Long Walk Pilgrimage

The Long Walk: Remembering and Reckoning with America's Past

This episode covers a pilgrimage undertaken by the General Convention Deputation of the Diocese of the Rio Grande to the Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, as part of their anti-racism training. The pilgrimage aimed to explore and learn about the racism experienced by indigenous peoples, focusing on the tragic history of the Long Walk between 1863 and 1866, where the U.S. government forcibly removed and marched thousands of Native Americans to a concentration camp at Bosque Redondo, leading to the deaths of approximately 3,000 people and generational trauma still being felt today. The participants, including Bishop Michael Hunn and members of the Diocese, shared their personal reflections, the importance of recognizing this atrocity, the ongoing impact of generational trauma, the role of the church, and the significance of preserving oral histories and stories of indigenous peoples. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging past injustices as a step towards healing and reconciliation.

00:00 The Tragic History of the Long Walk
00:41 A Pilgrimage of Learning and Remembrance
02:01 Discovering the Sacred and Historical at Bosque Redondo
04:20 Voices from the Diocese: Personal Reflections and Insights
11:50 A Prayer for Beauty, Reconciliation, and Healing
16:57 Reflections on Witnessing and Responsibility
22:53 The Impact of Youth Activism and the Importance of Storytelling
23:46 Connecting Past Atrocities to Present Injustices
26:07 A Journey Towards Justice and Remembrance