Updates

May 2008
Delegates at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference reaffirmed Native American tribal sovereignty and a comprehensive plan that includes support for the Return to the Earth project. See the burial section toward the end of this press release from the United Methodist News Service for details on the churches' support for RTE.

July 2007
In addition to expressing support for legislation that would issue an official government apology to Native Americans, the MC USA statement advocated congregations researching the history of Native Americans who once lived in their area and supporting programs such as Return to the Earth. Read the Mennonite Weekly Review article that gives details on these actions.

March 2007
In response to a call from Mennonite Central Committee (NICC), a group at Hutterthal Mennonite Churoh of Freeman, SD recently completed ils discussion of the Retum to the Earth Study Guide and built ten burial boxes and prepared ten burial cioths for the project. Read the press release on the action taken by this church.

June 2006
A resolution, drafted with the Council on Native American Ministries (CoNAM), in support of the Return to the Earth project was submitted to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and approved. The resolution's adoption encourages broad-based support from both Native American and non-Native organizations.

May 2006
The Mennonite Central Committee- US Central States provided a $16,000 grant, which a source of the local Indian Mennonite Churches matched, allowing the Return to the Earth to purchase enough lumber to cover the exterior of the building. Return to the Earth collaborated with the Amish community and other volunteers to do a traditional "barn raising" for the structure.

April 2006
A building and burial plot that will hold the remains of Native Americans reclaimed from museums and other institutions was dedicated April I on the grounds of the Cheyenne Cultural Center in Clinton, OK. The dedication was part of the Memonite Central Committee supported Retum to the Earth initiative. Read the Mennonite Weekly Review article on the building dedication.

October 1, 2005
Launch of the new Return to the Earth Study Guide.