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Reflections with Camp & Retreat Ministries 

Wallowa Land Returns to Nez Perce

Last week I had the privilege of being present for a ceremony that returned land in Wallowa, Oregon, to the Nez Perce tribe. The annual conference leadership took the step after the United Methodist Church that had served the people of Wallowa for 144 years decided that it was time to close and to allow a new form of life to occur in this place. 

That new life began with drumming, singing, and words uttered in a language that was borne of this place. During the ceremony one member of the tribe shared that recent carbon dating places Native people on this land 17,000 years ago! It is difficult for me to try to wrap my head around that number of years. Several tribal members shared the experience of feeling a sense of coming home to this place of which they are a part, and which is a part of who they are. One member of the tribe said, “This may be a small piece of property, but it means the world to us.” You can see the press release from the conference here. Oregon Public Broadcasting hosted a conversation about the land transfer on Monday’s Think Out Loud program.

I see this event as an extension of our work three years ago when Camp and Retreat Ministries created sacred space for the return of Wallowa River land to the Nez Perce tribe. That action began with the suggestion of David Lovegren to the Site Ministry Team at Wallowa Lake Camp. It was then forwarded to me to shepherd the process with the Conference Board of Trustees and the Annual Conference session in Boise in June of 2018. 

At that session of Annual Conference, we were joined by members of the Nez Perce tribe, who refer to themselves as Nimiipuu (we, the people). We offered a token of the land, a rock that had been removed from the river bank and would be returned to its place when we gathered at Wallowa Lake Camp later that same summer. At Annual Conference we created space for healing to happen as we acknowledged the sins of the past and extended a hand of friendship. We were witnesses as Duane Medicine Crow took the bold step of apologizing to the Nez Perce on behalf of his people, the Crow Nation, who refused to help the Nez Perce on their attempted flight toward freedom in 1877.

We presented the deed to the land (mostly river bottom) at Wallowa Lake Camp as an act of repentance, of gratitude, and an honoring of the historical and culture significance of this space to the Nez Perce. And now, the OR-ID conference has taken another step in this sacred journey of friendship between the Nez Perce and United Methodists. 

The continuation of this work by the Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries includes land acknowledgment statements for all our sites (in process), the offering of an Episcopal Church curriculum called “Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles,” and a commitment to be intentional in our work with communities of color as we seek to live out our mission more fully. 

See you on the adventure ahead,


Rev. Todd Bartlett 
Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries

*PHOTO: The U.S. and Nez Perce flags fly side-by-side in front of the lodge at Wallowa Lake (Todd Bartlett).


Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle

The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries, at the suggestion of Rev. Carol Sedlacek, has been participating in two sessions of the 10-week curriculum, Sacred Ground Dialog Circles. This is an opportunity to explore the roots of racism in this country and to raise our awareness of how deep this goes and the ways that government policies have been shaped by racist ideas and ideologies. 

These circles allow us to share with one another some history of our own families, and to see the impact of our migration and of our participation in systems of injustice on people of color. So far, we have  been through six sessions of this material and I can say that I have learned something every week. Sometimes it is a reminder of something that I once heard and now see with a new heart, and sometimes it is something that I had not known before, due to a history that leaves out some pretty significant events. 

If you are interested in learning about this program and participating in this opportunity for learning please let me know and I will get in touch to include you in our next effort to offer this learning opportunity.  --Todd Bartlett


Blessings Report

  • Six sacred spaces of ministry that ground us in our faith and friendship.
  • The road to Sawtooth is open!
  • A sharp-eyed birder who pointed out that the pileated woodpecker pictured in last week's E-news was a female.
  • Deepening friendship between the Nez Perce tribe and the United Methodists in the Greater Northwest.

 Please send your blessings to share in future issues of the e-news. 

*PHOTO: The Wallowa River flows over the land that was returned to the Nez Perce tribe in 2018 (Todd Bartlett).


Camp Friendships Change Lives

During Monday's Think Out Loud program on Oregon Public Broadcasting, Rev. Allen Buck spoke with passion about how the world can be changed when we start by treating one another as friends. This is exactly what happens at camp. Kids of all ages (and that includes adults!) learn first-hand about making new friends. Often these camp relationships--like any good friendship--impact us for the rest of our lives. Your donation to camp & retreat ministry supports these life-changing friendships. Thank you!

Please donate today! →
 

Go Camping E-News is a publication of Camp and Retreat Ministries, a collaboration of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon.

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