These are just some of the Indian children who were captured and forced to attend Indian boarding schools in the U.S., specifically the infamous Carlisle school in this case. The majority of these children survived this brutal approach to education with lifelong trauma that they passed down through generations of their descendants. However, thousands of children died in these schools—in many cases after assaults or abuse. Now, official forensic efforts to account for the children who died in these schools are sweeping across North America.

Stories of Trauma and Triumph as the World Learns of the Boarding School Tragedy

How Can We Help? Believe the storytellers.

THIS WEEK’s ReadTheSpirit Cover Story is actually a cluster of stories about Native Americans—both the trauma they have suffered over more than a century and the triumphant resilience among members of these tribes who are determined to thrive as vital communities within North America.

FIRST, read our opening story, headlined: Exposing the horrors of the Indian Boarding Schools—Why we need to read Warren Petoskey’s ‘Dancing My Dream’ in 2021. In this opening story, Editor David Crumm explains why global headlines in June 2021 about the discoveries of mass graves at these now-defunct boarding schools represent important news for all of us. You’ll learn why Native American concerns are so important to our publishing house team—and you’ll learn why you should read Warren Petoskey’s memoir this summer. Please, share this timely story with friends, as well.

SECOND, our publishing house team’s founding principle is: “Good media builds healthy communities.” And, indeed, some Native American communities have become successful models for public health responses to the COVID pandemic. No, not every tribe has been successful in combatting the pandemic. And, all tribes have lost beloved Elders. However, we want to lift up and celebrate the important work some tribes have done. In our weekly We Are Caregivers section this week, please read Native American caregiving for COVID ranges widely from tragedies to model public health responses.

THIRD, we take a closer look at two books we publish with Native American writers—of course Warren’s memoir and also 100 Questions, 500 Nations: A Guide to Native America, by the Native American Journalists Association. Please take a moment to check out both of these books in our Front Edge Publishing column, this week, headlined: Since our founding, Front Edge has been lifting up Native American voices.

From Our Authors—

Larry Buxton: The Parable of Shane Jones

ONE KID, ONE MISSION—LOTS OF GOOD NEWS

LARRY BUXTON’S WEEKLY VIDEOS keep turning up both great stories and timeless wisdom that Larry gleans from his illustrations. This week, people are buzzing about Larry’s The Parable of Shane Jones, which you can watch right now on Larry’s website. (And, while you’re there, sign up to get free email updates from Larry so you don’t miss any of his once-a-week doses of video inspiration.) This Rhode Island teenager hit upon a unique mission and, as a result, has been sparking “good news stories” in media all across the country. In fact, our publishing house staff reached out to Shane this week to let him know that Larry was retelling his story. Shane was thankful. He’s also finding himself showered with inquiries from people who would like to donate to his ongoing work. Shane says the easiest way to do that is through his Venmo account: Shane-Jones-202

Please, enjoy Larry’s version of Shane’s story—share it with friends—and let this young man’s compassionate light shine on others who might decide to do likewise in their parts of the country.

Suzy Farbman: ‘Keep on Paddling’

IN HER GodSigns column this week, Suzy Farbman takes us way back to 1992 to the scene of her 25th wedding anniversary at their family farm in Michigan. She shares some colorful photos of friends—and reminds us of the memorable parable she shared that day about two frogs who … Well, please read her column and share it with friends.

David Edwards: Raise awareness of ‘What Belongs to God’

THE FAMILY of the late David Livingston Edwards is working hard both locally—and globally—to raise awareness of David’s inspiring call to “Choose Peace” in his memoir titled, What Belongs to God. That appeal comes through in the story of David’s life, in the music he loved to write and perform—and in the step-by-step discussion guide that is a part of the book. The latest stop in that ongoing effort will be July 10, 2021, at a local bookstore in Lynchburg, Virginia—a date to mark for our readers who live in that part of the country. Here are the details for that event on the website for David’s book.

Victor Begg: Sign up for a free July 18 interfaith conversation

OUR FRIENDS AT THE INTERFAITH CENTER at Miami University in Ohio have invited Victor Begg as the featured speaker at their July 18 online conversation. These events are wonderfully diverse dialogues—and they’re free of charge. Here is the EventBrite page to register for that event. Victor’s memoir is a delightful and inspiring story of an immigrant who arrived in America with high hopes, an entrepreneurial spirit and an eagerness to embrace our country’s vibrant diversity. If you’d like to prepare for the July 18 event by reading Victor’s book, here’s the Amazon page.

Holidays & Festivals

Plan Ahead for Fourth of July

THE ADVICE IN OUR JULY 4 Holidays & Festivals column is to plan ahead because, while many public venues will bring back big fireworks displays this year—others still are cancelling them. We’ve got links in Stephanie Fenton’s column to find out much more about regional options for families. This is a column you’ll want to share with friends nationwide.

WANT TO SEE ALL THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just visit InterfaithHolidays.com

Click this photo to read Ed McNulty’s review of the new movie Fatherhood.

Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns:

FATHERHOOD—Ed McNulty writes, “Appropriately this new Kevin Hart film opened during this year’s Father’s Day weekend. Were it not for a brief bedroom shot it would make for ideal family viewing, with its tender depictions of a father-daughter relationship.”
JOE BELL—Ed recommends this film, “based on a true story,” written by the same team that contributed to the 2005 film, Brokeback Mountain, a writing partnership that included the late novelist Larry McMurtry.
ONE NATION, ONE KING—”French writer/director Pierre Schoeller’s epic will enlarge our truncated view of the French Revolution. Schoeller attempts to give us a view of events from the perspective of those at the bottom of society.”
DISNEY’S HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME—For the 25th anniversary of this animated feature, Ed reaches back into his vault of past faith-and-film reviews to share this thoughtful column.
DOUBTING THOMAS—”Will McFadden’s film is about trust as well as systemic racism, making it of double interest. The story involves a young white couple, Jen and Tom, and their best friend, Ron, a black bachelor who works at the same law firm as Tom.”
LUPIN—Ed McNulty writes, “The French writer George Kay has created a truly thrilling escapist adventure series with more than a touch of social commentary.”
RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT—”Miriem Pérez Riera’s sparkling documentary not only chronicles the rise of Puerto Rico’s most popular emigrant to the US but also espouses her fight against racism that limited her movie roles and the rights of survivors of sexual abuse, the latter also something she had experienced.”
IMPERIAL DREAMS—”Director/co-writer Malik Vitthal’s father-son film unfolds largely in the streets of the Los Angeles Watts neighborhood and illustrates what advocates for ex-prisoners have long been telling us: The odds for rehabilitated criminals are stacked against them.”
WHERE HANDS TOUCH—”Writer/director Amma Asante hooked me for good by beginning her film about the Holocaust era in Germany with a quote from James Baldwin: ‘There are days when you wonder what your role is in this country and what your future is in it.’ “
SPIRIT UNTAMED—“DreamWorks Animation’s directors Elaine Bogan and Ennio Torresan have given families an enjoyable new film that should please the young and old with life messages conveyed in a non-preachy way. Our daughters will especially take to this film with its affirmation of sisterhood.”