Native American Prayer: Confroting Suicide Head-On

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Native American Prayer: Confroting Suicide Head-On

Jim Uttley November 20, 2002

WINNIPEG, CANADA -- Of all the issues that Indian Life has dealt with over the years, this has perhaps been the most difficult and soul wrenching. Yet, we must deal with ithead-on.

There is no more stinging word than suicide. Its mere mention sends shivers through many. For others, it is something to be shunned, pushed aside to the far reaches of one's mind and emotions. And yet, it is very real and becoming more and more present.

It is not our intent to tiptoe around the subject or sugarcoat it to make people feel good. Suicide is very real, powerful, tragic and contagious. I pray that what you here will twig something within you, causing you to think differently about suicide.

For the past ten years or so, we have heard that suicide is ravaging our aboriginal communities across North America. Public health statistics don't give us a true picture because most figures do not separate Native North Americans from other people groups. It is very difficult to determine what the true suicide count is. What we do know is horrifying.

Native North Americans commit suicide at three times the current rate of non-Native people. If suicide has reach epidemic proportions in the non-Native communities, think what it must be doing where most Aboriginals live.

When one looks for causes, we hear talk of poverty, abuse, alcoholism, drugs, a sense of hopelessness, etc. Are they causes? Perhaps. But they may also be symptoms of a greater problem.

Why are our people so oppressed by these social ills? We must go back in history to find the answer.

More than any other people group in North America, Aboriginals are People of the Land. The land is sacred. When it was taken away or exchanged for something of lesser value, Native people suffered perhaps their most severe blow. But that was only part of the issue.

Not only was our land taken away, it was and has become defiled. According to Inuit leader and teacher Dr. Suuqiina in his book Did You Hear the Mountains Tremble? God our Creator sees the land as defiled and unclean. The Bible reveals four specific sins that defile the land. They are idolatry, immorality, bloodshed, and broken treaties.

Dr. Suukiina says Looking at the North American continent, we can see defilements that preceded contact with the Euro-American, defilements referred to as ancient defilements. In other nations these would be defilements prior to colonization. Defilements that occurred and are occurring post-contact are referred to as contemporary defilements.

In Numbers 35:33 we read, You must not make the land where you live unclean. The land is not holy when people are killed. And only the blood of him who is guilty can pay to make the land free from the blood that has fallen on it.

What does this have to do with suicide?

Defiling the land has brought about bloodshed or untimely death including murder, some accidental deaths and suicide.

Do you remember the biblical account where Cain killed his brother Abel. The Lord said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground (Genesis 4:10). The word crying means to shriek or shout out in a sense of danger. Truly the ground was suffering because of this terrible defilement. Why? The earth was made to provide and produce life and here was compelling evidence of death. The land itself felt a pressure of impending judgment for which it had no advocate except to cry out to its Creator for help and justice.

In dealing with broken treaties, the Bible speaks about those as well. The earth has been made unclean by its people. They have sinned and not obeyed the laws, and have broken the agreement that was to be forever.

So the earth is cursed and those who live in it suffer for their guilt. So the people of the earth are burned, and few men are left. (Isaiah 24:1,3-6)

The result of the earth being unclean --

The world is paying a bitter price because of what we mankind has done through immorality. There is disease, suicide, domestic violence, anger, perversion, and broken relationships. Dr. Suuqiina states that we need a sweeping renewal of holiness throughout our world and we must make a commitment to repent and lay the axe to the root of this defilement.

These defilements of the land are real because they are caused by real sin. Sin is not just a breaking of the moral codes or God's laws, but carries the viruses of pain, terror, and defilement with it.

Can you identify an idol in your community? What can be done about immorality in your community? Is there historical evidence of bloodshed near where you live? The prophet Jeremiah cried, the whole land has been laid waste, because no one cares (Jeremiah 12:11).

Do we really care that 85 people commit suicide every day in North America, many of whom are aboriginal? Ask yourself, Do I really care enough to do something about it?

If you are thinking about suicide, take time to read this first

Are you so disappointed with life that you're wondering "What's the point of going on?" Are you feeling so discouraged, confused, angry, alone, hopeless, so full of pain and shame that you are thinking of ending it all? Please stop long enough to read this. It will take about five minutes. I do not want to try to talk you out of your bad feelings. I am not a counselor or other mental health professional;only someone who knows what it is like to be in pain.

I don't know who you are or why you are reading this. I only know that for the moment, you are reading this, and that is good. I can assume that you are reading this because you are troubled and considering ending your life. If it were possible, I would prefer to be there with you at this moment, to sit with you and talk, face to face and heart to heart. But since that is not possible, we will have to make do with this.

I have known other people who have wanted to kill themselves, so I have a little idea of what you might be feeling. I know that you might not be up to reading a long book, so I am going to keep this short.

Here are five things I want you to think about.

People do get through this;even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now. There is a good chance that you are going to live. I hope this gives you hope.
Give yourself some distance. Say to yourself, "I will wait 24 hours before I do anything. Or a week." Remember that feelings and actions are two different things. Just because you feel like killing yourself, doesn't mean that you actually have to do it. Put some distance between your suicidal feelings and your suicidal action. You have already done if for five minutes. Keep going.
People often turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain. Relief is a feeling. You have to be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead.
Some people will react badly to your suicidal feelings. They may be frightened, or angry; they may actually increase your pain instead of helping you. You have to remember that their bad reactions are about their fears, not about you.
Suicidal feelings are, by themselves, traumatic. After they subside, you need to continue caring for yourself. Counseling is a really good idea.
It's been a few minutes and you're still with me. I'm really glad. While this may have given you some small relief, the best resource is another human being to talk with. There are a lot of people out there who really want to hear from you. I'd like you to call someone.

I have something I'd like to send you. After you have called someone, why not pickup the phone and call Indian Life and ask for the booklet A Reason to Live: Understanding Suicide; We will send it to you free of charge. If you are unable to call, please write us at: Indian Life, P.O. Box 3765, RPO Redwood Centre, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0E2.

Copyright � 2002 INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA, INC. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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