wfn.org | [ENS] Paths Crossing XVI builds partnerships between cultures

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Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Paths Crossing XVI builds partnerships between cultures

By Owanah Anderson

ENS 051204-1

[ENS] For 16 years, people from Native American and non-Native Episcopal
congregations have showcased exemplary intercultural exchanges and built 42
partnerships through an annual event called Paths Crossing.

Each year on the weekend following Easter Sunday, there is a convocation
similar to the old traditional summer gathering of Indian bands and
clans--talking, singing, swapping, and dancing, and in most cases, engaging
in rituals honoring the Creator.

Unlikely statistics

This year, 82 individuals registered for the event hosted by the Oakerhater
Mission on the Cheyenne land in western Oklahoma, near Watonga. They came
from New Hampshire and Oregon, from Florida and Arizona, and many large
parishes and small missions in between. Some flew. Many more drove great
distances in crowded SUVs and vans.

A head-count revealed some unlikely statistics: Episcopalians from 16 Indian
tribes and from 16 dioceses came for the event.

Another irony is that the 16th annual Paths Crossing almost did not happen.

A close call

After volunteering to host the event, the crusty old Cherokee deacon, Jim
Knowles, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early winter. His surgery
appeared successful, but while awaiting hospital dismissal, his heart stopped
beating for several minutes.

"When I opened my eyes, all these clergypersons were around my bed," he said.
"I guess there's no better place to have a heart attack than in a hospital.
But, dadgummit, I didn't have any out-of-body experiences or hear any angels
sing," he added.

With a new pacemaker "installed," Knowles revved up for the gathering,
supported by a volunteer committee and two partner congregations-All Saints'
in Duncan, Oklahoma and St. Paul's Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Together they
gained access to a meeting site in rustic Roman Nose State Park; planned
program activities and worship services; coordinated lodging and travel
logistics. Without a hitch, they cooked and served 656 meals.

Positive experiences

"Partnership is what Paths Crossing is all about," said Barbara Lanwermeyer
of the Illinois parish which sparked the Paths Crossing initiative, Holy
Spirit at Lake Forest, a Chicago suburb. Some 20 years ago the parish began a
teaching mission outreach on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.

Wishing to share their positive experiences with others and seeking counsel
directly from Native American leaders on how best to conduct outreach, Holy
Spirit convened the first Paths Crossing at Lake Forest in 1989.

"Indian people, including the late South Dakota bishop suffragan, Harold
Jones, cautioned Caucasians to be quiet and listen for our Wind River
partners to define their needs and to allow Wind River people to define our
role in responding," said Lanwermeyer, who has attended 14 out of 16 Paths
Crossing gatherings.

This admonition-"We speak; you listen," in the words of renowned Sioux author
Vine Deloria Jr.-has been cornerstone to the foundation for training for
non-Native congregations seeking to initiate outreach to Native communities.
Partnerships and long-range commitments have supplanted the paternalism of
the past.

Sharing openness

The Rev. Pat Bergie, a Shoshone deacon on the Wind River, said, "Oftentimes
our cultural differences cause misunderstanding, but because of the longevity
of the partnership between Holy Spirit and Wind River we can now 'squabble
with love.' We look forward to the group coming from Lake Forest each summer
to help us with church school for our children and join us for eating,
camping and pow-wowing."

Lauren Zimmerman, youth director for St. Andrew's in Hopkinton, New
Hampshire, was one of the several first-time participants in Paths Crossing.
She said that she was most impressed by the openness that was shared about
the differences in cultures. She is exploring on behalf of her youth group on
a relationship with Native American youth.

A number of young people, as is the custom, were present for the 16th
gathering and their participation in all phases of the gathering was
encouraged. In fact, Frank "Tiger" Hicks, a local Cheyenne teen-ager, gave
the homily at the principal Eucharist of the gathering.

Photographs of Paths Crossing XVI can be viewed on Paths Crossing Web Site:
http://pathsx.freeshell.org/

--Owanah Anderson, a member of the Choctaw Nation, served until her
retirement in 1998 as the Episcopal Church's national officer for Native
American ministries and worked 13 years as an advocate for indigenous members
of the church in North America and Hawaii.

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