Native American Ministry

Catholic Charities of Wyoming was honored to join the Wind River Community Alliance, the Truth and Remembrance Committee, and the Diocese of Cheyenne for a meaningful gathering at the Medicine Wheel in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains.

The Medicine Wheel is one of Wyoming’s most significant sacred places. For generations, Native people have gathered there for prayer, reflection, ceremony, and connection. The Medicine Wheel reflects a deep relationship with the land and the natural world, and carries enduring spiritual and cultural significance for Native communities. Its connection to the Four Directions and the cycles of life offers an important reminder of the ways culture, spirituality, history, and place are intertwined.

For Catholic Charities, this gathering was about more than visiting a sacred site. It was an opportunity to listen and learn from Native voices and to better understand the history, traditions, and experiences that continue to shape communities across Wyoming.

Participants shared meals, stories, questions, and reflection. There was space for honest conversation and for learning from one another. Most importantly, there was an opportunity to be present—to listen without trying to have all the answers and to recognize that meaningful relationships are built over time through respect, trust, and a willingness to keep showing up.

The work of truth and remembrance asks something of all of us. It asks us to acknowledge difficult histories, honor the experiences of those who have carried them, and create opportunities for people to come together in ways that foster understanding and healing. Catholic Charities is grateful to be part of that work and to continue building relationships with Native communities throughout Wyoming.

Support from the Black and Indian Mission Office helps make opportunities like this possible. Through its support of Catholic ministries serving Native communities, the Black and Indian Mission Office helps Catholic Charities of Wyoming strengthen relationships, create opportunities for cultural learning and dialogue, and accompany Native communities with respect and a spirit of service. This support allows the Church to move beyond simply acknowledging the importance of Native communities and to invest in the relationships, listening, education, and shared experiences that help build a stronger and more respectful community.