Skip to content
ELCA Blogs

ELCA Racial Justice

ELCA Blogs / ELCA Racial Justice

Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium

Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium

In 2013 the annual American Indian and Alaska Native Symposium at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago was renamed in honor of Vine Deloria Jr., an alum of Augustana Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., a predecessor school of LSTC. The symposium has been held in November each year since it began 15 years ago and is co-sponsored by the Pero Center for Intersectionality Studies at LSTC and the ELCA’s Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations. All events will be accessible online, and the theme is tribal sovereignty.

At the height of the American Indian Movement and beyond, Vine Deloria Jr. played a significant role in strengthening tribal sovereignty for federally recognized tribes in the United States. Throughout his work — from serving as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians to serving as a law professor at the University of Arizona during his retirement and so much in between — Deloria influenced how Native Nations, Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people understand Indigenous self-determination and explore ways to further tribal sovereignty. During this year’s Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium, participants will hear from scholars and leaders who continue this work. Attendees will learn what tribal sovereignty means and how securing sovereignty is justice work.

Learn more about this year’s speakers

DOWNLOAD FLYER

Monday, Nov. 13

Symposium Chapel Service
11:30 a.m. Central time

The Rev. David Wilson (Choctaw), Preaching
Bishop of the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church

JOIN CHAPEL

Symposium Lecture
6 p.m. Central time

Stacy Leeds (Cherokee)
Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

JOIN LECTURE

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Symposium Panel Presentation
6 p.m. Central time

Dr. Aaron Payment (Chippewa)
Vice President of Tribal Relations and Learning for Kauffman and Associates

Fawn Sharp (Quinault)
President of the National Congress of American Indians

JOIN PRESENTATION

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Symposium Chapel Service
11:30 a.m. Central time

Vance Blackfox (Cherokee), Preaching
ELCA’s Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations

The Rev. Dr. Linda Thomas, Presiding
Director of the Pero Center for Intersectionality Studies

JOIN CHAPEL

Preregistration is not required to participate. Just click the “join” buttons to attend.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples and Alaska Natives in November

In the United States, November is Native American Heritage Month. Racial Justice Ministries would like to elevate the voices and work of our Indigenous siblings by bringing attention to the multitude of events by the ELCA’s Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations. A full list of offerings for this month can be found here, but there are two events that we would especially like to highlight:

Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium

In 2013, the Annual American Indian and Alaska Native Symposium at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago was renamed in honor of Vine Deloria Jr., an alum of Augustana Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., a predecessor school of LSTC. The symposium has been held in November each year since it began over 10 years ago. The symposium will be fully virtual this year, and the theme is tribal sovereignty.

Monday, November 13, 2023 – Symposium Chapel Service:

Preaching – The Rev. David Wilson, Bishop of the Great Plains Conference of The United Methodist Church
Symposium Lecture: Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents Professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 – Symposium Panel Presentation: Dr. Aaron Payment, Vice President of Tribal Relations and Learning for Kauffman and Associates; Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians; Host – Vance Blackfox

No pre-registration is required to participate. Just click “join the class” to attend.

Day of Mourning

Since 1970, an annual march and rally organized by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) have taken place on the fourth Thursday in November, a day known as Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, but a day that many Indigenous people and supporters have come to know and commemorate as the National Day of Mourning. This tradition and commemoration serve as a solemn occasion to honor Native ancestors and Wampanoag stories, while fostering greater awareness and understanding among the American public about the destructive presence of pilgrims and settlers in around Patuxet, currently also known as Plymouth.

You are invited to Plymouth to stand in solidarity with the Wampanoag people and the United American Indians of New England at this year’s National Day of Mourning and gain deeper insights into their vital mission.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Day of Mourning
Gathering Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Pebbles Restaurant – 76 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360

Click here to register