In recent years, Mennonite men have become directly involved in Indigenous solidarity work. Some of this has come to Mennonite Men as an organization through staff and board members; in other cases, individual men have initiated involvement on their own. In both cases, Mennonite men are being invited to show up, listen, and bear witness to realities that Indigenous persons have historically and currently faced. Mennonite men are being invited to pray with and for Indigenous siblings, to show care, build relationships, and raise their voices alongside Indigenous voices who are advocating for just treatment.
I want to highlight two different Indigenous communities in the U.S. that are advocating for justice and with whom Mennonite men are getting involved. In both examples, Indigenous communities have invited involvement from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery (CDDoD).
The first example is at Oak Flat (Chi’Chil Bildagoteel), sacred land of the Western Apache in Arizona. Rich Meyer and David Baer of Benton Mennonite Church (IN) have been serving at Oak Flat to pray, learn from Apaches, offer accompaniment to Apache Stronghold when needed, and maintain the camp. Rich Meyer offers this reflection:
“I knew coming here that I would need to be listening and learning—listening to the Apache, to teammates with experience, to God. In my daily walks here, I am able to really stop, wait, and listen much more deliberately than in my usual busy life.”
Being at Oak Flat allows one to bear witness to the beauty of God’s creation and the injustices Oak Flat is slated to experience if the land is transferred to the copper mining company Resolution Copper. Efforts to protect Oak Flat and to stand with Apaches are not over. If you or your congregation would like to get involved in prayerful work where you are to support Apache Stronghold and sacred land, contact Molly@dismantlediscovery.org. If you are intereseted in joining pray-filled protective accompaniment at Oak Flat, or have someone to nominate for this work, contact Carol Rose at cofa@dismantlediscovery.org to explore options for training and serving on a team. You may also contact me at JonZ@MennoniteMen.org to hear about my personal experiences.
Photo at right: Rich Meyer (R) and David Baer (L), both from Benton Mennonite Church in Goshen, at Oak Flat.
The second example is from the Shinnecock Nation on the east end of Long Island, New York. After years of relationship-building that began with Sarah Augustine and Shinnecock leaders, Shinnecock leaders invited members of a new CDDoD working group to visit their reservation. This delegation in September of 2025 included Mennonite associate pastor Matt Carlson of Akron Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania, along with six others. Matt shared a reflection from his time with the delegation:
“We began our mornings together at a communal fire on their reservation to hear stories of their people and our hosts took us around the area to show us some of their sacred sites, some of which they’ve only recently regained access to. This is an example to me of yet another reversal. In the parable Jesus shared, the host is a person with power and resources who organizes the banquet and invites those who are socially marginalized. For those of us with power and resources, this is an appropriate and good expression of faith, sharing our resources with an open hand with those who are in need. I’m also left with the question, “What does it look like to give up that power, to relinquish our place at the head of the table?” After all, the stories of the Jesus we follow are all about giving up power, from being born as a baby in a stable, to resisting the temptations in the wilderness, to depending on the hospitality of others, to being crucified on a cross."
Matt also documents the various ways in which Shinnecock land has been stolen and treaties broken, as well as the ongoing pollution affecting the waters of Shinnecock Bay due to failing septic systems from homes in nearby Southampton. The Shinnecock people continue to experience disrespect and discrimination to this day and are entangled in many lawsuits.
“Untreated wastewater from outdated septic systems and cesspools has been leaking into the groundwater and flowing into Shinnecock Bay. This is harming the bay, with excess nitrogen causing toxic algae blooms, which deplete oxygen and destroy the marine life that is an integral part of the Shinnecock culture and economy. In response to this crisis, a group of women leaders from the Shinnecock Nation have resurrected the ancient practice of raising sugar kelp in the waters of Shinnecock Bay. Kelp has the ability to sequester carbon and nitrogen, which will help heal the waters of the bay, and the harvested kelp can be sold as a natural fertilizer, supporting the Nation’s economy.
“Raising kelp is one piece of a larger effort to maintain ancestral ties to the lands and waters that the Shinnecock Nation has stewarded for thousands of years. Unfortunately, continued development in the Hamptons and the unwillingness of local and state leadership to recognize the land rights of the Shinnecock Nation make that effort extremely difficult. The purpose of the delegation was to learn how those of us who are newcomers to this land can help support the various initiatives of the Shinnecock Nation. With guidance from Shinnecock leaders, and as part of a larger network of allies, we are working to build a campaign to aid the Shinnecock people in realizing their economic and cultural sovereignty.”
I am encouraged to see men like Matt involved with CDDoD who live in closer geographical proximity to Long Island, as the issues, advocacy, and in-person visits could literally be closer to home. If you wish to learn more about the Shinnecock Working Group of CDDoD and get involved, please contact Alicia Maldonado-Zahra at amaldonadozahra@goshen.edu. If you wish to read Matt’s full article about what he learned during the Shinnecock delegation visit, you may email him at mcarlson@akronmench.org.
Please pray for our Indigenous brothers and sisters who face daily hardship and disrespect. Also pray for Mennonite men and others who are feeling God’s call to build relationships and offer direct accompaniment to Indigenous communities pleading for justice.
