On Wednesday, February 6, 2013, while in Washington DC for the National
Prayer Breakfast, Richard Twiss suffered a major heart attack. He remained in a
hospital in the DC area for several days as friends and family rushed to his
side. But on Saturday, February 9, 2013, at the age of 58, Taoyate Obnajin (He
Stands with his People) crossed over to meet the Creator.
He is survived by his wife Katherine and his
four sons Andrew, Philip, Ian and Daniel.
If you ever had the privilege of meeting Richard Twiss,
chances are he invited you somewhere. Richard was an incredible host. I
remember last summer I attended a symposium for the North American Institute for
Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS), of which Richard was a board member.
No sooner had I walked through the door when I was greeted by Richard and asked
if I would like to join their drum circle up front to start the next
session. I felt extremely honored by
this invitation and gladly accepted. I am not a trained theologian nor am I a
prolific Pow Wow drummer, but this small gesture immediately made me feel at
home and communicated that I was welcome there and was given a voice should I
have something to contribute.
Richard was involved in many conversations. As a follower of
Jesus, President and co-founder of Wiconi International as well as an
accomplished author he was a highly sought after speaker and a true bridge
builder between Native and non-Native communities.
In the complex and controversial dialogue of contextualizing
Christian worship for Native American cultures, Richard Twiss allowed himself
to become a lightening rod so that boarding school survivors and assimilated
Native American Christians could have the freedom to put on their regalia, pick
up their drums, and ask the question "What does it mean to be Native
American and follow Jesus?"
Richard's unique ministry gave many Native people the opportunity
to experience that Jesus is not just the "White man's God" but he
came for all people from every language and every culture.
There are many challenges facing Native Americans today in
the United States. Unemployment, broken
families, alcoholism, diabetes, violence, poor education, and the list goes on
and on. But after living with my people, on the Navajo reservation for the past
decade I have come to the conclusion that the biggest challenge facing Native
Americans is the reversal of our roles in this land these past few centuries.
Turtle Island (ie. North America) is our home and we are
indigenous to these lands. We can tell you stories about why this mountain is
here or why that river flows there. Our Creation stories take place in this
land, and for centuries we did not see ourselves as its owners, but rather as
its hosts.
That role began to change about 500 years ago when a
European explorer named Christopher Columbus got lost at sea. He was met by our
ancestors, but then promptly returned to his home claiming to have 'discovered'
a new land, minimizing the fact that it was already inhabited by millions. He
was soon followed by wave after wave of pilgrims, refugees and immigrants, who
flocked here, fueled by a Doctrine of Discovery and driven by a presumptive sense
of manifest destiny. The result of this history was that the indigenous peoples
of North America were either killed, assimilated, or marginalized. Those who survived were stripped of their
role as host and instead made to feel like unwanted guests in someone else's
home.
But there is a remnant, a precious few, who do not believe,
or live into, this lie. They are not driven by anger, resentment, or even
bitterness but by an understanding that as Native peoples, we are the hosts of
this land. And they conduct themselves as such. Richard Twiss was one of these
people.
Throughout his life Richard joined, participated in, initiated,
and invited people to many conversations. He traveled around our nation and the
world investing freely in relationships with people and leaders from various
ethnic communities, churches, denominations, academic institutions, and
governmental agencies. In every instance that I observed, he brought an
increased awareness of Native peoples and invited our “nation of immigrants” to
take further steps into an understanding of, and relationship with, their
indigenous hosts.
Saturday, February 9 was a sad day for me personally. I lost
a friend, a colleague, and a brother that day. But it was also a sad day for
our nation because with the passing of Richard Twiss, Turtle Island lost a
leader. Richard was not an elected official, nor was he the head of a huge
institution. But he was a true host of this land: building bridges, starting
conversations, increasing understanding, and inviting nearly everyone he met
into something new. He conducted himself in such a manner that many who met
him, walked away from the interaction feeling a little more at home.
It is my hope, that as Native peoples, we can follow
Richard’s example and re-embrace our roles as the host people of Turtle Island.
Mark Charles
(Navajo)
