The Baptist “A Native American Odyssey”

Fr. Tosco had absolutely no knowledge of Native American history and culture other than what he had acquired from 'western' movies popular fiction. He didn't think much of it when asked to meet with a band of Southern Paiute and dissolve a Mission established by the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City over a century ago but abandoned for over sixty years. It was an amazing feat that he did end up meeting with the tribe, but when he did, it changed everything.

What Fr. Tosco discovered were the remnants of a once proud and fiercely independent race of people, now struggling for survival within the richest and most powerful nation on earth, marginalized and destined for the scrap heap of history. Something triggered within him that he must help this small community to the path of survival. He believed in the words of Jesus that the two commandments that mattered were: love God and love your neighbor. In truth, one shows love for God through love for the neighbor.

Was he prepared for the backlash that ensued following his attempts at social activism to promote economic self-sufficiency for the tribe? Why did the Catholic hierarchy feel threatened and challenged? Why was local law enforcement provoked into opening fire on unarmed natives? Why did the Paiute protest evoke images of the incident at Pine Ridge? Why did the FBI feel compelled to crush the Native American nationalism as if it were a threat to national security? History proves again that the spirit of freedom cannot be suppressed by brute force or political appeasement!

This book is about Native Americans. Sarah Wilson, the newly elected President of the Paiutes of Little Bend embodies the spirit of Native American nationalism, that which is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States of America. Read this book if you are unbiased towards the injustices perpetrated against Native Americans! Read this book if you believe in the true essence of Christian teaching that the human race is the chosen race and every human is equal in the eyes of God!

The story of Native American nationalism was born out of a genuine belief that this land of settlers and its leaders have nurtured a culture of hatred towards the aboriginal people of this land and systematically sought their decimation. The only crime the native people of this land are guilty of is that they were here before us. We coveted what was theirs and they tried to protect what was theirs!