The Rev. Anita Philips
Cherokee
My mother is Pentecostal, and my father is ¡¦one of the Stomp Dance. I have not had a problem incorporating all of those places that I come from. I feel like it has given me a step up within our spiritual realm, the realm of the church. Can you be a Native person with all of the cultural characteristics that God has given us and be a Christian person simultaneously? How does that happen? As a pastor, I¡¯ve had so many conversations with people¡¦ in my congregation who were Stomp Dance people, who were not comfortable talking about it in the church, but would talk to me privately. Because of my background, we were able to do that. The gifts are unique to every person. I have certainly found my spiritual formation in my life being a great gift to me.
Other than that, I was a social worker for about 20 years. I perceived it as ministry. I was working for my own tribe as a social worker¡¦ .God sort of began speaking to me: ¡°Learn more about me. ¡¦¡±
I think that the spiritual realm for Native American persons is a multifaceted place that sometimes non-Native women don¡¯t have an understanding of . ... For me, one of the greatest gifts has been God creating us as very spiritual people. Each tribal history and origin has its own creation stories. They have stories of how humankind is generally saved through the connectionalism of nature and the sacrifice, which is certainly scriptural. Today, ¡¦we look at Jesus Christ as someone of sacrifice in the tribe.
There is an America, a distinctly North American identity, that is based on what they call ¡°rugged individualism.¡± ¡¦ There is an essential difference in the way that someone who is not necessarily born but raised in the mentality of this nation, which came from, I know from study, tremendous struggles in the country of origin and striving for spiritual freedom. When they came to this country¡¦somehow manifest destiny evolved. A critical attitude, a way of thinking¡¦- ¡°This is land that God has given us,¡¦and it is our destiny to conquer it.¡± The Western frontier, and even I would say among our own circuit riders,¡¦you had to be a strong rugged individual to make the land do what you want it to do.
Native values come from a different place than that. It¡¯s community. It¡¯s intergenerational. It¡¯s circular in nature. It continually spirals on itself. Children and elders -- the greatest and least age -- are seen as most important. The ones in the middle are to learn from them and keep them safe. ¡¦Our elders were the teachers and ¡¦ stay with the children¡¦raising them up.
It just puts you in a different [place]¡¦.We come from different directions, and that is a challenge. I hear it talked about anywhere I go with Native people. There¡¯s something about us that the general population of the country still does not get. It is my belief that God is calling us, ¡¦ Native women in particular. We¡¯re meant to be out there in our churches ¡¦church structures¡¦[practicing] Native spirituality. ¡¦We might practice spirituality in a different way, but we¡¯re still worshiping the same God.
Part of our heritage, our walk and belief is that we¡¯re connected with generations that came long before us. ... Roots are necessary to be a whole and complete person. Being able to know the sacrifices they made. The Trail of Tears my ancestors walked upon, when I travel back to Cherokee North Carolina, I feel it ¡¦. I believe that non-Native culture needs that. I see that in the youth. Rootlessness. Where are my roots planted, and where do they flow? Everybody has them. It¡¯s so important for the message to come across of the interconnectedness. ¡¦If we can¡¯t respect, appreciate and critique¡¦then what do we have to give to seven generations in the future?
Intergenerationality is another characteristic that is very special about Native people. To not have three, four, five generations interacting at a gathering is unusual for us. That characteristic means that it¡¯s not okay to move forward by yourself. There is a culture of affluence that is evident right now. That tells you ¡¦something¡¯s not right. I think the Native voice has something special to bring to that issue -- the issue of distribution of goods¡¦. and to offer a sustainable lifestyle. I believe this nation needs that voice. ¡¦ There are things we need to hear as well, but I think this is a time that the voice of Native Americans needs to be heard.