Turtle Island Project related websites: Turtle Island Project main website: http://www.turtleislandproject.org Turtle Island TV (blipTV) http://turtleislandtv.blip.tv/ Turtle Island TV (youtube) http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse Turtle Island (myspace) http://www.myspace.com/TurtleIslandProject Turtle Island Project websites/Blogs: http://groups.msn.com/WhisperingTurtle http://turtleislandproject.wordpress.com/ email: TurtleIslandProject@charter.net --- Lakota words for God, Creator, Grandfather: Tunkasila Wakantanka Gitchi Manitou Lakota: Mitakyasi: "all my relatives" http://www.dlncoalition.org/home.htm Heraclitus "The essence of things" http://www.thebigview.com/greeks/heraclitus.html http://www.spaceandmotion.com/books/philosophy-book-heraclitus.htm --- Bishop Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School and Professor of Theology Cambridge, Mass. http://www.eds.edu/indexDyn.asp http://www.eds.edu/sec.asp?cat=92 he became the Director of the Dakota Leadership Program and developed alternative training models for indigenous laity and clergy on the many reservation communities of the Dakotas. Bishop Charleston has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, BBC World News, BBC Today Programme, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O'Reilly Factor, and Hannity 2007 Episcopal Life Online --- February 2008 United Nations Report on Racism and Human Rights violations against Indigenous Peoples including in the United States: The report "highlights a range of human rights violations and examples of racial discrimination reported by Indigenous Peoples in the US." http://groups.yahoo.com/group/I_P_I/message/18971 Full report: http://www.treatycouncil.org/ ---