Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Most of my life, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with Christianity, Christians or the Christian practice because of the historical oppression committed against Native/Indigenous people by the institutional Church. My former boss used to joke, seriously calling it "500 years of bad haircuts."

Boarding schools, forced relocation to the worst possible desolate land, sexual abuse from some Catholic soothsayers, physical and mental abuse from missionaries, cultural genocide-you name it- I swore that I would die before I ever became a believer.

I practiced Buddhist Meditation, researched and followed ancient traditions for three decades of my life and then I had a very intimate undeniable unique visitation and I realize that Jesus was not at all like the institutions that exploited His message. Jesus was indeed (factually) an Indigenous man. He was brown-skinned, black hair, beautiful brown eyes and He ran with a Tribe. He was Indigenous and He was chosen. The odd thing about it was He was marked from birth for annihilation.

No matter who you commission to do an artistic rendition or painting, Jesus was not blond haired and blue eyed-it just ain't so-sorry but that does not mean His message was not relevant for all of human-kind.

He went through, walked through, suffered through what so many of us go through our entire lives. He was betrayed by friends, gossiped about by community, made fun of and mocked by bullies. He was slandered as being weak because He loved so deeply all those who were considered "less than" by the church (synagogue) of its time (Sadducees and Pharisees).

Wow, this brother even forgave the hypocrites so readily and they still tortured and hung Him out in less than humane conditions. Why, WHY?

People think we have progressed and many believe we have achieved harmony, economic and social equality. Some believe we have overcome and yet the same practices of 2,000 years ago still exist today. Why? Why?

I have seen prominent leaders bully, I have witnessed good people gossip. I have seen with my own eyes the devastation of betrayal and broken promises.

Elizabeth Asahi Rising Sun Sato

Elizabeth graduated Cum Laude with an Executive Masters of Public Administration from the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University. She is the Human Resources Administrator for the Warm Springs Reservation, Warm Springs, Oregon.

Beloved, we need to take back what was stolen from us and that is our right to speak in whatever culture, whatever language, whatever dance or song-our celebration of our Creator, our God, our Savior because it is certainly not institutions that will bring us peace.

It is certainly not the Right Reverends, the Bishops or even the Popes (although I really like the recently appointed gentleman-he has guts). It is not the martyrs or the religious warriors-it is us, individually and collectively us.

Creator hears and sees it all. I have lived these many decades to share with you that the way of love, peace, justice, truth, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, respect and honor is the only path that will bring you joy and others joy. This is the path of Creator's Son, Jesus. He is the only one who can and will rescue us and save our ailing planet that has just about endured enough.

Organized religions, organized bullying factions (whatever you call them), organized politics and organized hit squads can never ever silence what your soul must know, your soul must speak and your soul must share in truth. May it be so! Amen.