A Day of Evangelicalism to The Alaska Native Community

I met up with some members from the Campus Crusade for Christ this morning and decided it was time to go share my faith. The very first time I was sharing my faith was with the Alaska Native population that was so repressed in effect from many destructive causes from non-natives back in the 1900s. I definitely had a little glimpse of the spiritual realm of the AK Natives but my eyes haven't been more open after reading Harold Napoleon's paper entitled " Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being" In this work which was a letter from prison Harold presented the history of the implementation of disease,drugs, elixirs, alcohol to the Alaska Native peoples. How the Great Death and the brutality from the Christians/Priests influenced this repression of their own values to the destruction of major rural villages and small native communities. I was shocked at the revelation that was presented to me.. that we were on a mission trip... sharing Christianity with these Alaskan Natives that were so brutally handled by previous Christians. I am now somewhat.. could it be ashamed of my own new beliefs facing off with my Alaska Native heritage? I am in somewhat of a moral dichotomy.

I sat down with a Native man from Hooper Bay and we discussed some of the terrible experiences that are happening in the Rural villages of Alaska and how this Great Death of the 1900s and the suffering followed led to all this emotional repression which is destroying communities. These Alaska Natives are trying to fill the voids of their hearts and trying to numb this pain through the mediator of Alcohol and drugs. When all this repression is stored in our souls we are angered... we are at lost... and when the alcohol reaches the inner depths of our souls the enemy takes over and we self-destruct.

There is healing through. And Harold promotes the idea of a common unity of Alaska Natives. That they all have to come together. That many social services would have to be run by Alaska Natives. The healing begins when we come together and share our stories. When we share our struggles. There is a underlying hatred in myself that I have to speak with my higher power about. That this repression within my own soul can be conquered. Through the combination of moral beliefs in Christianity and the release of the old Mosaic ways of thinking (We can think of this as old native spiritual beliefs) the healing process can commence. I believe that over years and through next generation Alaskan Natives that this idea of "Christians are out to change our society" will be released and they will succumb to the everlasting power of Christ through their own efforts. Until then the White man will have to be patient and understanding with Alaskan Natives throughout this transition which may continue on for a few more generations.