Native American women explore connections with Catholic faith

Published: 2004-04-19

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- Billee Willson grew up on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation where the Klamath and Trinity rivers meet -- a place that continually drew her back and a place she refused to completely leave behind. Stella Vaughn, who was raised on a small farm in northeastern Oklahoma near Mingo, learned about prejudice as a child. It was not until several years after high school that she discovered being Cherokee, Choctaw and African-American was a good thing to be. The two women were among members of Cherokee, Choctaw, Pueblo, Apache, Huastec, Yurok and Miwok tribal nations who attended an unprecedented meeting with Sacramento Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Garcia earlier this year. The meeting was part of the diocese's effort to initiate an ongoing relationship with representatives of the Native American community to better understand their life and culture, learn their gifts and address their spiritual needs.

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