Indigenous Boarding Schools and Restorative Actions

In this episode, the Everyday Nonviolence podcast explores the painful history of Indigenous Boarding Schools. We also share examples of what is being done by faith communities to address the harm caused by these church-run schools.

Host Diane Sandberg speaks first with Paula Palmer, Co-Director of “Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples,” about her research into Quaker-run schools and the multi-generational damage these institutions wrought on Native communities.

In a second conversation, Elona Street-Stewart, Ruling Elder and synod executive in the Presybterian Church (USA), talks with Diane about Restorative Actions, a Twin Cities initiative that invites predominantly white churches to voluntarily return the wealth that they accrued from systemic inequities back to Afro-American and Indigenous communities. 

Both guests offer a variety of ways for individuals and religious communities to support and learn from Indigenous people.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Paula Palmer is a sociologist, writer, and activist for human rights, social justice, and environmental protection.  As co-director of Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples, a program of Friends Peace Teams, she created and facilitates workshops on the “Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change: Toward Right Relationship with America’s Native Peoples” (for adults) and “Re-Discovering America: Understanding Colonization” (for middle schools and high schools). As the 2016 Pendle Hill Cadbury Scholar, she conducted research and produced articles and videos about the role Quakers played during the era of the Indian Boarding Schools.

Paula is a recipient of the Elise Boulding Peacemaker of the Year Award from the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center; the Jack Gore Memorial Peace Award from the American Friends Service Committee; the International Human Rights Award from the United Nations Association of Boulder County; and the Multicultural Award in the “Partners” category from the Boulder County Community Action Programs.  

For more information about the Toward Right Relationship ministry, please see friendspeaceteams.org/trr

Elona Street-Stewart, a Delaware Nanticoke tribal member, is a Ruling Elder and Executive of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Synod of Lakes and Prairies following 20 years of service as synod staff for racial ethnic ministries and community empowerment. She has served on numerous Minnesota boards and Indigenous community organizations, including the Board of Education of Saint Paul Public Schools and the MN Council of Churches. In June, she was elected Co-Moderator of the 224^th General Assembly (2020), Presbyterian Church USA, along with Gregory Bentley, pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama, becoming the first American Indian to this position.  Macalester College conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for Elona in June 2021.  A 37-year resident of Minnesota, she and her husband have four adult children and 4 grandchildren.  

More information about the Restorative Actions Core Team is available here: https://restorativeactions.org/

 

Music generously donated by bensound.com