"Hear the word of the Lord, oh ye nations, and declare it in the isles of far off," Jeremiah 31:10

Chief Midegah
Feb 3
7 min read

Special Video Message from Midegah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu8w6V5LzRg

Embracing Our Heritage: A Reflection on Jeremiah 31:10

In a world where voices and traditions are often marginalized, it is essential to revisit the powerful messages found in sacred texts. Today, I want to share insights from the book of Jeremiah, particularly Jeremiah 31:10, which states:

"Hear the word of the Lord, oh ye nations, and declare it in the isles of far off, and say, he that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock."

The Gathering of Israel

Jeremiah speaks to the divine promise of gathering and protection, highlighting the Creator's commitment to reunite and safeguard His people—those with whom He made promises and covenants—just as a shepherd tends to his flock. This message resonates deeply with many tribal communities, particularly those who have faced historical challenges such as colonialism. Despite efforts by 17th to 20th-century so-called "Christians" to erase Indigenous knowledge that seemed "too Christian," replacing our sacred values with European values of greed, many Indigenous peoples in the Americas retained their understanding of the Creator and lived in Christ-like ways at the time of contact.

Meanwhile, those who came from Europe—and many of their descendants today, including some in restoration branches—boldly boast about their actions, replacing their spiritual reality with nationalism including justifying the unjust seizure of Indigenous inheritance as some manifest destiny, claiming to do so in the Creator's name while ignoring the suffering of those from whom they took. They often engage in doublespeak, professing concern for "the remnant," an "Israel amongst the Natives," or the deep concerns for the poor and needy, as if mocking God in how they treat tribal peoples in their midst. Most troubling are these churches that claim our history as their own inheritance, encouraging their members to shame us, either actively or by silence when we are attacked, just because we share our remaining history.

What Latter-day Saints often forget when speaking to tribal peoples is that while they focus on the 1200-year period from 700 BC to 500 AD, significant events occurred from 500 AD to 1500 AD and from 1500 AD to 2000 AD. This trauma must be acknowledged, as we have the right to own our entire history and speak on it ourselves, even the time period they carry in the Book of Mormon. Certainly, they cannot believe that every record in the 1200-year period disappeared or that when shared it requires their approval or validation, when that is not sought.

The Importance of Tradition

The book of Jeremiah underscores the resilience of traditions upheld by families through generations, affirming that the Creator will gather those to whom He has made promises.

Today, many tribal peoples are asserting their truths and nurturing the hopes that have endured despite the pressures of colonialism. This resilience persists even in the face of modern challenges, such as when some Americans claim lineal rights for their own children while simultaneously imposing arbitrary percentages on the children of tribal nations. It is deeply troubling to encounter an American who, upon learning of your tribal heritage, asks, "What percentage are you?" while their own children are considered fully American without quantification. Shockingly, they assert their perceived right to determine if a child of an Indigenous person or a tribal nation can belong to that nation, thereby challenging Indigenous family and spiritual traditions. Or, they cite the right to judge based on policies written by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a department acting in violation of international law and the Geneva Convention's protections against genocide. Sadly, those claiming to be "Christ's Church" often ignore these injustices while likewise calling us "sovereign".

Our enduring traditions are a testament to cultural resilience, reminding us that our heritage and practices are vital to our identity and should not be dictated or diminished by external forces.

As a member of the Midewiwin branch—a branch that precedes any European person or nation—I, along with my fellow members, do not require validation or permission from any church or any other tribal entity in the Americas to share our history with the Peacemaker or to recount our records from the first to the 14th centuries. Just as no entity in Europe has to get permission of other entities even in other regions of Europe to share their history! Neither those churches nor colonists, and in some cases even those nations, as many migrations occurred from 500 AD to 1500 AD, were present during those times.

