Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God

Foreword INDIES 2020 Book of the Year Award (SILVER Winner for Religion)2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award (Inspirational)2021 Midwest Book Award (Silver Winner for Religion/Philosophy)Native is about identity, soul-searching, and the never-ending journey of finding ourselves and finding God. As both a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian, Kaitlin Curtice offers a unique perspective on these topics. In this book, she shows how reconnecting with her Potawatomi identity both informs and challenges her faith.Curtice draws on her personal journey, poetry, imagery, and stories of the Potawatomi people to address themes at the forefront of today's discussions of faith and culture in a positive and constructive way. She encourages us to embrace our own origins and to share and listen to each other's stories so we can build a more inclusive and diverse future. Each of our stories matters for the church to be truly whole. As Curtice shares what it means to experience her faith through the lens of her Indigenous heritage, she reveals that a vibrant spirituality has its origins in identity, belonging, and a sense of place.From the Back CoverNative is about identity, soul-searching, and the never-ending journey of finding ourselves and finding God. As both a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian, Kaitlin Curtice shares what it means to experience her faith through the lens of her Indigenous heritage and encourages us to embrace our own origins."Kaitlin Curtice is one of the braver writers I know. She won't smooth any edges for you, and she won't let you change the subject, but she'll support you digging as deeply for your roots as she has for hers."--Barbara Brown Taylor, bestselling author of Holy Envy and Learning to Walk in the Dark"It isn't very often that a book about identity--let alone dismantling white supremacy and patriarchy--reads like a poem, but that's Kaitlin. She is thoughtful decolonization set to music and wrapped in love."--Sarah Bessey, author of Miracles and Other Reasonable Things and Jesus Feminist"There is no doubt Christianity has been the handmaiden to the destruction of Indigenous nations. Native is an indigenization of faith and, more important, a moral call not only for the Christian church but for everyone to reckon with the genocidal legacies of US settler colonialism and African slavery."--Nick Estes, cofounder of The Red Nation"This book is required reading for all those committed to learning the truth about the land we live on and the institutions we live inside of. It called me out and called me home."--Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed and founder of Together Rising"Curtice is a brave truth-teller and a prophetic voice we need to be listening to, and Native is a book that will guide us toward a better future."--Richard Rohr, OFM, Center for Action and Contemplation"I'm so grateful for Curtice's voice."--Nadia Bolz-Weber, bestselling author, speaker, and public theologianAbout the AuthorKaitlin B. Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, she writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an interspiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of interfaith relationships. She writes online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, Apartment Therapy, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes at The Liminality Journal. Kaitlin lives in Philadelphia with her family.