Greensky Hill Native American Methodist Church: the role of language in group identity

Greensky Hill Native American Methodist Church: the role of language in group identity

Kat Slocum

Greensky Hill Church, situated in Northern Michigan (45°19′42″N, 85°11′5″W), is a blended church of Native American Christians and White Christians. Incorporated in church services are both the English and the Anishnaabemowin language – a Native American language from the Algonquin language family. This study asks how Greensky Hill Church became bilingual and situates it within the larger narrative of the nation. The utilization of historic documents contributions to the understanding of the history of the church, its founder, and its unique balance of Methodist and Native American ideologies that are incorporated through language. More broadly, this research seeks to understand language choices as strategies that forge allegiances and form group identity. For the purposes of this study, an in-depth analysis of the regional and national history is necessary. It is with this historic foundation that one can better understand the formation of the church that led to its current state of language and culture inclusion. The regionally unique history of the church as a culturally inclusive religious entity has led to a multi-cultural group identity. Group identity can best be described as including two perspectives which function to establish sameness and differentness. Internally, identity functions to establish a relationship between the self and the group. Externally, identity functions to establish difference between the self and “other”. By using these two perspectives this research highlights the role that history has played in forming Greensky Hill’s unique identity and use of language.