While listening to a story on EWTN on 5 March 2021 regarding Bishop Baraga [Frederic Baraga - Wikipedia], termed the 'Snowshoe Priest', who founded a mission at L'Anse, Michigan in 1843. Barage, a priest consecrated by John Paptist Purcell, I am compelled to consider what I have recently learned about own my ancestry of a descendant of the Pamunkey or Algonquin Natives and migration maps of this indigenous tribe as it was discussed in the story on EWTN.
The story of Bishop Baraga who transformed the migration activity's of the upper region of Michigan and Apostle Islands area Native Indians, Ojibway (Chippewa) where there was encouragement for the Natives Americans to cease migration during inclement weather with the provisioning of homes built for them which had access to heat. Then the encouragement to know and practice the Catholic faith along with the teaching of faith or education. These all seem separate to me.
Knowing the importance of the Native Indians to consider their migration for their safety in inclement weather in the past, associating this to their need for education or religion is questionable to me at this juncture of my life as I consider modern day compulsion to remember the old ways, yet lack a willingness to migrate rather to stay in a warm safe place.
Native Indians feel they've lost a part of themselves by not migrating and speak profoundly about what they've lost. Some feel trapped and bound by boundary's that have occurred due to society and city building. Does that have anything to do with religion? Education? A true Native Indian heart?
In my opinion, no.
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