Book Review "Native"
Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God
Review by Lindsay O’Connor
“Decolonizing our table means recognizing that sacredness moves and breathes all over the place, in all people, in all creatures, in all things, so communion becomes the space in which we say everyone and everything is loved.”
—Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God, by Kaitlin B. Curtice
In her new book, Native, Kaitlin Curtice shares her unique perspective as an Indigenous Christian woman. She shares her journey of rediscovering the parts of herself that had been pushed down or dismissed because they didn’t fit the dominant narrative of the white evangelical spaces in which she spent the latter part of her childhood. She speaks with a combination of boldness and gentleness as she invites us into new, more expansive ways of understanding ourselves, God, and all of creation.
Curtice tells about the ongoing work of decolonizing her faith by disentangling the parts of her belief system that were tied to white, western/European culture. She challenges systems of oppression that have been upheld by the Christian church but communicates very clearly that we all must do this work together; everyone belongs. At the same time, we see her reconnecting with Indigenous ways of understanding the Divine, which she often refers to as Mystery. Throughout the book, she weaves language and stories from her Potawatomi heritage, along with her own original poetry.
As she tells her story, Curtice makes space for readers to consider their own journeys. She shares personal experiences vulnerably, emphasizing the importance of all people entering into the work for the common good, whether you are part of a marginalized group, a dominant group, or some combination. This was an important read for me as I work to separate out my culture from my understanding of Christianity, God, and the Bible. In experiencing God through a different cultural lens, we are given the gift of a broader, richer, more beautiful understanding of the Holy that is sure to be transformative.
This is a textured, beautifully written book that challenges and inspires Christians to envision new ways to make more room at the table. In the words of Kaitlin Curtice, “Our work is to call each other home, to call to one another’s spirits and say, ‘This is for you. This is what it means to be human, to love and be loved. Let’s learn from one another as we go.’”