Native American

Possibly Indians of America were Influenced by Prophets in Asia

"It is possible the Indians of the Americas were influenced in the remote past by Prophets in Asia. But again, as there is nothing in our teachings about it, we cannot do more than speculate."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 25, 1950, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1576)

To admire and respect their ancient descent

"We should meet them as equals, well-wishers, people who admire and respect their ancient descent, and who feel that they will be interested, as we are, in a living religion and not in the dead forms of present-day churches."

(From a letter dated 21 September 1951 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Comite Nacional de Ensenanza Bahai pare los Indigenas; in Aboriginal and Indigenous People, Teaching Among, no. 334)

Aboriginal Inhabitants—Down-Trodden People

"Shoghi Effendi is also most anxious for the Message to reach the aboriginal inhabitants of the Americas. These people, for the most part down-trodden and ignorant, should receive from the Bahá’ís a special measure of love, and every effort be made to teach them. Their enrollment in the Faith will enrich them and us and demonstrate our principle of the Oneness of Man far better than words or the wide conversion of the ruling races ever can."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Meso-America and the Antilles, July 11, 1951: A Special Measure of Love, p. 5, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1775)

Tablets of the Divine Plan—Natives of America May Become Great Standard Bearers of the Faith

"The Guardian attaches the utmost importance, as you know, to the teaching of the natives of America.

"In the Tablets of the Divine Plan, the Master pays the utmost attention to this most important matter. He states that if the Power of the Holy Spirit today properly enters into the minds and the hearts of the natives of the great American continents that they will become great standard bearers of the Faith, similar to the Nomads (Arabians) who became the most cultured and enlightened people under the Mohammadan civilization."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela, August 22, 1957, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1776)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá Foretold for the Indians of America a Great Future if They Accepted the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh

"The original population of the United States was very dear to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's heart, and He foretold for the Indians a great future if they accepted and became enlightened by the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

"To believe in the Mouthpiece of God in His Day confers very great blessings, not only on individuals, but on races, and He hopes that you who are now numbered amongst the followers of Bahá’u’lláh will give His Message to many more of your tribe, and in this way hasten for your people a bright and happy future."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 21, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1802)

Bahá’ís Approve of Inter-Racial Unions

"He thinks you did well to marry, and he is glad you married an American Indian. We Bahá’ís approve of inter-racial unions, and you should do all you can to make your marriage a success and make your husband happy."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 31, 1950, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1803)

Prejudice and Condescension—Contact with City Indians

"He adds one suggestion (he does not know if it is practicable or not): Can contact not be made with Indians who have become more or less absorbed into the life of the white element of the Country and live in or visit the big cities? There, people, finding the Bahá’ís sincerely lacking in either prejudice—or that even worse attitude, condescension—might not only take interest in our teachings, but also help us to reach their people in the proper way.

"It is a great mistake to believe that because people are illiterate or live primitive lives, they are lacking in either intelligence or sensibility. On the contrary, they may well look on us with the evils of our civilization, with its moral corruption, its ruinous wars, its hypocrisy and conceit, as people who merit watching with both suspicion and contempt. We should meet them as equals, well-wishers, people who admire and respect their ancient descent, and who feel that they will be interested as we are in a living religion and not in the dead forms of present-day churches."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Comite Nacional de Ensenanza Bahá’í para los Indigenas de Sur America, September 21, 1951, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1777)

Afro-Americans and Amerindians

"The Americas have been a melting pot and a meeting place for the races of men, and the need is acute for the fulfillment of God's promises of the realization of the oneness of mankind. Particularly do the Master and the Guardian point to the Afro-Americans and the Amerindians, two great ethnic groups whose spiritual powers will be released through their response to the Creative Word. But our Teachings must touch all, must include all people. And, in this hour of your tireless activity what special rewards shall come to those who will arise, summoned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's words: 'Now is the time to divest yourselves of the garment of attachment to this phenomenal realm, be wholly severed from the physical world, become angels of heaven, and travel and teach through all these regions.' "

(The Universal House of Justice's Message to the Caribbean Conference, May 1971, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1778)

To-dos for this page

• Add many more quotations, e.g., from https://bahai-library.com/compilation_teaching_aboriginal_indigenous#334