Native

This is a very important book for white people and white Christians to help them understand their responsibilities to Native Americans and people of color in America. We are recipients of privilege so much more than we know. This nation "under God", founded by the white majority has and still does in many ways, oppress these people groups. It has become more obvious during the current political climate.It is eloquently written, even beautiful I would say. It is a serious topic, but I didn't feel bludgeoned as a white Christian who needs to hear what this book was sharing. This could be because I already agreed with her values on this topic, but still, I don't think the way she writes is sensational or slamming in her verbiage itself, even so. I highly recommend it if you have desire to hear what indigenous people have to say.

The book arrived timely and in excellent condition. The book was classified as "used" with a reduced price--but in essencee it was a brand new book. Excellent. I will always order from them again if they have my book available.

"The sacred thing about being human is that no matter how hard we try to get rid of them, our stories are our stories."⁠I was excited for the chance to be part of the launch team for Kaitlin Curtice's new book Native, a reflective memoir about Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God. And whew, I will be thinking about this one for a while. Kaitlin writes frankly and poetically about the intersections of her Indigenous identity and Christian faith, while also exploring themes of caring for creation, politics, colonization, and decentering whiteness. There's a lot to take in, but it's a journey worth taking with this thoughtful, brave writer. ⁠⁠In this book, Kaitlin writes frankly and poetically about the intersections of her Indigenous identity and Christian upbringing, and the tensions that live in that space with her. Kaitlin grew up in the midst of white evangelical culture, where her Potawatomi identity was constantly erased. Native is the story of reconnecting with her heritage and discovering what it means to belong to the land and her people, exploring themes of creation care, politics, colonization, and decentering whiteness along the way.If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. As a memoir, it’s a work of raw vulnerability, one that she has noted was incredibly difficult to write. “I feel deep within my bones what it means to be one who is removed, one who is assimilated, one whose people remain invisible.” she writes. “And yet, our stories will always carry us, because that is exactly what they are meant to do.”You could say this is a book written from the middle of a painful journey, where she recounts the dismantling of her comfortable faith, and the rebuilding into something new and more whole. She speaks of her ancestors, of hearing from them in dreams. She writes about laying tobacco on the water as she prays, and teaching her children about the ways of their ancestors. No doubt some Christian readers might squirm a little at this language. I found it beautiful to witness a young woman coming home to herself.So there’s the story of her own personal experience, and, in the background, a bigger, darker story of colonization, Native erasure, mistreatment of the land, and white supremacy. If you aren’t familiar with the language of social justice, it might be a lot to take in. Maybe you’ll wonder, what exactly does it mean when she talks about settler faith or decolonizing our perspective? Rather than a book written to educate you or spell everything out, Native is an invitation to sit still, listen, and perhaps be uncomfortable. But it’s a journey worth taking with this thoughtful, brave writer. And if listening is how we open the door to change, then let us listen closer. Highly recommended for any Christian reader who wants to listen and learn from the Indigenous perspective. (Which, honestly, should be all of us.)Thanks to Brazos Press and the author for the review copy

So many titles I could give this book review, but the words BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL, and COURAGEOUS keep coming to mind. This book is beautiful because it’s skillfully written and reads like a poem. It’s brilliant because not only does it read like a poem, it speaks deep soul searching truth of a never-ending soul-searching journey of identity. Kaitlin shares her journey as both a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian. It’s courageous because she speaks truth to power and the institutions that whiteness built. However, she doesn’t leave it there; she provides a hopeful future of a decolonized new world for our children.It’s a MUST read!

I had to read Native slowly for two reasons, one because it challenged me to think, and two because it challenged me to BE. From her rich imagery, to her depth of research, to her choice of subject and verb tense (we are asking, we are learning, we are having conversations) Kaitlin Curtice reinforces the idea of journeying. She speaks of trauma and tragedy almost unimaginable, yet draws us back again and again to that active work of healing ourselves, our country, and the earth. And somehow, within all that, she still makes space for rest, for quiet, for drinking coffee and sitting outside, listening to the birds and the trees and the water. I will be rereading this book more than once, going more slowly each time until its lessons settle into my spirit.

“Once we open our imaginations to the reality of the value that Indigenous and Black people carry, it will inevitably create a different future for all of use, a future that I believe God envisioned from the very beginning, a vision of a world full of fierce love and sacred belonging.”Loved the experience of reading this book by Kaitlin Curtice! It felt like decolonization, therapy, church, deconstruction, purity culture takedown, and tea with a friend all at once. It honors all of the human emotions and experiences, and is accessible to readers regardless of their background. It definitely made me look closely at myself and the systems I am a part of to see where I am benefiting from my whiteness and how I can challenge myself and others to make changes. My home, church, and the school where I teach are located on Gabrielino-Tongva land, and I’m going to start doing the work now to see how I can honor and support them, as well as teach my students about them. As a teacher, I’ve always felt uncomfortable with the Columbus and Thanksgiving narratives and avoided teaching my students about it, but after this book I feel more equipped to fill that space in better ways rather than silence. Thank you Kaitlin for sharing your story, words, and heart with us. It’s truly a gift.

This book should hold a place on every Christian's bookshelf. I grew up learning a very white version of Christianity. Although my parents raised me to care for others and pursue justice, I was also inundated with a Christianity that was dominated by whiteness. I attended a Bible college that was almost completely white and had little concern for the marginalized. During that time I began the path of decolonizing my faith. As I progressed on the journey, I began to see the roots of white supremacy all around my school, and in my past. Kaitlin Curtice's book has helped me reconstruct my faith on the principles of Jesus and not whiteness. I only wish I could have read this sooner, or heard it taught in my school. Although that seems like an impossibility to me, I dream of a day when the white church repents of their sins and humbled themselves to learn from BIPOC like Kaitlin Curtice. Her poetry and artful words only add to the pleasure of reading such an amazing book!

I enjoy the truth of the story of Indigenous Spirituality and how connected it is to Celtic Spirituality. It was helpful to know torn violent history thank you Helen

I love this book. It's such an important topic, such an important way of weaving identity, cultural roots and faith into one conversation. I feel like how it's approached is relevant, progressive and thought-provoking.

Kaitlin Curtice has given us a gift.If you love an Indigenous person, you need to read this book. If you are currently attending a church, you need to read this book, if you are an Indigenous person, you need to read this book, if you are looking to hear and read from Indigenous authors or women of colour, you need to read this book.Curtice speaks her truth. I am an Indigenous woman, and her truth speaks to my truth. This book can be a hard truth for some to read, but it’s an important truth. It is a beautiful invitation to community, to breaking down walls, to recognizing and fighting injustice. Please, accept this invitation.

This book was one of the things that I packed for my recent camping/retreat days at Sunbow Lake. The author, Kaitlin B Curtice, writes with candor and clarity about her wrestling with what it means to be both a Potawatomi woman (of 'mixed blood') and a Christian. Although she relates from where she has come on her rich spiritual journey, her writing is devoid of cliche, easy answers and prescriptions. She writes as one in process, learning to live the questions (as Rilke said), reflecting courage and integrity while shaping the unformed future - while 'making the road by walking' (Machado).