In recent months the acronym “BIPOC” has gained traction in our American lexicon. From the first time I heard it, feelings of it being disrespectful have come to my mind and heart. Maybe I feel this because we can say the term so quickly  that I fear we might lose our place in the real pain experienced though hundreds of years by real people. Abbreviations just seem too easy for us as people of white privilege. In that concern, I would like you to meet Chief Severo of the Ute tribe in this portrait by American artist, Eldridge Ayer Burbank (1858-1949). You can notice in the bottom left corner that Chief Severo was on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in Colorado when this portrait was done. Burbank painted 1200 portraits of members of 125 tribes. He painted many of the once great Native American leaders including Geronimo.

I hope that in the aged face of this chief, we can be reminded of the terrible harm done to indigenous people in this country. We took their land and their society that was inextricably tied to that land. We relocated these people and watched them crumble while reporting on the shame of their weaknesses. As a matter of policy we removed many of their children to government boarding schools for re-enculturation. Let me state that again. We took their children to educate them away from their identity, their language, their stories and traditions of lifetimes. 

I hope this work of art can pull us back to what we are actually talking about when we choose our reference words. May our prayers continue for the black, indigenous and people of color in this world as we take the time to say their names.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church