Just as church leaders are obligated to speak to and for their organizations, I am authorized as a Midewiwin High Priest, the Midegag in fact, and an official Anishinaabe Lodge Grand Chief to speak for the history that exists before us when I am in authority and see it. Why would I turn a blind eye to half my family who are Mormon and have been harshly mistreated by Christendom and the world simply for saying that something occurred with Israel and Christ in the Americas, if the other indigenous half has evidence or provides a path to access evidences that it's all true? How much better when I convince for its release and how much worse when in doing so those riding their sails on the winds of our history attack, thereby removing themselves from our amazing journey and story.

As it declares in Jeremiah, it is our story not one that can be simply removed and given to another who is grafted in.

However, if descendants of colonists or those who have discovered our records in the 19th Century believe they own our history, they fundamentally misunderstand the essence of our cultural legacy and the purpose of the abridgement, which is to reunite a family to each other and their Creator who made unconditional promises to their descendants.

I hear a lot of Saints and those in the Restoration movement speaking of restoration, forgetting it is about the restoration of the family in that Book and the promises made to Jacob and Joseph. These sons of Lehi, Jacob and Joseph, are different from those of the descendants of Laman, who are called Lamanites. So how can we honestly believe the book has even been read when there is no weight added to the remnant who would remain (from the lines of Jacob and Joseph) and were not Lamanites? When they speak, how worse is it for you when you attack them?

While they may have taken our lands and attempted to claim our inheritance, they cannot control or erase our history.

Just as Jeremiah declares, "he that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock." This gathering will occur irrespective of the opinions of nation-states, churches, or abusive individuals on social media.

Our history and traditions are intrinsic to our identity and belong to the families and communities that have lived and preserved them through time. There are differences across the Americas—differing traditions, histories, and memories—just as there are across Asia, Africa, or Europe. Yet, within those traditions lies a remnant of information affirming the truth of the Book of Mormon.

It is imperative that "Americans" or "Church members" stop viewing the world through a narrow lens, applying a single identity to Indigenous peoples. Just as opinions vary within any community, differing perspectives among Indigenous individuals do not invalidate the truths shared by others. It is as illogical as dismissing a political reality based on individual dissenting opinions.

The Peacemaker's message is one of unity and respect, encouraging us to honor our heritage while fostering understanding and collaboration with others. It is crucial that we assert our right to tell our stories and celebrate our customs without the need for external approval. By doing so, we ensure that our rich culture continues to thrive and inspire future generations, particularly those in our families for whom the history was preserved.

Challenges from Within

A critical point raised by me continually is the unfortunate reality that some churches or their members attempt to dictate which aspects of Indigenous culture can be practiced or shared. This was evident in the 16th and 17th centuries when Catholic and Protestant priests began destroying anything among Indigenous groups that seemed "too similar" to Christianity. Letters exist where religious leaders debated whether it was right to erase a culture that could have already been influenced by Jesus or his disciples. The Papal Bull and Doctrine of Discovery were intended to protect Christian peoples from harm, should Europeans encounter them. However, the wealth of Indigenous lands and insatiable greed overcame their faith. This is contrary to the Lord's message of gathering and embracing His word. The scripture calls for the recognition of all voices, regardless of their origins, and for the celebration of diverse cultural expressions.

Yet, when we release our history that surrounds the Book of Mormon time period and after, those in the L-DS Restoration act similar to those early Priests, trying to diminish, destroy or replace anything we say that may be similar to the record they posses and the idiocy of that is while also declaring the record they possess came from our history as they attack our history.

Unconditional Covenants

As I have mentioned in my speech recently, although our people may not be the strongest in numbers or wealth, we hold unconditional covenants from the Creator. These promises are a source of strength and hope, affirming that divine commitments are steadfast and enduring. As stated in Jeremiah 31:11, "For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he."

A Call to Action

I will continue speaking out and gathering our own people to the Peacemaker, as it is clear that those who previously found our history care little for us, the Remnant, beyond our assimilation into their ways. We will not assimilate. This serves as a call to action for all of us to remember our roles in this divine work. We are reminded that while some may forget their responsibilities, there are those who remain vigilant in preserving their heritage and contributing to the harmonious gathering of Israel.

Supporting a Vision for Healing and Preservation

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