National Day of Prayer Called For
National Day of Prayer for Protecting Our Children is being set aside for
Sunday, April 21st. Sponsored by the National Indian child Welfare
Association, this day is receiving recognition as a time for people from
all tribes to focus on ways to protect Indian children.
Through prayers, songs, dance, sweats, and local ceremonies, tribes
are being encouraged to take time to petition our Creator for wisdom and
protection in raising our children.
The day was conceived by Don Mulligan, of NICWA's Board of
directors, as a traditional way that native peoples prepared themselves
against threats and crisis. The unifying spirit of these traditional
ceremonies would be protection against the Multiethnic Placement Act of
1994, victory over bills that negatively impact the Indian Child Welfare
Act. (i.e., HR 1448 and S 764) and success of all Indian Families For
Kids Initiatives all across the country," Mulligan said.
On April 22nd, at the opening session of the 14th annual
"Protecting Our children conference" in Albuquerque, New Mexico, there will
be a special ceremony and prayer. Tribal councils have been encouraged to
adopt a resolution making the third Sunday of April a day of prayer for
protection our children, and using the day for special ceremonies or
activities, such as prayer, singing, dancing, and sweats. A resolution has
been circulated to tribes by NICWA for their councils to consider and
adopt. Following is the resolution advanced to the tribes:
Protecting Our Children
Day of Prayer
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Children are our most valued resource; and
WHEREAS, our children have a right to be raised in an environment that
nurtures them and helps them grow up safe, healthy and spiritually strong;
and
WHEREAS, our children have a right to be free of physical or mental abuse,
neglect, sexual abuse, or the damaging affect of substance abuse; and
WHEREAS, raising our children is a parental, extended family, community,
and tribal responsibility; and
WHEREAS,child abuse and neglect escalates each year and is a violation of
Creator's design in placing children in our care; and
WHEREAS, certain federal, state, and local laws, regulations and practices
serve as contrary influences on our family, community and tribe's ability
to properly care for our children, now
BE IT RESOLVED, that -(Tribe)- declares the third Sunday of April, 1996,
and the third Sunday of April each succeeding years, as a Day of Prayer for
Protecting Our Children.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a special focus will be placed on that day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities, such as prayers, singing,
dancing and sweats, to invoke Creator's wisdom and protection for our
people in raising our children.
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english is a foreign language. reclaim the language of your people and
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