What is Native InterVarsity?

Native InterVarsity is not a typical small group led by InterVarsity. The purpose of Native Ministry is to allow students know a bit more of our Creator. Learning how we are invited into owning our culture's creation story while seeking the purpose of Creator's son, Jesus and his role as Creator's son.

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Embracing Our Identity

There is this hurt that European theology has caused on our indigenous people, but if we strip away the brokenness of the Old Testament, we see a powerful story of Creator's son. A child born in likeness to humans and indigenous people - A part of an oppressive colonized society learning to be the host of the land and find beauty and harmony in all the chaos.

Many times over and over again we see the destruction of European theology of Christianity oppress the surrounding communities. As a Native Hawaiian, I lived a life of accepting that my culture was "dead" and I should be "American". But honestly, no one is truly "American" unless you're indigenous to the land of the First Nations. My kupuna (elders) passed on the stories of the damaging outcome of missionaries entering the Hawai'ian Islands. This was all because of the idea that, "We had no God", but we did. Long before the missionaries came, we had Creator - "Io" or "Ke Akua" who we reference as God. I started a long journey of being open to understanding through Ambition 2018, Ho'olohe Pono 2018, Urbana 2018, and LAUP 2019 about my roots and the identity I once pushed away. I was completely changed and my heart became full and overflowing with tears for my brothers and sisters. I finally saw what I had to see about myself and the scenario that other natives experience. There is this hurt that European theology has caused on our indigenous people, but if we strip away the brokenness of the Old Testament, we see a powerful story of Creator's son. A child born in likeness to humans and indigenous people - A part of an oppressive colonized society learning to be the host of the land and find beauty and harmony in all the chaos. Now we are here learning that Creator has a son that has endured just like us and invites us into a great purpose and promise!