Two groups of dancers danced at the Madison House of Prayer for all Nations on Tuesday night. On the program was Dancing the Way, a ministry of My People International, composed of Native American Dancers. But before they started, a dance team from the House of Prayer welcomed them with an expression of repentance for the history of broken promises and broken relationships between the dominant culture and the native peoples.
The first group danced with flags and streamers, accompanied by music and narration that included scripture readings from Habakkuk 2:12 ("Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice."), Jeremiah 6:14 ("They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.") and Ezra 9 ("I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to life up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.").
Dave Konkol, a staff leader at the House of Prayer, explained that the evening program was a time of celebration. But earlier in the day the groups had spent time praying at a number of locations around Madison, asking God to heal relationships and bring healing to the land.
The Native American portion also began with a dramatic presentation depicting injustices against the native peoples by early missionaries. "History was not kind to our people, particularly the history of mission," said Terry Le Blanc, the team leader and director of Canadian ministries for My People International. "Now there are many who embrace the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and follow the Jesus way. But we need to continue the work of reconciliation."
An information sheet handed out at the door said that few Native Peoples attend Christian churches "because of underlying feelings of rejection, distrust and dishonor." But "a spiritual movement led by groups such as My People International…are instrumental is showing Native Peoples that there is a place in the Kingdom for them."
"The way of the Creator cannot be found on our own," Terry LeBlanc said. "The tangled path makes it hard to see. Only He is the one who knows the way of the dance. He longs for all of creation to dance as it once did." By the end of the evening red and white and black were all dancing together.
The dancers came from distant locations and represented a variety of tribes: Darin Cadman, a Kickapoo from Montana; Peter and Josie Kwandibenz plus Raven and Tanager Spade, Ojibway from Ontario, Canada; and Bobie Capel, an Apache from Washington D.C. Outfitted in their traditional dress, they also represented a variety of styles, including traditional dance, fancy shawl dance, and jingle dance. Also participating was a local dancer, Alicia White Eagle, who is a Ho-Chunk from Wisconsin Dells.
The Madison House of Prayer for all Nations was filled with an appreciative audience numbering over 100 people. A number signed up to stay involved with future steps "to develop a conversation and relationship with Native Peoples that will lead to true repentance and reconciliation."