Commentary: Hope for healing remains after Red Lake shootings
Mar. 20, 2006
NOTE: A photograph of Bishop Sally Dyck is available at http://umns.umc.org.
A UMNS Commentary By Bishop Sally Dyck*
Chris Dunshee, the principal of Red Lake (Minn.) High School, recently went on health leave. He had suffered a heart attack in April 2005, about a month after a student shot and killed 10 people, including eight at the school. Dunshee returned to work a month after his heart attack, but his health problems have continued.
I think of all the broken hearts on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and surrounding area: mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings and students, who continue to grieve for loved ones who were hurt or killed on March 21, 2005, in the worst school shooting incident since Columbine.
I also think of the tribal chief and staff, hospital administrators and workers, clergy, teachers and community service personnel, whose hearts continue to ache not only for the loss and pain that the shooting caused but also for the despair at how little (in spite of their efforts) they have been able to improve the conditions on the reservation before or after the shootings.
The ache in my own heart over this tragedy has made me do what pain is meant to do: pay attention to what is hurting. Unless our hearts break, God doesn't seem able to do much with us.
Last October, I invited the Rev. David Wilson, superintendent of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, to visit Red Lake with me. The Rev. Eric Hucke, pastor of the Bemidji and Cass Lake United Methodist churches, set up opportunities for us to meet with the community and with church workers. Many Bemidji United Methodists work on the reservation. They care deeply for the people there and have experienced discouragement in their attempts to make a difference for others. Wilson brought them some hope and encouragement.
Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain received Hucke, Wilson and me warmly, accepting a tribal blanket from David. He also gave us a small basket made on the reservation and their flag. I put my flag on my office desk to remind me to pray for Red Lake on a regular basis.
We were joined for lunch by the area's Catholic and Episcopal priests (the Episcopal priest is a Red Lake resident and a woman), a teacher who still works at the school, a former teacher who was present at the school a year ago, and other community workers. We shared stories, and at the end of our meal, we prayed together.
Wilson nurtured some connections that Hucke established in the reservation at Cass Lake. We have renewed hopes for a ministry with the indigenous population in that area. We ask United Methodists to pray for that emerging ministry in the months to come.
As a result of Wilson's visit, the Minnesota Annual Conference has also resurrected a Native American Ministry Team, which will guide United Methodist interaction with Minnesota's indigenous people. We are encouraged that a renewed awareness and interest has come out of our pain at what transpired a year ago.
A year later, my heart still breaks for Red Lake and its people. My heart breaks for the long trail of tears that continues to wind through our country and our church over our history with our indigenous people.
As pain is meant to do, it has helped the Minnesota Annual Conference and me pay attention to the brokenness that exists between us and our indigenous brothers and sisters. But we have renewed hope in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that will enable us to be faithful, humble witnesses to Christ's love.
Please pray for the people of Red Lake and all indigenous people in our state during this first anniversary of the shooting. Pray for all whose hearts break, that God will seep into the fissures and bring healing, each according to one's need.
*Dyck is the leader of the United Methodist Church's Minnesota Annual Conference.
News media contact: Kathy Gilbert or Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org
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